By Daryl Tarver
If a church wants to grow, it doesn’t have the luxury of taking a “But we’ve always done it that way” approach. To keep moving forward, you need to be able to transport your congregation wherever they can be of service.
These are three of the best reasons to buy a bus for your church, but there’s no doubt you’ll find endless ways to put it to use.
- To Get Parishioners to Church
People might be curious about your services but have no way to visit. Cars break down. Aging congregants have a hard time getting around. But if the church has a bus at its disposal, it can arrange for regular routes to deliver worshippers to services and back home again. A larger vehicle makes it easier to transport anyone with disabilities, and new customizations can make it much less of a hassle. Church members can get to know each other on the ride.
- To Interact More with the Community
Your church may have all kinds of ideas for outreach projects: youth events, food drives, meal deliveries, and assisting any neighbor in need. With a bus, your group can travel together with all your supplies and go anywhere. Of course, you can use the transportation for recreational activities like taking your choir on the road for local concerts. Knowing that you have your own bus, you can plan well ahead without worrying about renting or arranging rides.
- To Create Awareness
You can customize your bus with vinyl wrapping or a paint job with your church’s name and logo. When your community sees your church bus regularly around town, they won’t need to be told about the good work you do. They won’t need an invitation through the mail to visit. A bus is a mobile representative of your congregation. Your mission isn’t to stay in place. It’s to expand and welcome newcomers, too.
The best reasons to buy a bus for your church are about bringing people together. To connect with the community, sometimes you need to meet them halfway—or more. If you’re not sure you need a full-sized coach bus, you can look into a new or used shuttle bus for sale to ensure the church budget can accommodate it.
Benefits of Buying Used Shuttle Buses
If you’re looking for a refurbished vehicle, you’ve already asked yourself the most important question: Why spend more money than necessary? The benefits of buying used shuttle buses go beyond your budget, so keep these in mind during your search.
Cost
A preowned shuttle can be a fraction of the cost of the latest model, and refurbishment makes it nearly impossible to tell the difference. With proper maintenance and care, shuttle buses can last a very long time.
For many, it may not make sense to invest in the latest model of shuttle bus that depreciates as soon as it’s driven off the lot. If you won’t be using the shuttle every day, or if you’re not planning to use it for long distances, you won’t be adding much mileage to the meter. You can easily have the latest technology added to a used bus for a fraction of the price of a new model.
Versatility
The cost of a refurbished model makes it accessible to more buyers, resulting in more possibilities. A used shuttle can save a new business money for startup costs. Any group can take advantage of lower-cost transportation: schools, churches, resorts, senior living facilities, municipalities, etc. Passengers with disabilities may prefer traveling with more room, too.
Customization
Lower price doesn’t mean compromising on quality. Whatever your specific needs, they may be more attainable with a preowned shuttle. You can make it brand-new for your purposes, adding the technology you need. You can make it look brand-new, too, by updating paint, upholstery, and flooring.
Quick Delivery
A new bus may require specifications that can delay delivery anywhere from 9 to 12 months. But a refurbished vehicle is already on the lot, so you can start the refurbishment process immediately. Your customization process typically takes 2 to 4 weeks for faster turnaround.
Environment
Buses are already considered the greenest way to travel, as they cut down on emissions, use less fuel for more passengers, and ease traffic congestion that increases pollution. On top of that, refurbishment can put used vehicles back into use instead of adding more vehicles to the roads.
Daryl Tarver is the commercial sales manager for National Bus Sales, www.nationalbus.com.
