Zach Hickey & Max Burt

For some people, attending a worship service at Trinity is as simple as jumping in their car, parking in the church parking lot, and choosing a seat in the sanctuary. It’s not all that easy for everyone. For people who need assistance with getting to church for one reason or another, Trinity offers a fantastic service with the Worship Transportation Ministry. 

The NIACOG bus picks up people at their homes and provides a safe and comfortable ride to church, and many times two high school guys, Max Burt and Zach Hickey will be on that bus, ready to assist in any way. This ministry began with the use of a van and was initially called the “Van Ministry.” That van “grew” into a bus as the ministry expanded in popularity and needed additional space.

Follow along with Max and Zach as they provide a little background about the ministry itself…and learn about these two young men in the process.

Max Burt
How did you decide to get involved with the Worship Transportation Ministry?

I became interested in helping with Van Transportation because my cousin, Jake Rood, helped with it when he was in high school. Jake and Avery Mellman usually teamed up together. They talked about how much they enjoyed helping members get to and from church. Once Jake went off to college, Avery was still wanting to help with this ministry so I started going along with him. This is something I have now enjoyed since I was in 8th grade. 

Tell us about a “usual” schedule for you from start to finish.

I start by getting the clipboard from the counter by the office. The clipboard has a list of the people that are riding that day. After we get the list and clipboard, we get on the bus and begin the route. We have some riders that like a call 5 minutes prior to picking them up to let them know that we are on the way. The clipboard lets us know who would like a call and their number. Once we get to the person’s house, we get off and help them with anything they need. Some passengers need more help than others. Upon arrival at the church, we help everyone get off the bus and get seated for the service. We make sure that they get a bulletin and any other items they may need. If there is communion, we help them with that as needed. I usually sit with those that might need the most help. After the service is done, we help them get back to the bus and get them back home.

What was your most memorable experience with this ministry so far?

My most memorable experience was when I first began with Van Ministry. I worked with Avery Mellman for the first year or two, and we had a lot of fun together. We always picked up Stan first and had so much fun talking to him.

Tell us a little about yourself. What are you involved in? What’s your favorite subject in school? Any extracurricular activities? Do you work anywhere?

I am a junior at Newman Catholic High School. I am involved in baseball, football, and basketball. I am also involved in the art department at school. My favorite subject at school is anatomy because of the fun projects that we do, and I really enjoy my teacher. I currently mow five yards in the summer, and I plan on starting to umpire lower-level high school baseball games. 

If people are thinking about getting involved in this ministry in the future, what advice would you give them?

I think that everybody should give the Van Ministry a try. I have really enjoyed it, and Van Ministry has been a great way for me to meet members of the congregation. The relationships that I’ve developed with the riders have been great. They are always thankful and appreciative of our help and the opportunity to attend church. 

What are your future plans? How will serving Trinity in this way be a part of “your story?”

I will attend the University of Iowa. I have committed to playing baseball there, and I am looking forward to it. My major is undecided at this time. I think that the Van Ministry experience has given me the tools to talk to people that I don’t know well. It has strengthened my faith in helping and serving others. 

Zach Hickey
How did you decide to get involved with the Worship Transportation Ministry?
Last year, my brother Trev helped with the bus transportation. He was unable to [help this year] due to his work schedule, so I stepped in to help.

Tell us about a “usual” schedule for you from start to finish.

Upon arriving at the church, we check the messages left on the phone for anyone who will be riding the bus. This list is then given to the driver. We make sure the riders get on the bus safely from their doorstep to the bus. Some of our riders use walkers or wheelchairs. Once the bus arrives at the church, we then escort the riders to the sanctuary. Once the service is over, we escort the riders back to their homes. 

Tell us a little about yourself. What are you involved in? What’s your favorite subject in school? Any extracurricular activities? Do you work anywhere?

I am a Freshman at Newman. I enjoy cooking, turkey hunting, and camping. I enjoy helping my dad with the Ducks Unlimited banquet every year. My favorite subjects in school are History and Art. My favorite sport is playing basketball. 

If people are thinking about getting involved in this ministry in the future, what advice would you give them?

Go for it! It’s a great experience and a great way to help within the ministry. 

What are your future plans? How will serving Trinity in this way be a part of “your story?”

My future plan at this time is to finish high school and continue volunteering. Max stressed that this worship transportation ministry wouldn’t be possible without Tim, the bus driver. He said, “No matter what, Tim is always there and on time. Tim operates the lift for the riders that can’t use the stairs to get on the bus.”

It’s the little things that mean so much in life, and to some, this “little thing” allows them to leave their house and worship with other Trinity members. Thanks to people like Max and Zach, this is a pretty meaningful service…and quite a big thing indeed.†