Volunteer Application

The Volunteer Application is for those interested in joining Friend Ships for a short or a long period of time.  This could be from a few days to a couple of weeks, several months or many years. 

This is the current procedure for becoming a volunteer with Friend Ships:

1. Download the complete "Volunteer Application."  Fill out all necessary paperwork included in the application.  Mail it to Friend Ships, Attn.: Personnel Department: 1019 North First Avenue, Lake Charles, LA  70601.  Submit the Pastor's Reference Evaluation Form to the Pastor of the church you are presently attending and ask him or her to return it to us under separate cover. If you are applying for 2 months or more please submit the Employer's Reference Evaluation Form to a current or recent employer and ask him or her to return it to us under separate cover.

2.The leadership at Friend Ships will prayerfully review your application after all related paperwork has been received. This process may vary, depending on each applicant. Note: The length of time on the application process depends on how soon all of the necessary paperwork is returned.

3. You may be asked to attend an interview if you live near our home office. If not, you will be interviewed by phone.

4. Evaluation period:  When you come to volunteer at Friend Ships, the first six months are set aside as an evaluation period.  During that time, we ask that you continue to pray and seek the Lord for His guidance and for what length of time you should commit to after your evaluation period.

5. After successful completion of the evaluation period, you will be invited to make a commitment for an additional period of time.  Please be advised that some specific positions, based on their nature and the training involved, may require a long-term commitment.

Please be prepared to return home at your own expense if that should be necessary for any reason. Room and board are provided free of charge while serving with Friend Ships. There is no pay whatsoever. Some of the most important qualities in a successful relationship with Friend Ships are:

Great commitment, spiritual and emotional maturity are required. Your location and duty preferences will be taken into consideration, but because of the nature of our work and the needs of the organization, shifting between facilities and departments often becomes necessary. Our work frequently takes us to war-torn, famine or disease stricken areas. You may be asked to travel to and work in such dangerous environments. Please remain open and flexible in all circumstances.

Ways to participate in a Friend Ships medical mission.

1. In “the field”(1-2 weeks):  Licensed healthcare providers (typically but not limited to: MDs, RNs, FNPs, DDSs, PAs) can apply to be included in the “Friend Ships On-Call Medical Volunteer” list. After you apply and are accepted, your name will be entered into our On-Call Medical Volunteer Database. When we have a need for healthcare providers, you will be contacted via email with the details of the upcoming mission. If the dates and location of the mission suit you, you would arrange for a flight to the mission site, and stay for one week (or more if you prefer). While on location, Friend Ships will provide for your food, housing and transportation.  Your only cost will be air-fare.  You must not make any travel arrangements without going through our Personnel Department for details.  This is necessary to ensure you have the correct airport, flights, dates and all other relevant information.

Please confirm with our Personnel Department before making any final arrangement for flights or transportation to ensure dates and times have not changed.

2. Supportive/Preparatory (short term):  Non-licensed or peripheral-primary care (pre-med, medical students, nursing students, LPNs, paramedics, EMTs, X-ray techs, etc) volunteers may be of use depending upon the current needs of the medical department, either at Port Mercy or in the field. (For example, an x-ray tech might be helpful if we receive a donation of an X-ray unit and it needs to be serviced or installed.) Contact the medical department to see if your skills can be of use or if you have questions.  Submit your application to the Friend Ships personnel Department.

For above category 1 & 2: Download the complete Volunteer Application. Submit it to Friend Ships to be placed on the On-Call database.  Once approved, you will be notified when positions are available for an upcoming medical outreach, provided you are interested and available at that time (Short-term placement).