By Aaron E. Ziebarth Executive Director
I’ll never forget the first day that I drove a school bus. I was a young seminary student in need of employment. I needed something that would help to pay the bills for school. I also sensed that God was telling me to get a job where I would regularly interact with people who didn’t know the Lord.
Somewhere along the line he planted in me the idea of driving a school bus. I knew this would be an opportunity to see students daily, many of whom did not know him. Little did I know that the Lord would use this opportunity to connect me with many drivers as well.
During my second year of driving bus, I became the standby driver and back-up dispatcher. Little did I know that the Lord wanted me there so that I would develop a friendship with the dispatcher and ultimately lead him to the Lord.
And now, years later, I still have my license and occasionally drive Released Time students and summer campers!
Currently one of our greatest needs is having licensed bus drivers. Last year, one of our longtime volunteers decided that she would get her license. “I knew there was a need. My dad was a truck driver so I thought I could do it,” shares Deb Long.
“There was a long training process,” Deb continued, “but it was worth it.”
Now Deb is one of two drivers that are needed to bring children to her Released Time (there are over 100 students in the third grade alone and fourth grade will soon need a second bus).
I realize that our bus might be a lot bigger than your car. The thought of learning to drive a bus may be a little scary. But as I ask you to pray about this remember, our God is bigger than any school bus. 🙂
Currently 163 children are in jeopardy of missing Released Time until we get the drivers in the Waynesboro area. Drivers are needed elsewhere too. For more information, please contact Jan Diaz at 717-369-4539 or [email protected].
