While larger organizations like megachurches are able to easily afford owning and maintaining an entire fleet of buses, smaller churches like those in rural areas often have less resources to put towards their congregation’s transportation options.
Generally, this means the churches might put a little bit of money back to reimburse volunteers who offer their own vehicles and driving skills to help out. But, rural churches have more need for transportation than their urban counterparts. To start with, members of the congregation have to travel significantly further to worship every week, and with less members to volunteer their time church members with special transportation needs may fall through the cracks.
Volunteer drivers are typically available for regularly scheduled services and most events, but what is your organization’s plan if those charitable individuals are unable to provide their services for a week due to illness or going out of town? What is the plan for transporting your church youth group to a summer Bible camp if your only van breaks down?
These exact scenarios are why many smaller churches are looking towards shuttles as the solution to all their transportation problems.
With the wide variety of size and styles, you can always find a shuttle that will fit your own congregation’s unique needs, and you can be sure your vehicle is always in driving condition when you are in charge of maintaining it. You may even have a member of your congregation willing to take on the responsibility of repairing the shuttle as needed.
Depending on your state and the size of the vehicle you choose, you may have to ask a few members of your congregation to become certified to drive the shuttle. But, you’ll be more able to organize and plan for trips and routes that your shuttle will have to take by having a few members entirely committed to the task of driving, rather than relying on individuals to step forward as needed.
The best part of owning a shuttle is its ability to pay for itself. Many small churches probably balk at the idea of making a relatively large initial investment for a shuttle bus that will always need to be fueled up and maintained.
As one of the few organizations in your community with the means to help transport those who are without other transportation options, churches with a shuttle are able to provide a service to the surrounding area. This helps build the community, attract members of the public to your congregation, and you might be surprised by the amount of donations you can receive by simply providing a much needed service in the neighborhood and ensuring your congregation is always able to get where you need to.
