Riverview Baptist Church, Pasco, Wash., USA

Riverview Baptist Church started its Bus Ministry in 1965. Our late Pastor, Dr. Dallas Dobson was both the bus captain and the bus driver. The first bus was purchased with S&H Green Stamps that the church members had saved.

Pastor Dobson loved children and wanted them to have an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. he based the Bus Ministry on Matthew 19:14, "But Jesus said, Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Pastor John Paisley came to Riverview Baptist Church in 1974 and directed the Bus Ministry until 1983. At that time Pastor Mike Schwalbach was asked by Pastor Dobson to direct the Bus Ministry. Pastor Mike is currently our Bus Pastor and director of the Children's Ministries.

Presently, the church has sixteen bus routes in the Tri-Cities area. Nine of these routes are in Pasco, three of which go mainly to the Spanish speaking people. There are five routes in Kennewick, one in Richland and West Richland, and one in Finley. A new route is beginning in the Benton City area, a small rural community west of the Tri-Cities.

Each bus route is lead by an adult bus captain, a trained driver, and numerous helpers. There are approximately one hundred forty church members involved in the Bus Ministry.

The buses are maintained by a full time mechanic and other faithful men in the church, who give of their time to serve the Lord.

Nearly six hundred people ride the buses to church each Sunday Morning. They range in age from infants to the elderly.

Buses are available to pick up people who are confined to a wheelchair and those who stay in a nursing home. Many vans are also available to bring people to church. One van is used to pick up widows and widowers in the area.

Each rider is visited weekly by the bus captain and picked up at their home on Sunday Morning. On the way to church there is singing and Bible memorization.

Upon arriving at the church, the children are taken to the various children's churches according to their age. There is both English and Spanish speaking children's churches.

The Sonshine Class is available for extra special students. Deaf interpreters are also available as needed.

After church (11:45 A.M.) the bus riders return to their bus. There is always a tasty treat on the way home.

Buses and vans are also used on a limited basis for the Sunday and Wednesday Evening Services.

The Bus Ministry is supported solely by the tithes and offerings of the members of the Riverview Baptist Church.

If you live in the Tri-Cities area and are interested in riding a bus to church on Sunday Morning, please call our church office at 547-2021.

Thank You!