Working the Bus Ministry

They announced to the bus kids today that we'll be having their special program at the big church next Sunday morning. They'll be singing and saying verses and it's going to be really sweet. The parents, of course, are invited to come and we'll be taking all the children for Papa's Pizza at the park afterward. They're really excited about that.

There are numerous children who come to bus ministry. Most of them come from homes where they are neglected and left to tend to themselves. Seven year olds babysitting their younger brothers and sisters while their parents are gone for whatever reason. Or a mother who is hooked on pills for depression stays in bed while her son never gets a bath, a meal, or a hug. Some of them come from neighborhoods where their future is overshadowed by gangs and violence, drugs, and alcohol.

Some of them just want you to hold their hand, acknowledge their existence, tell them they're special.

They seem to flock around Justin. Especially the tiny ones. They want his piggyback rides and silly jokes. They look for him when they get on the bus.

I know there are those that would say we should reach out to those in other countries, and I do agree to that. That's why Bruce and I give a portion of his paycheck each week to missions around the world. But I also believe that reaching out to those in our community is just as important.

I'm thankful for the opportunity that God has given us as a family to take part in such a wonderful ministry.