I debated for weeks - school bus or motorcoach for this weekend tour? A school bus is certainly the most economical, but there's something great about the luxury of a motorcoach: the nice seats, storage space underneath, and (my favorite) the on board microphone for making announcements to a noisy group. Plus, when a motorcoach pulls up, the kids don't let out a collective groan at riding the "big cheese." But these two forms of transportation carry their own steep costs. Bus prices are higher than they've ever been, and a motorcoach is nearly $1,000 more than a school bus.
While on regular Summer Tour, we have to take a motorcoach, but for this Weekend Tour - could we get away with a school bus?
I waited for a while to see if our numbers would dictate the bus type. With nearly 50 active singers in the group, we no longer fit on a school bus. But I knew we would have some kids who couldn't make it this weekend, and as their sign-up sheets came in, it became clear that we actually would fit on a school bus... and that left the decision up to me. And, still, I debated. Like any youth leader - I like making my kids happy, and a school bus isn't typically the path to happiness.
Finally - it dawned on me, WWAJD? Not what would Jesus do (although certainly consulting him is a good idea). What would Alice Jane do?
The funding for this Weekend Tour was provided by the family and friends of Alice Jane Greenwell. There's no way we'd be Touring this weekend if it weren't for Alice Jane. A long-time supporter of VIP, Alice Jane could always be counted on to help us in whatever way we needed. She made us many lemon pies over the years and rarely missed a performance. She cheered us on. She believed strongly in seeing youth involved in the church, and was always ready with a hug, a smile, or a word of encouragement. She was a gift to me and to VIP -- and I miss her dearly.
The funds for this tour didn't belong to me or the kids. They belonged to Alice Jance. So, what would Alice Jane do?
It took less than a minute to reach my conclusion - she'd take the school bus. The motorcoach, for all its niceness, wasn't a necessity. And while my kids might not be thrilled - my job is not always to thrill them. It's to teach them good stewardship, how to use gifts wisely to meet a ministry's needs. If I could talk to Alice Jane, I suspect she would have told me that. A school bus would meet our needs - and my VIPs would be disappointed for about a minute before they moved on. That's just how kids are. At the end of the Weekend, I suspect the type of bus we took wouldn't matter at all.
So, Alice Jane, thank you for helping me sort this one out. Thank you for supporting me and VIP in so many ways over the years. This Tour's for you...
While on regular Summer Tour, we have to take a motorcoach, but for this Weekend Tour - could we get away with a school bus?
I waited for a while to see if our numbers would dictate the bus type. With nearly 50 active singers in the group, we no longer fit on a school bus. But I knew we would have some kids who couldn't make it this weekend, and as their sign-up sheets came in, it became clear that we actually would fit on a school bus... and that left the decision up to me. And, still, I debated. Like any youth leader - I like making my kids happy, and a school bus isn't typically the path to happiness.
Finally - it dawned on me, WWAJD? Not what would Jesus do (although certainly consulting him is a good idea). What would Alice Jane do?
The funding for this Weekend Tour was provided by the family and friends of Alice Jane Greenwell. There's no way we'd be Touring this weekend if it weren't for Alice Jane. A long-time supporter of VIP, Alice Jane could always be counted on to help us in whatever way we needed. She made us many lemon pies over the years and rarely missed a performance. She cheered us on. She believed strongly in seeing youth involved in the church, and was always ready with a hug, a smile, or a word of encouragement. She was a gift to me and to VIP -- and I miss her dearly.
The funds for this tour didn't belong to me or the kids. They belonged to Alice Jance. So, what would Alice Jane do?
It took less than a minute to reach my conclusion - she'd take the school bus. The motorcoach, for all its niceness, wasn't a necessity. And while my kids might not be thrilled - my job is not always to thrill them. It's to teach them good stewardship, how to use gifts wisely to meet a ministry's needs. If I could talk to Alice Jane, I suspect she would have told me that. A school bus would meet our needs - and my VIPs would be disappointed for about a minute before they moved on. That's just how kids are. At the end of the Weekend, I suspect the type of bus we took wouldn't matter at all.
So, Alice Jane, thank you for helping me sort this one out. Thank you for supporting me and VIP in so many ways over the years. This Tour's for you...