Van Ministries

Through the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara strives to be active in our changing world by ministering to all God’s people. In our Van Ministries our goal is to have a safe and a positive experience for all participants, drivers, and "Shotguns," and to experience God’s love.
Geri Willoughby, Van Coordinator

Opportunities for Service in Our Van Ministries
The Primary Van Ministry is dedicated to transporting to and from church and other activities of the church people who would otherwise be unable to have fellowship and attend the activities and worship services of our church.
Primary Uses of Our Vans
Sunday Worship – Each Sunday Chariot of Friends – Second Wednesday of each month, Sept. through May. Youth field trips for the Early Childhood Center.
Presbycamp trips during the summer program.
High School and Junior High School group trips during the school year and summer.
Other events of our church as called upon, i.e. mission trips, special programs, etc.
How You Can Help:
It is not necessary to sign up for all events, but sign up and participate as your interest and your availability allow. The more drivers and shotguns we have the more blessings abound!


How to Become a Driver:

Eligibility:

Drivers of the large van must have a valid Class B driver’s license and health certificate. These are required to drive any vehicle that is capable of carrying over ten (10) passengers. Drivers must also have clearance with the church Business Administrator as to eligibility and insurance.

Drivers of the smaller vans must have a valid Class C driver’s license. Drivers must have clearance by the church administer and be on the church insurance.

Responsibilities:

The Sunday drivers' schedule is in the workroom near the phone where ‘Van Drivers’ and ‘Shotguns’ sign up for picking up people for Sunday worship services. If drivers find it is necessary to change the date they have signed up for, we ask that they please exchange or make arrangements to have the date they originally signed up for covered by another person.

Drivers are asked to assist in the listening of telephone messages and planning the routing. We meet in the workroom about twenty to thirty minutes before departure time. There is also a van drawer where the keys, notes, maps and miscellaneous items are kept. The number for retrieving the telephone messages from the workroom phone is also kept in this drawer.

Other Information and Reminders:

Check out the church vehicle and fill out the checkout log as provided on the small clipboard if the trip is less than one hundred (100) miles of the church. If driving Calvin more than one hundred miles, fill out the log book that is in the closed clip board. (This is required by highway patrol). These completed forms are to be turned into the Business Administrator at the end of each trip. Please note on these forms of any incident or malfunction of the vehicle.
Have the mobile phone in phone charger at beginning of each trip and turned on. The phone is to be kept in the church vehicle.
Direct the ‘Shotgun’ or if it is safe for you, the driver, to make phone calls to the prospective passengers upon the approximate time of arrival of the van. This requires teamwork to keep the schedule timely. Safety in the use of phones is of primary importance.
All passengers must have seatbelts properly fastened. Each van does have an extension seatbelt if one should be needed. (Kept in the engine cover cubby hole.)
If there is an emergency, please take appropriate action. Emergency contact numbers are attached on the smaller clipboard under the check-out forms.
How to Become a "Shotgun"

There is a signup sheet near the van calendar and next to the phone in the workroom where ‘Shotguns’ and ‘Van Drivers’ sign up for the use of van use and scheduling of drivers and shotguns. If Shorguns find it is necessary to change the date they have signed up for, they are asked to please exchange or make arrangements to have the date they signed up for covered by another person.

Shotguns assist in the listening of telephone messages and planning the routing. We meet in the workroom about twenty to thirty minutes before departure time. There is also a van drawer where the keys, notes, maps and miscellaneous items are kept. The number for retrieving telephone messages from the workroom phone is also kept in this drawer.

Under the direction of the driver, Shotguns help to prepare and check out the church vehicles. Vans are to be checked out each trip.

Assist the driver by making phone calls to the prospective passengers about the approximate time of arrival of the van. This sometimes requires teamwork to keep the schedule timely. Each vehicle has a mobile phone for this use. Safety in the use of phones is to be observed at all times.

Assist each passenger on and off the vehicle. This is for the safety of each passenger upon entering and exiting the vehicle. You may need to assist the passengers to or from their respective doors.

Assist in making sure all passengers use seatbelts that are properly and fastened. All passengers are required to use seatbelts. Each van does have an extension seatbelt if one is needed.

Offer candy to the passengers.

Assist in any emergency as the Drivers and Shotguns are responsible for the safety of all the participants.
 
Thank you for your assistance in this unique and rewarding ministry team of our church family. 		 

 

 

 

 

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