By Dave Smith

I. Prayer

There is a necessity for prayer on the bus route. Sometimes bus workers learn methodology hut 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.

This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”