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a note of explanation the material contained in this manual was generated over a number of years as i taught a course on the bus ministry at trinity baptist college eventually i bound these lectures in manual form for the students almost every week of the year i have pastors bus directors and bus workers call from all areas of the country wanting information on some area of the bus ministry with the advent of e-mail i also have questions come regularly that way too starting in the bus ministry 27 years ago as a bus captain i know from practical experience both how to build a successful route and as a bus director for years how to have a successful bus ministry by success i mean one that has buses filled souls regularly saved converts baptized and converts discipled resulting in productive christians also you will find out by reading this manual a great emphasis will be placed on reaching bus parents which is the ultimate goal desired if you will examine the index of this manual i think you will find answered in detail about any question concerning the bus ministry for the bus captain and worker every aspect of your job is covered for the potential bus driver complete information to assist you in obtaining a cdl license is included and for the bus director every aspect of leading a bus ministry is discussed for you my prayer is that god might use this manual to help bus ministries grow and reach precious souls for our lord there is some of this material that was obtained from other men through the years in each case their name is mentioned to give them proper recognition there is no copyright on this manual and i want any bus director to feel free to copy and use any of the material to help their workers the manual was written for use by any size bus ministry i also want anyone to feel free to contact me if you need any help phone 904-596-2408 or e-mail me at dsmith@tbc.org may the lord bless you and your ministry in his bus-iness dave smith acknowledgments ­ a special thank you to mrs toni warren for her typing of these notes also a special thanks to mike martin for the beautiful cover design.

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table of contents part i ­ introductory philosophy 1-13 philosophy of the bus ministry 1-2 seven essentials of the bus ministry 3 the motive of the bus ministry 4 problems in starting a bus ministry 5 what causes bus workers to be discouraged 6 handling problems 7 sixteen things that will kill a bus route 8-9 where to select the routes for the bus ministry 10 prayer and the bus ministry 11 the bus book and how to use it 12-13 part ii ­ the operation of a bus ministry 14-37 bus visitation that is efficient 14-16 working a prospect list 17-18 getting water on the brain 19-21 discipling bus kids 22-24 discipline on the bus 25-27 reaching bus parents 28-29 program on the bus 30-33 bus ministry procedures 34-37 part iii ­ the growing of a bus ministry 38-54 enlisting workers for the bus ministry 38-40 training workers 41 keeping bus workers excited 42 why do we have bus ministry slumps 43 ways to overcome a bus ministry slump 44 promotion and the bus ministry 45-47 successful individual sunday promotions 48-49 how to have a successful big day 50-52 having a reaching parents month and parent sunday 53-54 part iv ­ the behind the scenes operation of a bus ministry 55-64 records 55 protection for your church against child abuse charges 56 purchasing buses 57-59 the bus meeting 60-61 financing the bus ministry 62 how to handle benevolence requests 63-64

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table of contents part v ­ bus driver information 65-91 the driver file 65-66 commercial drivers license cdl requirement 67 general knowledge sample test 68-76 air brakes sample test 77-80 passenger sample test 81-83 answer key 84 pre-trip inspection 85 cdl pre-trip inspection 86-89 federal requirements on drug and alcohol testing of cdl drivers 90-91 part vi ­ the leadership of a bus ministry 92-112 traits of successful leaders 92 how to be a visionary leader 93 leadership principles for bus workers 94-95 delegation biblically illustrated 96-97 delegation 98-100 goal characteristics 101 how to get a great idea 102-103 practical thoughts in effective time management 104 how to get an extra hour out of every day 105-106 making a move 107-109 the bus worker and his family 110-111 bus ministry helps 112

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philosophy of the bus ministry matthew 28:19-20 acts 16:31 i the purpose of the bus ministry a to carry out the great commission 1 winning people to jesus christ 2 baptizing the converts 3 discipling the converts b to have any other purpose will not have god s blessing c some wrong purposes 1 to feel sorry for poor children 2 to have a bus ministry because other churches in your fellowship have one 3 to please influential members that may feel strongly that the church should have one 4 to have one because you have always had one ii the practice of the bus ministry a to attempt to get unchurched non-gospel preaching churches children to ride the bus b to do this obviously you must secure parents permission c to attempt through the sunday school to evangelize the children d to do follow-up on the riders that make professions and to determine if they have understood the plan of salvation e if they do understand explain believer s baptism to the rider and attempt to get the parents permission for baptism f using various programs disciple the riders in the lord g in the process of bringing children and attempting to reach them you are also inviting and giving the parents the gospel h your goal is to get the whole family saved driving-in to church and serving the lord 1

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iii the problems of the bus ministry a resisting the devil s opposition b securing and maintaining a staff of workers c training and motivating the workers to be productive d problems with discipline e discouragement of workers f keeping workers steadfast iv the price of the bus ministry a it costs money b it costs leaders and workers time and effort c it costs misunderstanding on occasion d its rewards far outweigh its overall costs v the potential of the bus ministry a a bus ministry has as much potential as its leaders and workers have faith b riders lives are changed for time and eternity c parents are reached and the home is transformed d riders grow up and become workers and leaders in the church 2

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seven essentials of the bus ministry i prayer there is a necessity for prayer on the bus route sometimes bus workers learn methodology but neglect the most important essential prayer gets god working in people s lives on the bus route ii love does five things gets peoples attention brings about their approval brings about their acceptance brings about their affection for you brings about attachment to you bus kids can sense if the bus worker loves them people respond to love iii visitation should be planned should be disciplined should be long you reap what you sow should go on despite the weather or your feelings iv excitement kids are attracted to people that are exciting be as excited as your personality will allow you to be v service minister to the people you are their servant for jesus sake vi promotion smallest percentage of seven essentials vii persistence be faithful don t quit commit yourself to that bus route note these seven essentials were presented years ago by dr jim vineyard i have found them to be exactly on target 3

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the motive of the bus ministry i the wrong motives a b some churches are in the bus ministry just because someone donated a bus to them some churches are in the bus ministry because some influential member has demanded they be in it some pastors are in the bus ministry because their pastor friends would look down on them if they got out some churches got in the bus ministry because it was the popular thing to do this certainly is not the case today as the bus ministry is less popular today than ever before some churches are in the bus ministry because they feel their church should do something to help poor people social gospel some churches are in the bus ministry as a way to increase their attendance figures attendance is the sole motivating factor c d e f ii the right motives a the right motive for getting in the bus ministry is to reach souls with the gospel the byproduct will be church growth consider the church at jerusalem as they got burdened for souls 1 acts 1:15 ­ 120 in upper room 2 acts 2:41 ­ 3000 saved on day of pentecost 3 acts 2:47 ­ lord added daily such as should be saved 4 acts 4:1-4 ­ 5000 men saved 5 acts 4:32 ­ a multitude saved 6 acts 5:14 ­ multitudes saved 7 acts 6:1 ­ multiplied 8 acts 6:7 ­ multiplied greatly c make sure your motive is right so god can bless your ministry b 4

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problems in starting a bus ministry i the pastor the pastor must be for the bus ministry if it is to succeed ii the people of the church a must be supportive of the bus ministry b a lack of burden for souls is the reason they are not sold c use of proper support by the pastor is the best way to sell the church iii securing reliable and reasonably priced buses iv securing workers biggest problem v teachers and space the church must have adequate space and trained teachers to work with the bus kids vi motivation of workers second biggest problem vii finances the church would need adequate finances to afford the bus ministry viii.problems with follow-up problems getting workers to follow-up on riders and their families ix discipline problems with discipline of bus riders x discouragement problems with discouragement of workers third greatest problem 5

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what causes bus workers to be discouraged i some think about their problems too much think about your victories not problems ii feeling sorry for yourself martyr complex iii taking your problems to others seeking sympathy take problems only to people who can help you iv the idea you ve visited everybody on the bus route this happens after you are on the same route for a period of time v you ve done your time in the bus ministry the devil will tell you to change to a less demanding ministry vi you ve lost your favorite bus riders anybody that has been on a bus route has experienced this heartache vii the devil will tell you that you spend too much time on your bus route viii.the kids are not getting anything out of it ix the bus is worn out buses should be well maintained so this will not be a discouraging factor x the preacher doesn t appreciate what you are doing the pastor needs to be sensitive to his workers and often praise them xi trouble with the sunday school teachers mostly lack of communication xii discouragement from outsider s comments people that are critics xiii.you don t have enough help on the bus route very common problem 6

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handling problems i expect problems any time you work with people expect problems ii identify the real problem sometimes the surface problem is not the real underlying problem iii consider the source always evaluate who it is that is bringing the problem to your attention iv don t overreact be calm as you are listening to and solving problems v decide what action should be taken a leader must make wise decisions to solve the problem vi be careful when you deal with people never overreact to people you can correct people firmly but with kindness vii correct the problem as soon as possible problems that are not corrected quickly build to be larger problems viii.avoid bothering the pastor with small problems only major problems should be brought to the pastor s attention ix pray about problems god through prayer will give you the wisdom you need for problem solutions x give god the glory always reflect all glory to the lord not to yourself 7

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sixteen things that will kill a bus route gardner gentry years ago taught there were sixteen things that would kill a bus route see if you don t agree i laziness lazy bus workers will never put in the necessary effort needed to build a successful bus route ii lack of training new folks getting involved in the bus ministry must be given some training to be successful on their bus route iii lack of concern people that are not burdened for their route will be little used by the lord iv inconsistency you must be instant in season and out of season v grouchiness bus kids don t like grouches vi worldliness a love not the world 1 john 2:15 b be not conformed to this world romans 12:2 vii fear we are commanded to be strong and of a good courage joshua 1:6 viii.no program on the bus boring bus rides do not interest bus kids ix no love bus kids know if you love them x quitting be ye steadfast immoveable always abounding in the work of the lord 1 corinthians 15:58 8

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xi no prayer no prayer no power little prayer little power much prayer much power xii no zeal we are to be zealous of good works titus 2:14 xiii.wrong approach be ye wise as serpents matthew 10:16 xiv.staying too long don t wear people out on visitation by camping at their door xv false promises always keep any promises you make to your bus riders xvi.unprepared teachers teachers must be made to understand the importance of their privilege to give out the word of god 9

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where to select the routes for the bus ministry i ii always pray for god s leadership in this matter the pastor should do the selecting of the beginning routes he should have as much input as he wants when adding additional routes iii look around your own church building first you may or may not want to have a route by your own church iv start where there are many children as they will make up most of your bus attendance v consider the many areas where there are large numbers of unchurched people a normal residential areas b government housing projects c apartment complexes d mobile home parks many have young couples with children e low income areas you will always find it easier to get riders in the lower income areas f military installations most married military have children vi as your bus ministry grows consider areas where you bus captains may have a special burden vii don t be afraid to consider the area where other churches are or where other church buses are going make sure your workers do not proselyte nobody can reach everybody viii.it is a good idea to get a good map of your area mark the boundaries on the map so each captain clearly understands the boundaries 10

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prayer and the bus ministry introduction any type of service for christ in the local church must be rooted and grounded in prayer the bus ministry like other ministries in the local church sometimes depends more on methods and techniques than god make note any bus ministry that is burdened to reach the lost and baptize and disciple the converts will be a bus ministry that has workers that labor in prayer i we need to pray for our needs a we need to learn to ask god for the needs of our co-workers riders and parents on our bus routes philippians 4:19 b some needs we can supply for people such as food or clothing but we need to let people know god is concerned about them and will supply their needs c make a prayer list after visitation each week and pray for the needs of families on your bus route d tell people you are specifically praying for them then do not neglect to do it ii we need to pray without ceasing a some needs are so pressing the holy spirit will lead us to pray without ceasing 1 thes 5:17 b this means praying at all times for these needs c we can pray as we are working walking driving in the car eating or any waking moment iii we need to pray and fast at times a when we want special things from god prayer and fasting are the key mark 9:29 b fasting may be for a day or sometimes for a number of days c prayer and fasting generally come at desperate times when only this kind will work iv we need on occasion to pray all night a all night praying is a form of fasting for a person is going without sleep to pray luke 22:40,46 b we are showing god our sincere desire for him to answer our prayers c every bus worker will find there will be times when he must pray all night 11

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