Local Church Launches Innovative Outreach with Mission Bus

A local parish has found an innovative way to bring the message of the gospel right to where the people are with its very own suped up mission bus.

Locals in the parish of Christ Church Hackenthorpe will keep their ears pierced for the cry of 'All Aboard' this autumn as the church literally takes itself out of the church and into the community.

The bus, christened The Wayfinder, was bought and revamped inside and out by the church with the specific intention of sending out parish teams into Hackenthorpe and the wider region to engage more intimately with local people.

And it might be a small space but it has been used to the max, with the mission bus listing among its new features café-style seating, up-to-date audio and visual equipment, coffee facilities and even an altar.

It's altogether a relaxed and comfortable place where people looking for some quiet time can gather together and meditate on their faith, pray or simply brainstorm even more ways to connect with the local people.

Exploring different ways to reach out to the community is in the blood at Christ Church and the mission bus nicely complements the church's opening of the Home of Healing venue for people to gather and talk.

Rev Steve Willett, Vicar of Christ Church, believes that it is vital to explore fresh expressions of church and find new ways of connecting with people.

He said: "It is important to keep up with a changing society and sometimes this means providing something a little different".

"People don't go to church for various reasons. It may be because of travelling difficulties, so it is up to us to bring it to them.

The bus is also a great way of capturing those people in the community who believe in God but who feel unfulfilled by traditional services.

"I also find that many people who don't come to church have a belief in God, but struggle to find meaning from traditional services," said Rev Willett.

"This is our way of reaching out to them", he added.