Van Teams

Each van team operates independently and the Trust exists to help and encourage in any way possible. Van teams get support both in their own locality and from one another. Each team will have at least one local church or fellowship group that supports them in prayer.

A team consists of several members plus a Co-ordinator and a Pastor. These will be chosen by the team and appointed by the trust with the Co-ordinator responsible for the general organisation of the visits, while the Pastor gathers the team together regularly for encouragement, prayer, and to keep alive their original vision.

The van needs to be looking good as it is an obvious way of advertising the movement with the words “Good News Van – Christian Book Service” on both sides of the vehicle.

The teams usually keep a list of their books for reference, sometimes these will be under several categories. It is usual to have a treasurer to keep an eye on the finances and remind the teams when tax, insurance and the MOT are due. If at all possible the team appoint someone to be their van carer. The carer is someone with knowledge of how cars work in order to advise the team if there is a problem. They can also look after fuelling of the van etc.

Sometimes a van team will arrange an evening or day of fellowship for their borrowers, often combining worship, prayer and perhaps a talk, with opportunities for them to meet new people and share ideas, experience and problems with each other over refreshments. The Library Service has long tended to draw Christians together across denominational boundaries and continues to do so.