Graham Cray reflects on the story of Church on the Bus.
Church on the Bus wonderfully embodies a number of principles which are essential for the Church's mission.
This is 'go to' mission, rather than 'you come to us' mission. If the bus turned out to be in the wrong place in each town, it is easily moved to where the people are. The bus does not exist for the convenience of the team, but of the people it was set up to serve. The same should also apply to our less mobile buildings and resources.
This is 'word and deed' mission offering food, clothing, friendship, counsel and the good news of Christ. The gospel is put into action and words carry authority because they have already been backed up by deeds.
And this is mission echoing God's heart from the poor and excluded. You get the sense that Jesus, not just the Archbishop, is at home on the bus! Not every church can have a bus, but every church can ask the questions, 'To whom can we go? How can we serve? And where can we gather new people around Jesus?'