Religious Routes Church uses buses, vans to minister
SLIPPERY ROCK — Pastors at Slippery Rock Baptist Church aren't content staying in the pulpit on Sundays. Instead, they wake in the early hours and put in extra hours on the road.
About four years ago, the church on Keister Road started a bus ministry, using a school bus and van to travel around to speak with people in need.
According to youth pastor John Milton, volunteer drivers help out while he and pastor David Barnhouse speak with residents and try to help them with problems.
The buses also canvass neighborhoods on Saturdays to arrange transportation to church on Sundays, when buses travel between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Although it takes extra hours and expense to run the buses, the effort pays off in many ways, Milton said.
"It's one of the most tiring jobs but also one of the places with the most rewards," he said, noting a typical Sunday costs about $300 in gas.
"There's an expense, yes, but it blesses our church," he added. "We get the blessing of seeing people's lives change."
Lacey Campbell, 17, of West Sunbury, has been riding the bus to church since 2002.
"The people who drive the bus, they just started knocking on doors to see who wanted to go to church," she said.
"I go every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night," she said, explaining her mother provides much of the transportation.
"I've changed in so many ways. I practically grew up in that church. They've become like a second family to me."
The ministry has traveled all around the area but has focused recently in New Castle, where, according to Milton, there is a large need for the church.
"We see bullet holes in the doors of the places we visit," he said.
Part of the long-term goal for Slippery Rock Baptist is to build a new church in New Castle, he added.
Although attendance at the church averages about 400, Barnhouse said when he began as pastor seven years ago, attendance was closer to 30.Since that time, the church has acquired two full-size buses, two vans and an airport-type shuttle.Barnhouse said 12 or 13 members of the congregation possess commercial driver's licenses, most obtained solely to help with the ministry."I think only two people actually drive for a living,"he said."I have a CDL and I don't drive a truck."While the church's main goal is to reach families, most of the riders are young people who need a ride to church, said Milton. At this time of year, especially when the church holds vacation Bible school, as many as 100 kids will ride the bus at a time, he said. On a typical Sunday, 20 to 30 might ride; however, students at Grove City College boost ridership when school is in session.Vacation Bible school will begin Aug. 4 with the theme "In the Beginning," according to Milton.Harold Stahlman of Barkeyville, the bus captain, has been involved in the ministry since last summer. Sometimes he does the driving and sometimes he rides along to visit families or counsel kids."I like the fact that when you dedicate time you do see a dramatic change in these people's lives," he said. "It's definitely small bits at a time, but we make an impact where we go."Stahlman, who also teaches Sunday school, said the most important impact seems to be seen in the children they visit."We assure them that no matter who they are or where they're from, Jesus loves them," Stahlman said.
