Bus driver Rick for Convo

Edwards uses his occupation to encourage students and share the Gospel

For Richard Edwards, being a bus driver has never been a job; it’s a full-time ministry.

The Liberty transit employee, commonly known as “Bus Driver Rick,” wants to be known as more than a bus driver. Edwards, who goes by Rick, uses his unique platform to minister to the students he encounters at Liberty.

“True ministry isn’t dependent on a job,” Edwards said while stirring his iced tea with a straw. “True ministry comes from being where Christ wants you to be right where you are.”

After moving to the Lynchburg area three years ago in order to better serve his family, Edwards did not have a lot of time to wonder where he thought God was leading him. He was offered a job driving buses three days after moving in.

And if there was any doubt that driving buses is not what God planned for Rick’s life, it does not show in his testimony.

“I can’t wait to wake up every day and meet that person that I can be an encouragement to,” Edwards said. “I do what I do because of the students. I love the students.”

Simple acts of encouragement and gratitude is what Edwards lives for. His services to the students come in all different forms. From greeting everyone steps on his bus, to talking with students on a personal level, to stopping the bus in the middle of a route and praying with them.

In the middle of describing his love for Liberty students, Rick stood up and called out a student’s name, waving at her while she walked by. She smiled and waved back.

“I love to remember names,” Edwards said. “They don’t expect you to remember their name, but it lets them know I care.”

Edwards’ care for students has been anything but unnoticed. Students have taken note of his compassion since his arrival on campus, and his impact on students has evolved into a recent movement to get Bus Driver Rick to speak at Liberty’s Convocation.

The Facebook page, “Bus Driver Rick for LU Convo,” has received a lot of support since its creation in August – more than 900 likes – and page creator James Limauro hopes that the page will help influence Edwards’ chances of being featured in the Spring Convocation lineup.

“He [Rick] is already a popular figure on campus,” Limauro said. “It would be awesome to hear from such a down to earth and regular person that students already know.”

To Edwards, the movement for him to speak at Convocation is mostly flattering, though if given the chance he said he would accept the opportunity to share his testimony and the love of Christ.

“I don’t think it will happen,” Edwards said, considering his chances of being chosen to speak at convocation. “But if it’s a confirmation that God is successfully using me to encourage students, then I’m happy with that.”

Despite his rapid popularity at Liberty, Edwards takes no responsibility for his influence on the students. According to him, his love for the students comes from Christ’s love for him. And it is his wife, Karen, that has become the ultimate model of Christ in his life.

“Every man has a greater woman in his life,” Edwards said. “If any person should get the attention, it should be my wife.”

Edwards admitted that it is tricky making sure pride does not become a factor in his service to students. Though he says the popularity gives him a platform to share the love of Christ, prayer is constantly needed to make sure he does not think of himself as bigger than his cause.

“If it’s about ‘Bus Driver Rick,’ then I blew it,” Edwards said. “But if it’s about Jesus, then I think I’ve been pretty successful.”

Above all else, Rick said he hopes to be nothing more than an encourager to students.

“Remember that the greatest value in life is learning to love everyone,” Edwards said. “Genuine love will always be worth it.”

Bus Driver Rick encourages anyone that wants to talk or meet up with him to e-mail him at raedwards@liberty.edu or follow him on Twitter (@busdriverrick) and Instagram (@lubusdriverrick).

YOUNG is a feature reporter.