2023-12-31-accounts

Company Number 2796412 Registered Charity Number 1020558

The Christadelphian Bible Mission Trustees’ Annual Report

and Accounts For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

CONTENTS
Annual Report	3 – 20
Independent Auditor’s Report	21 – 24
Statement of Financial Activities	25
Balance Sheet	26
Cash Flow Statement	27
Notes to the accounts	28 – 42

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INTRODUCTION

2023 was a year where the immense problems caused by COVID were starting to fade into the distance and things would get back to “normal.” However, nothing in our world today is “normal.”

In a lot of ways things did start to get back to normal. In many countries visits resumed as before. This allowed the continuation of our primary objectives; preaching the Gospel and providing support to our brothers and sisters who are in need. However, the war in Ukraine meant that no visits were possible to Russia, Belarus or Ukraine. It was however a nice surprise to find that the country of Kazakhstan had changed its visa policy. This meant that for the first time in many years it was possible for visits to take place to Kazakhstan and to meet with our brothers and sisters in their homes.

The ongoing effect of the war in Ukraine has caused us to consider whether in future years, as the world becomes more turbulent, there may be other countries where visits are not possible. So this year we trialled a Bible School in Russia without UK brothers and sisters being present in person. A good number of Russian brothers and sisters met together face-to-face and UK representation was via zoom sessions. This was found to work well. Contact with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters has been maintained, a few have moved to safer locations but for many they have no option but to shelter and pray that no harm comes their way. Also with war occurring in Gaza/Israel, we continue to include our brothers and sisters in Israel in our prayers. They have not been physically harmed (by God’s grace) but are experiencing economic challenges in their daily life.

A good number of visits to Africa were undertaken. Sierra Leone in West Africa continues to be very receptive to the Gospel message with many baptisms recorded during the last visit. The situation in Cameroon is improving in many areas, with fewer incidents reported. However, the UK Government travel advice in the Cameroon Anglophone region continues to be ‘Advise against all travel’; hence support at a distance has been provided. In East Africa a number of visits have been made to Tanzania including a youth camp. Visits to Malawi were initially delayed due to the volatile weather in the region. Several visits to Mozambique were undertaken to support the large number of brothers and sisters in this country.

Welfare support has been high this year, largely due to the extraordinary storm damage in East Africa and our continuing commitment to support our brothers and sisters experiencing hardship in Turkey. As winter approaches we also stand ready to provide winter fuel support to those in colder regions.

A lot of hard work has been done with the CBM Media project (www.cbmmedia.org) to expand the number of languages and material content. We now have lessons available in nine different languages.

So we find that “normal” has in many cases not returned. Many of our brothers and sisters are affected by political instability in their country or by extraordinary weather events. All of this drives us to pray more fervently for our Lord’s return and to pray that in the meantime we will be granted the time and resources to continue to preach the Gospel until He returns.

Mark Basten

WEST AFRICA

Angola

A brother in Washington DC and the Kinshasa ecclesia (DRC) facilitated the instruction, interview, and baptism of a resident in Angola who then returned home and is now in isolation there.

Burundi

The general situation of the ecclesias remains stable. There is positive interest and the Rumonge ecclesia have 30 contacts who are taking first principle lessons. The Burundi government want churches to contribute to the development of their country with activities such as building of hospitals and schools.

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Cameroon

UK Government travel advice continues to be against travel in the Anglophone region, which is where most of our ecclesias are. This is despite a gradual easing of the ongoing conflict, which has enabled several brothers and sisters to return to their homes. The majority of the 36 ecclesias are now able to meet on a regular basis.

Funding from outside the country has enabled the construction of two new meeting rooms, and the completion of two more. In areas where travel is relatively easy there have been fraternals and sisters’ gatherings. There have been 11 baptisms during the year.

In February there was a visit from the UK to Douala, which is in the Francophone region, and brothers and sisters from many ecclesias came to meet with us there. The purpose of the visit was to build each other up in the Faith, to monitor events on the ground, to help and provide guidance. We were encouraged by the spiritual maturity which was evident.

D R Congo – East/West

The DRC continues to be a country plagued by instability and insecurity. But in spite of these obstacles the Word still shows its living quality and power to save, with a total of 46 baptisms during the course of the year. These baptisms were the results of visits made by brethren from Kinshasa and Goma, and also from an extensive visit made by Bro Benoit, who was accompanied by two brethren from Kinshasa. The Kinshasa ecclesia has now outgrown its previous rented accommodation and we have managed to purchase a conveniently located secure site, which will include a meeting room, a separate room for Sunday School and Meal-a-Day activities, and a baptismal bath.

D R Congo - South

The truth is spreading quickly, and we are working to ensure that we have brethren capable of teaching the truth, to strengthen first principles and to conduct interviews; and several of the young brethren present at the Conference were showing the ability and enthusiasm to prepare for these leadership roles. A new ecclesia has been opened at Lubumbashi; interested friends at Likasi, Kolwezi, Tumbwe and Fugurume are still actively involved in learning the Truth; and a postponed visit to the newly established ecclesia in Moba (to interview 75 candidates in Kalemie) is being re-scheduled.

Ghana

A CBM visit was made in April. A Bible School was arranged and hosted by the Cape Coast ecclesia at Ekon. The ecclesia was joined by brothers and sisters from Accra and Shama Junction. Visits were also made to the Adjoum and Moseaso ecclesias. During the year the Accra members, who had struggled to meet in post-Covid times, found an appropriate place in the Labadi area to meet regularly, and encourage each other in their faith. Sadly, the Tamale ecclesia suffered the sudden falling asleep of their faithful recording brother, Alex Sarpong.

Guinea

During the year CBM visits were made to the four ecclesias at N’Zerekore, and the Forest Region, and also the two ecclesias in the Coastal region. Though this has been a year of consolidation in the Forest region, an energetic preaching programme has been ongoing in the villages with many preparing for baptism.

During November, the annual fraternal weekend was held on the premises of Boma Sud’s rented hall. This was attended by over 90 brothers and sisters, including young people and contacts, who were encouraged by individual studies and group discussions on foundation principles. On the same weekend, at the Sonfonia hall, five baptisms were celebrated, including three from the Coyah ecclesia.

Ivory Coast

The first CBM visit for four years was made in the first half of the year. Abidjan ecclesia is blessed with its own hall, close to the Atlantic Ocean. It is well looked after, despite some maintenance issues which have arisen due to heavier rainfall than usual. Visits have continued to isolated members and preaching is ongoing. Three widows are grateful for the support they have received through the generosity of brothers and sisters.

Liberia

In the first quarter of the year, it was possible to visit nine of the eleven ecclesias in Liberia, including the very remote light-stand at Iti, established as a result of initiatives taken by local brethren. Baptisms had resulted, and a simple

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meeting room was built and funded by the members themselves. In Nimba county the brethren had built a partly selffunded meeting room at Dulay. The Sanniquellie ecclesia in Nimba has, for a number of years, met in a school room. Approval was given in the middle of the year for a hall to be built at Sanniquellie, on a piece of land which the ecclesia had owned for some time. That work is now nearing its completion.

Nigeria

It was not possible to hold the All-Nigeria gathering in the Easter period or undertake a visit to support at this time, because of difficulties in Nigeria arising from a shortage of currency due to the introduction of new bank notes and elections being held. A visit was undertaken in November, which allowed the opportunity to introduce two new fieldworkers to CBM work. Effective use of radio broadcasts continued in 2023 in the Eastern region and also in the Mid-West, generating many contacts. There were over twenty baptisms during the year with notable growth again at the Amapuife and Emene ecclesias. Land was purchased at Amapuife towards the end of the year. At Emene the plot was secured with a perimeter wall and the first phase of a building project for an ecclesial hall initiated.

Rwanda

Our members in the Goma conflict area still need our prayers. We look forward to resuming activities once the diplomatic tension between DRC and Rwanda eases.

Sierra Leone

The truth continues to flourish. There were 357 baptisms during or close to our visit in November resulting in four new ecclesias being formed. This growth to a total of 30 ecclesias and approximately 1500 brothers and sisters, can at least in part be attributed to the CBM media project which is being trialed in-country.

The morale of brothers and sisters is generally very high, but welfare, unemployment and high adult illiteracy are areas of major concern; and incredibly high inflation is taking its toll on our brothers and sisters, some of whom are close to the poverty threshold which is putting a strain on available resources.

The Gambia & Senegal

With health restraints amongst the team in the UK and in The Gambia, it has been a quiet year, but brother Ed and sister Jen Mander (whilst on holiday in Cyprus) were able to visit a Gambian contact – who is now continuing his studies in Italy. We are also grateful to the Newcastle UK ecclesia for maintaining regular Zoom contact with the Latri Kunda ecclesia.

Michael Green

EAST AFRICA

General

We continue to progress the CBM Media project with material and translations into the more common languages. As well as English, we now have a full set of French videos. The ‘Growing in Christ’ course is now available in Chichewa and Swahili. We are starting the ‘Bible-based Christianity’ course in Amharic. All material can be accessed via the East Africa website (www.bibleeastafrica.com). During the visits to Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia copies of the videos in English have been distributed on memory sticks along with Micro SD cards for display on PC, projectors and mobile phones. We have also trialed and left a media player in Ethiopia and South Sudan. Preaching websites have been created for Seychelles, Zimbabwe, and Uganda, all of which have the CBM Media videos.

Egypt

The year was frustrating in Egypt. Several attempts were made to visit Cairo and to bring three advanced contacts from Yemen to spend a few days with the visitors. However, obstacles were placed in our way each time, mainly by the authorities who changed the rules for travel between Yemen and Egypt. Further attempts will be made in 2024 and, God willing, we will be able to meet with brother Adel and the other contacts.

Ethiopia

2023 was a much better year for CBM activity. The troubles within the country continued despite a peace treaty between the government and the Tigrayan army and large parts of the north were deemed as no-go areas by the

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Foreign Office, but in the south there has been much less disturbance. Preaching activity took place in a regular fashion, especially in the town of Dilla. Brother Shiferaw Daniel made monthly visits there and usually took brother Eyassu Haile with him. The result was that in May the baptism took place of Zelalem Hordofa. He had been known to CBM for five years but needed teaching in his own language to bring him to understand the Bible fully. The Ethiopian brothers were delighted that they were able to carry out this task all the way to baptism without a UK presence in the country. In Dilla there is also a good number of other contacts. In November a visit was finally possible, and Dilla was a highlight of this as 17 people gathered for a day around the Bible. During the visit brothers from other parts of Ethiopia gathered together for a weekend of fellowship. Everyone who attended was greatly encouraged that such a meeting was again possible. Work has now begun on translating the CBM media videos into Amharic and audio for the first few topics was recorded as part of the visit. God willing, this will further the spread of the gospel to more and more people in this country. We thank our heavenly Father for his guidance through another year.

Kenya

After the brief visit in December of 2022, we were able to carry out an extensive tour, in April, of the Areas in the north west of the country, comprising five of the eight Areas overseen by the Kenya Committee (with elected elders from each of the Areas). Though food shortages have continued to be a challenge as a consequence of poor rains in 2022, famine issues are more significant in the south-easterly parts of the country. With Agape In Action, the CBM has been able to respond to those in need. During the April visit we were able to witness baptisms and meet with many individual ecclesias where new elders had been elected. Kenya maintains around 130 ecclesias with almost 3,400 members. Focus on the youth is also a priority, where we look to develop our young people to take on the ecclesial roles. We are grateful again to Agape In Action who support the Youth Camps, which give an opportunity to build our community in the generations which remain before the return of the Lord Jesus.

Madagascar/Mayotte

There are no longer any brothers and sisters in these areas, as all have moved to France.

Malawi

We witnessed the devastating impact of Cyclone Freddy in March. Welfare funds were sent to supply basic food in the face of the loss of homes, crops and halls. This was required for almost 50% of our members, which gives a sense of just how great the cyclone’s impact was on Malawi. These are no longer unusual events, and climate change is leading to increasingly powerful and damaging weather events on an annual basis. Our planned visit was delayed because of the severe damage to the roads. When we did visit we concentrated on improving the systems we have to support our brothers and sisters physically and spiritually in the face of the many challenges that occur. Despite the challenges they face, we continue to share news with the community of the many baptisms taking place, including 1,071 reported to us by the elders during 2023. We now have over 10,000 members according to our database, belonging to 194 ecclesias which are divided into 42 geographical areas, each represented by an area elder. These brothers continue to meet through the year to share news and discuss issues.

Mauritius

There was no visit made in 2023, but the brothers and sisters are continuing to meet together and preach God’s word to those around them resulting in a small number of baptisms this year. Migration of the younger members of the ecclesia to seek work in other countries continues to cause concern for the long-term health of the ecclesia, but contact has been maintained via e-mail and other electronic platforms.

Mozambique

The LORD has again increased the numbers of our brothers and sisters in Mozambique during 2023. It is not possible to provide an accurate number of Christadelphians, but it is estimated there are now over 20,000 brothers and sisters. The number of baptisms is approximately at the rate of 1,000 per year. The number of ecclesias is easier to keep track of and this was estimated at 969 during the year.

During March 2023, Cyclone Freddy entered Mozambique causing our brothers and sisters great hardship. Many ecclesial halls, homes, river-crossings, and roads were damaged (some completely collapsed). Some have since been rebuilt. Fast-growing crops have been sown and harvested. The Mozambicans are a remarkably resourceful nation. Assistance has been provided through CBM Welfare and Agape in Action and we thank these organisations for their help (together with various Non-Government Organisations).

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Four CBM trips took place during the year. Highlights from these trips included:

A gathering of 60 elders. The elders were guided through various scriptural studies, with particular emphasis on ecclesial welfare. This is very important as they can then travel back to their ecclesias and disseminate this information to the brothers and sisters in that ecclesia. A Sunday school teacher gathering was also held. When living on the breadline, it is important that the Sunday school teachers are given the encouragement, tools and support they need to teach the Bible.

Visits to approximately 35 ecclesias were made to provide scriptural encouragement, exhortation, studies, and practical advice. Some of these ecclesias are extremely remote, but the reception continues to be astonishing in some areas. For example, Gudu ecclesia in Mutarara where there were over 500 brothers and sisters, representing 40 ecclesias, all sitting under a mango tree listening to the Word being taught. Some had walked over 30km. Two brothers travelled 250km, sponsored by their ecclesias so they could travel back and tell them what they had heard. Finally, we would like to thank brother Trevor Radbourne for his faithful and enduring work as Mozambique CBM Linkman for 26 years. His enthusiasm, consistency, willingness and love for his Mozambican brothers and sisters has greatly contributed to the Lord’s work in this fertile land. The LORD God continues to greatly bless the work in Mozambique – for this we are truly thankful.

Seychelles

A trip to the Seychelles took place in September with three of the four members of the planned team travelling. The fourth was unable to travel due to a family bereavement. We met with four of the six members, doing breaking of breads and a Bible School. We were able to preach to five interested friends across the two main islands.

South Sudan

A visit was made to Juba in January by two Ugandan brothers. Arrangements were made for the annual renewal of registration, as well as the rented accommodation for the ecclesial hall. Several baptisms occurred during this trip, which was counterbalanced by the death of one of the senior brothers.

One of the newly baptised brothers went back and preached to his family in a remote part of the south-west of the country. A number travelled to Uganda to get interviewed and baptised. The response was so positive that a visit was made to their town and altogether we have had 16 baptisms there. It was important to establish this ecclesia, so we were able to arrange for a group to visit a training and development workshop in Uganda at the end of the year. This is the first time we have had baptisms outside of the capital Juba and we pray that God is with this new lightstand.

Tanzania

There were two visits during the year, involving visitors from both the UK and Uganda. The first visit concentrated on the Kigoma region because of the recent growth there, and also the far south-east and north. The second visit was during December. The first part included the youth camp and the gathering more material for the CBM media project at Ifakara. The second week continued with the CBM Trustees and AGM. The youth camp involved six young brothers and sisters from the UK, as well as the team from Uganda as a “training” exercise, with the aim of getting more young brothers and sisters involved in CBM work. We have continued to implement the recommendations made during the CBM trustees‘ visit in 2017, one of which was to continue to audit the use of CBM halls.

Uganda

Two trips were possible during the year, January and November, where the Mt Elgon and Lango areas were visited respectively. During the year we gathered more material for the CBM media project. The annual youth camp, sisters’ workshop and elders’ workshop took place in January. Bibles continue to be supplied and the more developed areas assisted in supporting preaching in other areas, including in South Sudan and Tanzania again. A Ugandan brother and sister joined us on a visit to Tanzania during December for the youth camp there. There are still 114 ecclesias, now with 32 permanent halls and 52 temporary ones. We continue to work with Agape in Action to support the two nursery schools in the Mt Elgon area, and CMaD has again supported water projects. There are now 1600 members, with 2,825 in total baptised since 1986, as recorded on our database, with approximately 200 baptised during 2023. The brothers and sisters are encouraged to seek out the “lost sheep”. There are still only two students corresponding with tutors in the UK, whilst the numbers of those being taught by our Ugandan brothers and sisters continue to increase. There has again been both drought and heavy rains which have required welfare help, aiding our brothers and sisters to recover from the severe rain that has yet again affected large parts of East Africa.

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Zambia

We were able to visit Zambia for the first time since COVID. We visited the south of the country and were able to spend time with brothers and sisters encouraging and building up. We were able to interview and witness nine baptisms. The truth has grown well in the area through the use of the “Good News of the Kingdom of God” book, local language correspondence and the hard work of local ecclesias. We were able to hold a Youth Conference which was well attended and appreciated. It is always good to be able to get young people together and it builds relationships which will, God willing, work together towards the future of the truth in Zambia.

Zimbabwe

2023 was an election year in Zimbabwe with restrictions on large gatherings. The Northern Bible Weekend had to be cancelled and other activities were curtailed. Following the election, a visit and Southern Bible Weekend were organised for October. During the visit, which involved a 1,000 mile tour of the country, we met with six of the ten ecclesias in the north, attended quarterly meetings of the two regional elders’ committees (north and south), and participated in the Bible weekend in the south.

The Bible weekend was held at the Bulawayo ecclesial hall complex, which is also home to the Zimbabwe Christadelphian office. Brothers and sisters from seven of the nine ecclesias in the south, plus children, attended. Four visitors were present for some sessions. The weekend was based around Ezekiel’s prophecies and the crucifixion and resurrection in Luke (based on the daily readings).

The CBM preaching website for Zimbabwe (zimbabwe.cbm.bible) has been live for almost 12 months and there are plans to include videos presented by Zimbabwe brethren. The WhatsApp group for brothers and sisters, with over 80 participants, continues to play its part in bringing the brotherhood together as a community, and a WhatsApp group for the youth provides content and promotes discussion to interest the younger generation. Several Zimbabwe ecclesias now have their own ecclesial WhatsApp group.

The postal service is almost non-existent in many areas of the country. This presents challenges for correspondence work for both in-country and UK tutors, so email/WhatsApp is now used where possible. We have trialled the distribution of The Christadelphian magazine electronically using the main WhatsApp group. While not all Christadelphian families use WhatsApp, the trial has proved successful with more brothers and sisters having access to the magazine compared with the previous system using the post.

John Mathias

BKRU: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine

Hopes for a return to Belarus, Russia and Ukraine in 2023 were unable to be realised, due to the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine through the whole year. It meant that much of our work during the year for these three countries was limited to whatever could be achieved at a distance.

Most importantly, two sets of online meetings continued running all year – a weekly series of zoom meetings on Sundays and Thursdays, attended by a wide range of brothers and sisters, and a skype meeting on Sundays, mainly for Ukrainians and Kazakhs. The benefit of these online meetings was clear, generating a greater sense of fellowship amongst those who were able to access the meetings and providing a regular input of Scripture to them all. Additional contact through email, WhatsApp, phone calls and even post (when it operated) supplemented these meetings and enabled communication with some who could not make online meetings.

In 2023 a decision was taken to hold a Bible school in-person, for the first time since 2019, at the venue we used to use in Kazan, Russia. Brothers, sisters, children and contacts were all invited and about 50 were able to make it, enjoying a rare opportunity for face-to-face fellowship which they had missed for four years. Studies were delivered remotely via zoom from UK, supplementing children’s classes and readings sessions which were delivered directly by those attending.

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In addition to this event, a July visit was made to Kazakhstan, to follow up on the interest seen in our first visit in autumn 2022. A number of contacts were pre-taught in the months leading up to the visit, using translated CBM media first principles videos. This allowed us to carry out interviews with four contacts when we visited their homes, and they were able to be baptised during the visit. As with last year, this CBM trip was highly encouraging, both for the baptisms that took place and for the renewed physical fellowship with brothers and sisters holding onto their faith in Kazakhstan.

At the Kazan Bible school in August a further three contacts from Kazakshstan and two contacts from Russia were also interviewed and baptised during the week, adding to the rejoicing that we had already experienced a month earlier. These new members are now regular attendees to the weekly zoom meetings.

Ukrainian refugees were continued to be supported through 2023, in Lithuania, Poland, Germany and UK, and ongoing support was provided all year to those remaining in Ukraine, many of whom struggle to pay for basics such as fuel or medication. We were not aware of any casualties amongst our brothers and sisters but made their safekeeping a matter of prayer all year and continue to do so.

During the year, further CBM media videos were translated into Russian for use in preaching across BKRU region, and websites were created for Belarus and Kazakhstan, to supplement the one launched earlier for Russia.

Mark Whitaker

NORTH AND WEST EUROPE

Czech Republic and Slovakia

The highlight of the year was January’s baptism of Bro Lubomir Toman in Slovakia. Brother Lubo is the only Christadelphian in Slovakia and it was a joy to witness his comprehension of the faith and his joy at being baptised into the saving name of the Lord Jesus Christ. A regular online breaking of bread took place during the year and in November we enjoyed the annual Prague Bible Weekend when we considered the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Psalms.

Denmark

There were two encouraging fellowship visits to our brothers and sister (plus our young people and contacts) in Denmark during 2023. The main visit took place during the summer when brothers and sisters from Denmark, Norway (many of whom are resettled refugees from Africa), and the UK got together for a summer fellowship weekend. Being able to meet up together as a group, from a number of different countries, really highlighted how we all are part of a worldwide community and are part of something bigger than our individual situations or the countries we live in. For those in relative isolation that was very encouraging.

France

During the course of the year there were three pastoral visits to France – one to our elderly sister Suzanne Faihy in Bordeaux and two to Paris to bring together our four African brothers who are scattered across the country. The Sunday Breaking of Bread (bi-lingual) and mid-week Bible Class (French only) – both on zoom - continue to attract a good number of attendees, including from within Africa. One regular attendee of both meetings is a gentleman from Madrid (Spain) who has requested baptism. A successful interview in Spanish has been held, and the arrangements for the baptism are now in hand for early in the new year. The quarterly French magazine “Le Héraut du Royaume” continues to be produced and despatched by Bro Graham Jackman, with most of its approximately 400 copies going to Africa.

Italy

2023 was a positive year for Italy, with the majority of work being focused on planning. As an overseas couple lived in the country for the first half-year, so visits and virtual chats were less formal and more spontaneous than we anticipate for 2024. In June the couple relocated to Germany and have created a more structured calendar of events for the coming year. The general objective is to build cohesion amongst the group and introduce them to the brothers and sisters in both Germany and the UK, as they are otherwise isolated. The one ”formal” event of 2023 was the second annual study weekend held in the fall, just outside of Florence. Bro Jon Hale led the classes with a follow-up series to

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his classes from the 2022 weekend and, while it was a small group, it was a pleasant weekend of study and togetherness.

Malta

In Malta and Gozo we now have ten brothers and sisters. During 2023 our main focus for preaching in the islands was - through a revamped Malta Christadelphian website and a social media campaign. https://christadelphians malta.com/. The social media campaign had many thousands of views but only a few genuine inquiries for further information. We had a number of first principle articles printed in English and Maltese. These were also distributed through social media.

The ecclesia was supported through a breaking of bread service on Saturdays at 2pm UK time with brothers leading the service from the UK. This was started during Covid and lasted for almost three years. Since most of the ecclesia now joins services on a Sunday in the UK through zoom, the Saturday meeting closed in October 2023. We had one fraternal gathering with brothers and sisters going to Malta to support and a brother gave two talks. The fraternal was supported by over 60 brothers and sisters from the UK over the zoom link. The Maltese ecclesia was supported by various brothers and sisters from the UK who visited the islands. At least seven visits were made from the UK in 2023.

Norway

We visited our two sisters in the Oslo area three times in 2023. These visits have gone very well, and we found our sisters in good spirits. On these trips, we have involved two sisters from the UK who are new to CBM work. In July we also organised a Bible weekend in Denmark and flew one of our sisters and her family over to share fellowship with the brothers and sisters there. This was very successful and we hope to repeat the event next year, God willing.

Poland

During 2023 we continued our sequence of zoom meetings, holding a Polish Breaking of Bread every other couple of weeks on Sunday and also holding a Bible Study session every other Tuesday. Our Polish brothers and sisters are quite scattered across the country and holding these online meetings has been appreciated. We were able to hold our two face-to-face meetings in Poznan, in May and in October. These meetings are always good for study and fellowship as well as preaching events. We covered a number of first principle topics as well as some studies on prophecy as we see events in the world moving fast. It was also good to get a few young people to meet from UK and Polish backgrounds at these meetings.

Portugal

One visit was made to the country in February to visit members in Olhao and Lisbon. There is little interest in the Gospel but we persevere with internet preaching.

Sweden

The resident couple from New Zealand working in Sweden will be leaving the country. Our Afghan members meet through zoom with Persian and Afghan members in the UK.

Jeremy Morgan

SOUTH AND EAST EUROPE

Adriatics

Overall, 2023 has been a busy year for our region, with pastoral and preaching visits to Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia and also a Bible weekend in Macedonia. A special highlight was the baptism of our new sister in Montenegro. During the latter part of the year, it was agreed that Bulgaria would now come under the care and responsibility of the Adriatics Team. We are very grateful to brother Martin Bright, who has faithfully served as the Bulgaria Linkman for several years.

Throughout the year we have been able to provide welfare support to assist our brothers and sisters in need including financial help towards winter fuel, health and medical requirements. This has been possible, with the help of Welfare funds, along with generous contributions from the brotherhood near and far. Online communications continue with many of our isolated brethren and sisters, including Memorial services, Bible classes and also Bible reading groups.

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Estonia

We were able to visit during the year to see our eight members and contacts. Our members are spread across three cities, two in Tallinn, the capital; four in Tartu, although one sister is now confined to her home with poor health and mobility issues. A further two sisters in Pärnu, although again one is quite old and we believe her family have moved her to a home for the elderly and we have not been able to locate her at the moment. None of her family live in Estonia.

Regarding the two new contacts we had last year, the lady is still very keen and we are continuing to send her correspondence course materials. We continue to send an exhortation and Bible talk to our members each month in Estonian. We also continue sending Bible talks to two of our Russian contacts and our Russian translator each month.

Greece

Our members in Greece benefitted from several visits by brothers and sisters holidaying in Greece, and by the ongoing support of a brother from Australia who is in the process of relocating to Greece. Our Greek members join online breaking of bread meetings on a weekly basis with an ecclesia in Canada. We continue to preach and make new contacts via our Greek-language website.

Israel

War broke out following the terror attack of October 7th. Thankfully all the ecclesia are safe and well, despite a lot of time spent running to bomb shelters. This has caused financial difficulties for the ecclesia which may remain until the war ends. The war also prevented the annual Bible school from taking place and so the plans have all been pushed back a year. One elderly sister sadly fell asleep following a stroke earlier in the year.

Moldova

There were three visits during the year. There are six sisters who we see on a fairly regular basis. The proximity to the violence in Ukraine continues to be an issue. However, our sisters remain faithful and focussed on the Kingdom. Connections have been made between themselves and brothers and sisters in Cameroon and the UK, with exchanges of letters and gifts, leading to encouragement in the faith of all concerned. Two sisters were able to attend the Bible School in Romania, and one can join the meetings in Romania via zoom.

The Moldovan sisters receive material from the Isolation League and from ourselves. There is frequent contact via telephone calls, the postal system, WhatsApp and SMS.

Romania

This year we carried out pastoral visits in May and September. We also held a Bible School in Băile Olănești in July, which was attended by most of our Romanian brothers and sisters as well as two sisters from neighbouring Moldova. We continued to hold twice-weekly online meetings in Romanian throughout the year. Local brothers make regular visits to other Romanian ecclesias to provide pastoral and spiritual support. We also continue to make new contacts via our Romanian-language website.

Turkey

Life in Turkey continues to be problematic for our 250 or so Iranian refugee brothers and sisters, with worsening discrimination compounded by rampant inflation and a declining economic situation. The welfare situation remains precarious as refugees cannot legally find work and state aid is not provided. Considerable help is provided by CBM for medical and other welfare necessities. On-line memorial services and a range of other study groups are well attended typically provided via CIL Meet. The four main ecclesial groups are also now meeting together at least once a month in homes and hired rooms.

During March / April visits were made to each ecclesia and to brothers and sisters in isolation helping to strengthen ecclesial leadership and stability. Personal preaching and on-line classes resulted in interviews and baptisms at each ecclesia both during the visit and throughout the year.

Ecclesial life is regularly disrupted by deportations to Iran and emigration both legally and illegally to the USA, Australia and Europe. The overall number of brothers and sisters remains roughly the same with those leaving being replaced

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by new members. Contact is maintained with the ecclesias by periodic meetings with ecclesial leaders and correspondence with individual members.

The small Turkish ecclesia in Istanbul was also visited during 2023 and which continues to thrive and grow. They are keen to preach and are doing so very effectively via social media both at home and abroad.

Michael Harrison

WELFARE

Philippians 4:10-13

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

This past year has again been a challenge. All the usual concerns are still there, storms, homes being damaged, crops being destroyed, wars and conflicts affecting lives, persecution due to our beliefs, refugee status, economic turmoil, extreme weather and medical issues. This is as it has been over the last few years and is to be until Christ returns.

Our challenge comes from the fact we often spend in a year more than receive. Our challenge is that as conditions worsen, demand will rise. Our challenge is that as our community around the world increases, so will the needs. Our challenge is that as our community in the UK ages, so does our community around the world with the problems of old age.

During the year we had a number of conference calls with the ACBM and with Agape in Action about Welfare. We related our approach, admitting our mistakes past and present and the lessons we learnt on the way. It has highlighted how well blessed we are in the UK with healthcare, education, benefits, pensions, solid homes and insurance. So many around the world do not have all these, in some cases any of them. This raises the moral question, should they have these provisions? If so, who pays for it? The CBM is about preaching the Word of God. We are a Bible Mission. With brothers and sisters, it then requires pastoral care, visits, conversations, spiritual support, and, if necessary, physical provisions.

Our challenge is to be consistent, not favouring one group or area over another. Our challenge is help our brothers and sisters, but in doing so, not hindering their spiritual health or their natural inclination to get on and provide for themselves.

How do we apply the passage at the beginning of this piece? How do we encourage others to live by those standards? The truth is we all want better, we all want more, we all want what we think others have. We all need a Christ-like attitude, we will all be looked after ultimately, but on the way there will be highs and low, ease and conflict, health and sickness.

We will continue to work with our challenges, being responsible and accountable for the resources you have blessed us with, which resources God blessed you with. We thank you for generosity and your trust.

Marc Bilton

SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding matters are reviewed at every quarterly council meeting and are monitored by the Safeguarding Lead supported by a female assistant safeguarding lead. One issue arose in the course of 2023 relating to an historic accusation in another organisation, which presented a very low risk and concerned a failure to disclose information required by the policy rather than any inappropriate behaviour.

Steve Jefferies

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PROJECT AID

Project Aid is an opportunity to channel our charitable giving direct to causes and requests that have been approved by an area Linkman - for individual brethren, sisters and ecclesias in the mission field. For up-to-the-minute viewing and selection of projects … please visit www. cbm.org.uk

To access

• Select ‘Submit a Project Aid’ on the ‘grey’ ribbon.

• After browsing the list – click on the project of your choice.

• Complete the boxes in the ‘pink’ area – and

• Tick the ‘grey’ box ‘submit my funding’.

The project is now ‘reserved’ in your name (or anonymous) and awaiting your funds.

Giving to a specific project is a good way for an individual or an ecclesia to get involved in the various aspects of mission work:

• Projects to supply ecclesial needs

Bible reference books, Funding to translate Christadelphian works, Laptop computers & printing equipment, Benches/chairs/tables, Bicycle transport & maintenance, Roadside signs.

• Assistance with personal needs for those in difficult circumstances

• Spectacles: Adult literacy courses: Help to attend a Bible school / Youth Gathering etc.

• Self-help schemes to promote employment prospects

• Crops (coos, groundnut, rice, maize); Animals (sheep & goats, rabbits, chickens)

• Start-up costs for trading (dried fish, vegetables, second-hand clothing); Sewing machines.

Michael Green

LITERATURE

As reported last year, the demand for physical material remains low, whilst 'online' material predominates. Regarding online material, the 'Growing into Christ' and ‘Bible-Based Christianity’ manuals have been added to the resources section of the CBM website, as a valuable supplement to the 'Growing in Christ' videos series found under the CBM Media section of the same website. Additionally, as a joint project with the Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association, it is planned for 2024 to commence publishing some existing Christadelphian books in other languages to assist our members in the mission field to 'read themselves rich' in understanding more of God's living Word.

Ivor Southgate

CBM MEDIA

The work continues thanks to the input from the brethren involved. The website continues to be developed and new pages added as additional languages or content is linked from the storage site at Vimeo.

Videos have been produced to date in the following languages, English – 102, Krio – 111, Mende – 30, French – 67, Swahili – 15, Russian – 24, Spanish – 1, Runyankole – 7, Chichewa – 33. The overall total now stands at 385.

For the last three months of 2023 we have been revisiting the ‘Bible-Based Christianity’ and ‘Growing In Christ’ Courses in English, Krio and French - 180 videos in all. We have added a new front and back end with five learning points, and avatar presenters (except in English were they already have presenters). We still have Chichewa, Swahili and Russian to do (where we have the videos but none of them are complete courses yet). A hand-held device is being considered to make the videos available to small groups.

The pilot in Sierra Leone is ongoing and the videos are in use every week in an increasing number of ecclesias as we make more equipment available. There is no doubt that their use has made a significant contribution to the 700+ baptisms and eight new ecclesia’s that we have witnessed over the last two years.

Audio Bibles have been tried in several African countries and have been very well received. This is important because it is making the Bible available to those who cannot read. However, they will need a device to play on. Several options are being considered.

Bob Fox

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT

A. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

The Christadelphian Bible Mission (abbreviated to ‘CBM’) was incorporated on 5 March 1993 and the company number is 2796412. The registered address is Vinyamar, Craig Yr Eos Avenue, Ogmore by Sea, CF32 0PF. The CBM is also registered with the Charity Commission and the registration number is 1020558.

TRUSTEES

During the year, the following have served as Trustees, who are also the Directors of the Company:

M J Basten ........... Chairman P N Boyd ........... Secretary D Jenkins ........... Treasurer R M Bilton M H Green M D Harrison S A Jefferies J Mathias J V R Morgan I J Southgate M D Whittaker

The trustees retiring by rotation at the AGM in June 2024 are R M Bilton, M D Harrison, J Mathias and I J Southgate. All are available for re-election. Trustees are appointed by members of the company at the AGM.

Principal Advisers

The addresses of the CBM’s principal bankers and auditors are:

Principal Bankers: Lloyds TSB plc, 16 Gentleman’s Walk, Norwich, NR2 1LZ.

Auditors: Johnson Tidsall Ltd, 81 Burton Road, Derby, DE1 1TJ.

B. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

The CBM is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the company being wound up each member is required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. The operations of CBM are governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which were agreed on 5 March 1993 and amended by special resolutions on 24 June 2006 and 25 June 2022.

Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committee (Council)

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Articles are known as members of Council. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association one third of the members of Council must retire each year with those being longest in office retiring at the next Annual General Meeting. A retiring member of Council will be eligible to seek reelection.

Council has the authority to co-opt members to its number to fill any vacancy left open at any time. All coopted members must either seek re-election at the Annual General Meeting following their appointment or step down from the post. Members of Council are elected by paper ballot at the Annual General Meeting.

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Trustee Induction and Training

Most trustees are already familiar with the practical work of the charity. The majority have been fieldworkers before appointment to Council. The officers of the company provide assistance to new trustees, as required, with a regular check-up on progress.

All new trustees receive a pack containing:

• Memorandum and Articles of Association

• The Charity Commission’s guide “The Essential Trustee”

• Latest financial statements

Organisational Structure

The CBM Council may number between 10 and 15 members, dependent on the number of posts to be held. At present there are 11 trustees. Responsibility for the day to day running of each area covered by the CBM is delegated to Area Committees and through them to country linkmen. Budgetary control rests with Council, with individual linkmen determining how each country budget is to be spent in conjunction with their respective area committee.

The Council of the CBM, and its committees, meet four times a year, or as often as is necessary. Minutes of the committee meetings are submitted to Council.

Risk Management

CBM Council recognises their responsibility to keep risk at a minimum and have developed risk models in connection with their work on Missionary trips. An assessment of the risks that CBM and its workers might face, particularly in the field, has been prepared and contingency responses documented. A copy of this assessment is available from the Treasurer.

The CBM is supported by voluntary donations and legacies, the amount of which is outside the control of the Trustees. The greatest risk to continuing operations is a significant reduction in those donations and legacies, so that expenditure exceeds income.

The Trustees have taken steps to keep the Christadelphian Community informed both of its work and its financial position but are aware of the demands to that community from other charitable organisations. They have also taken steps to keep expenditure under close control. Budgets have been agreed consistent with the level of reserves held by CBM and forecasts of income from different sources to manage the company sustainably, allowing for growth in numbers of ecclesias, in countries visited and inflation. A budget framework previously set at a sustainable level in the light of the charities’ balances was maintained for 2023. The Trustees plan to set budgets for ensuing years to allow the work to continue. They recognise that the reduction in the size of the Christadelphian community in the UK will make significant increases in income unlikely. In spite of this, Council reviews at each meeting the need for, and the direction of further publicity.

Because of the location and nature of a number of the ecclesias supported by CBM, the Trustees have identified that there is an inherent risk that funds will either not reach their intended recipient or will not be used by the recipient as the Trustees expected. The Trustees mitigate this risk by linkmen visiting each of their countries regularly and obtaining quality feedback from the intended recipient.

C. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objective for which the company was established is defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association and is “to promote and advance the Christadelphian faith throughout the world” . An essential element of this is the welfare of our brethren and sisters in overseas countries, many of whom live in conditions of great suffering.

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The CBM currently operates in over 58 different countries throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In 2024 it will continue, God willing, to promote and advance the Christadelphian faith in those countries, and in any others into which it is called.

The aim of the CBM in pursuing this objective is to increase the number of baptised brethren and sisters following the Christadelphian faith throughout the territories in which it is active, support the growth in Biblical understanding of brethren and sisters in those territories and their ability to apply the teaching of the Bible to the practical circumstances of their lives. Additionally, it aims to support the essential wellbeing of brethren and sisters in the countries in which it operates, by meeting the provision of the essentials of life and medical needs, where they cannot be supported from their own resources, in a balanced way that does not place them in a significantly advantageous position in material benefits over the norm for the area in which they live.

Consistent with these aims the CBM seeks to have a strategy in place for each country in which it has been consistently active for a number of years, to move towards the long-term goal of independence from the UK. This assists with addressing the sustainability of the CBM and focuses on the need to develop a sufficiently mature and consistent number of brethren and sisters who have the ability and experience to maintain the ongoing operations related to the Christadelphian faith in their own country without the support of CBM. It is recognised that in the foreseeable future this will not be fully possible in many countries, especially in the need for financial support to fully fund activities, nevertheless CBM is working to move as close to this goal as practical in each case.

As local circumstances, the size of the Christadelphian community, length of operation and maturity vary in each of the 58 countries, the strategy for achieving the regular and long-term aims in each area is determined by the linkman as appropriate for the country for which he is responsible, subject to peer review by the members of the relevant area committee.

The most significant activities undertaken to support these aims, are:

1. Facilitating regular worship primarily through ensuring the availability of rent or building projects to furnish appropriate premises and teaching materials.

2. Supporting preaching through funding of advertising, provision of literature and participation of visiting brethren and sisters.

3. Undertaking visits to review and advance the operations of CBM in each country, working with local brethren and sisters to understand and develop an appropriate plan and organisation for each country.

4. Facilitating and / or participating in Bible Schools, Workshops and Classes for the development of brethren and sisters.

5. Providing welfare support to address genuine cases of need.

All CBM workers are volunteers who derive no personal benefit from CBM whatsoever. It is not possible to state categorically the number of volunteers involved in CBM work, but it is estimated to be in excess of 850 worldwide. The work covered includes fieldworkers visiting countries overseas, correspondence leaders, correspondence tutors both in the UK and overseas, linkmen, welfare teams and fundraisers. Individuals may be employed to run offices in the overseas country but are paid by the local Ecclesial setup and are not employed by CBM. The Linkman will take steps to ensure that the remuneration levels of paid workers are fair for the area but not excessive for the skills required, without getting involved in the remuneration setting process itself.

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D. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Reports on the activities of the CBM for 2023, showing the achievement of each team, are contained on pages 3 to 13 of this report. These detail the visits and projects, including online activities that have been used to meet the objectives. It has again been a fruitful year, under God’s blessing, with reports of over 2,000 baptisms and many initiatives to teach and develop Brothers and Sisters and contacts, noted in this report. Because of the nature of the work, teams do not have targets to meet. It is, therefore, difficult to review performance. However, during the year the level of activities in each country and response rates have been reviewed and changes made where necessary.

E. FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Statement of Financial Activities of the CBM for 2023 and the Balance sheet at 31 December 2023, together with associated explanatory notes, are given on pages 25 – 42 of this Trustees’ Report.

Total income for 2023 fell by 28% compared with 2022, this reflected the exceptional levels of income received in 2022 and still represented a strong figure. Total expenditure increased by 4% compared with 2022 but still fell short of budget because of the limitations on activity in the BKRU area, due to the continuing war in Ukraine. Details of significant movements in the Funds are given in the following paragraphs. Governance and support costs are 2.2% (2022: 1.25%) of total income for the year.

The General (Preaching) Fund incurred a small increase on expenditure of £588K (2022: £580K) although this was influenced by a reduction in constructive liabilities in some areas.

Total unrestricted Legacies received or receivable in 2023 were £313k (2022: £156k), an increase of 101% on the previous year. The Fund covers any excess of expenditure over income from the General (Preaching) Fund, allows for building of halls and allows for the expansion of preaching work into new areas. Legacies specifically for the Welfare Fund of £7k (2022: £248k) were received during the year. This was a very large reduction compared with 2022 but the figure in the previous year was exceptionally high.

Expenditure from the Welfare Fund in 2023 was £554k (2022: £507k), which represents a new high level of spending, equivalent to 8.5% above the previous high set in 2021. This was because of the amount of Food Aid support provided in response to natural disasters in parts of East Africa and continuing support for refugees, notably those in Turkey. The welfare fund received £382K (2022: £809k), in income during the year, a 52.8% decrease of the level received in 2022, which was particularly high in terms of both one-off donations and legacy income. The earlier welfare report outlines much of the activity through this account.

The Project Aid Fund paid out £89k against around 240 projects overseas (2022: £124K). Hall and Building Fund supported projects to the value of £302k (2022: £263k) as a wide range of projects were undertaken, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda. This includes provision for projects begun but not yet completed. The Bible Missionary expenditure was level at £20k. A number of magazines are given to members in Africa and Europe free of charge. The Bible Fund expenditure of £35k (also level with 2022) bought Bibles and Hymn Books for those brothers and sisters unable to afford one for themselves, particularly in Africa.

Total Balances at the year-end decreased by £70k compared with 31 December 2022 and now stand at £4.004m. These high balances allow a budgeted pattern of overspend against regular forecastable income and they reflect unpredictable legacy income; we are able to continue to plan with confidence and support the level of building activity carried out in recent years because of the balances. Additionally, the balances have enabled us to sustain our preaching and to respond quickly to the large calls for emergency welfare aid that Council receives from time to time.

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Reserves

It is the policy of the Christadelphian Bible Mission to maintain the General Fund Balance at a minimum of £150,000 so as to provide an adequate level of working balance in that Fund. In the event that it does fall below that figure a transfer is made from the Legacy Fund to restore the balance to £150,000.

The Trustees also seek to maintain reserves equivalent to the value of the General Fund constructive liabilities for a period of three years, in order that should income diminish significantly, the obligations of the CBM could be serviced for this period while the charity redefines its activities to meet this new situation.

The total reserves of the CBM at 31 December 2023 were £4.004m, a decrease of £70k from 2022. The high levels of reserves held allows the CBM to use them to pursue its objective of preaching. The CBM expects to support a full programme of activity in 2024. It is essential to keep a reasonable level of reserves so that expenditure can be funded in advance of the receipt of regular income and, also, funds are available to meet emergency situations such as the repatriation of a fieldworker from overseas in case of an emergency and some of the significant welfare needs that arise without warning.

Investment Policy

At the year-end £3.398m (2022: £3.409m) in funds is invested. Investment funds are held partly in “highinterest” bearing fixed term bank or building society accounts with maturation dates of one or two years. These accounts offer slightly better rates of interest within the minimal levels currently available without tying the funds up for too long. Funds in accounts of this type were £1.695m.

The remaining investment funds are held in an ethical investment vehicle, to prudently secure and enhance the value of the company’s reserves until they are required to support expenditure. The performance of investment vehicles was sluggish in 2023 but returned a positive value by the end of the year. Dividend income increased to £54k (2022: £43k). The value of this investment was £1.703m at 31 December 2023.

F. PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

The stated objective of the CBM is the promotion and advancement of the Christadelphian faith throughout the world. Since 2000 other organisations in the Christadelphian Community have taken responsibility for Asia, the Pacific and the Americas, allowing CBM to focus its efforts in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Plans for the future include ensuring that those countries where we have had a presence for some considerable time should move to increasing self-sufficiency, and this is recognised as the ultimate objective for all countries in which we work. This process will allow development work in some areas where we are not currently working.

In all countries, members are encouraged to teach the Bible to those they meet, with active support from CBM tutors in the UK or their own country. New ecclesias are formed when there are sufficient members and they are encouraged to move toward self-sufficiency for both preaching and welfare needs and move away from a reliance on the UK initiating outreach to the local community. Developing interest in new countries is always slow; work is usually initiated by newspaper advertising or the Internet, often using the website jointly sponsored with CBM of the Americas and Australasian CBM.

A welfare review was carried out early in 2021 to seek to ensure welfare support is provided in a manner that is sustainable and provides consistency of approach across the different countries in which CBM works, taking account of the CBM’s core welfare principles.

The ability of the CBM to maintain activity at current levels depends on continuing receipt of legacy income. Legacy income is variable and cannot be forecasted. The Charity is managed to maintain reserves to support activity over a three-year period, allowing time for strategy to be adjusted to respond to changing levels of income. Forecastable income to the General Fund runs at approximately £400K per annum, this was

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exceeded in 2023, which again saw strong individual donations with significant amounts donated by Christadelphians in North America.

CBM workers creatively use technology and other initiatives to engage with Christadelphian’s and contacts in the mission areas that would normally be visited. In parts of Europe particularly, the very encouraging developments of 2020 continued where online platforms increased the fellowship opportunities available to the Brethren and Sisters we support. The CBM Media project to provide digital materials to ecclesias in the mission field begun in 2020 has remained a significant focus in 2023 and in plans for 2024.

G. TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT

The trustees (who are also directors of Christadelphian Bible Mission for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report (incorporating the directors’ report) and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements, and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

• there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditors are unaware: and

• the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

H. AUDITORS

Azets Audit Services, who have conducted the audit in recent years, were appointed as the charitable company’s auditors at the 2023 AGM. However, as a result of exceptional circumstances the trustees have instead appointed Johnson Tidsall Limited.

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I. PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Trustees acknowledge their requirement to demonstrate that CBM has a charitable purpose that is for the public benefit. Details of how CBM has achieved this are provided on pages 3–13 of this report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities CBM should undertake.

J. FUNDRAISING

The Christadelphian Bible Mission was set up to act on behalf of the Christadelphian Community in the UK to promote and advance the Christadelphian faith throughout the world. Funds are exclusively received from the Christadelphian Community, primarily within the UK, but with a small number of donations from Christadelphians in The Netherlands, Germany and the United States. Funds are received from three sources:

• Collections taken by Christadelphian Ecclesias (congregations) during their Sunday worship

• Individual donations from Christadelphians in the UK

• Legacies left by Christadelphians in their estates

To maintain the flow of donations the Trustees seek to keep the Christadelphian Community in the UK informed about the activities and affairs of the CBM. This is carried out by the circulation of the legal Annual Report and Accounts and a brochure style summary distributed to Christadelphian Ecclesias in the UK and those members who attend the AGM. Occasional Newsletters by print or email are circulated to the Recording Brethren / Secretaries of Christadelphian Ecclesias in the UK and those members who have opted in to receive email communication. Trustees and CBM workers also make presentations at Christadelphian Ecclesias or gatherings from time to time.

The Trustees do not believe it appropriate to their circumstances to appoint a professional fundraiser or any other person to raise funds on behalf of CBM.

Due to the nature of the fundraising activity undertaken with no direct approach to individuals being undertaken the Trustees have not subscribed to any fundraising standards or scheme for fundraising regulation. The CBM has received no complaints concerning fundraising or fundraising activities.

The Trustees manage the information distributed to encourage donations to support the work of the charity, primarily through the Trustee appointed as Publicity Secretary. They are satisfied that the approach taken does not unreasonably intrude on anyone’s privacy, is not unreasonably persistent and does not place undue pressure on any person to give money or property.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved and signed on behalf of the Trustees

P Boyd (Secretary) Date

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Christadelphian Bible Mission (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 December 2023, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• the information given in the trustees’ report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or

• adequate accounting records have not been kept; or

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

In identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we obtain an understanding of the charitable company which includes its activities, internal control environment and its legal and regulatory framework. From this, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error.

As a result of these procedures, we identified the greatest potential for material fraud to be in the following areas:

• the timing of revenue recognition

• the misappropriation of overseas funds by beneficiaries

• unusual journal entries

• management override

Audit response to risks identified:

As a result of performing the above, we identified the following as key audit matters related to the potential risk of material misstatement or fraud:

• the recognition of donations and legacies

• the evaluation of estimates in respect of legacies

• the amounts in respect of overseas awards granted and the possible misuse of funds

Our procedures to respond to the risks identified included:

• reviewing controls put in place by governance including a review of their risk assessment

• reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance

• performing a sample of income transaction tests

• reviewing a sample of journal entries for appropriateness, with a focus on any large or unusual transactions, to assess any management bias

• performing a review of the financial statements alongside disclosure checklists to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships or any areas of non-compliance

• testing a sample of debtors to subsequent remittances and carrying out an after-date review of income

• testing a sample of overseas grants awarded and expense payments made in respect of charitable activities

• testing the estimate of constructive obligations

We remained alert to any indications of fraud, material misstatement or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit including those relating to the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on: the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.

This description forms part of our Independent Auditors Report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Johnson Tidsall Limited Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors 81 Burton Road Derby Derbyshire DE1 1TJ Date: .............................................

Johnson Tidsall Limited is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

CBM Annual Report & Accounts 2023

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2023 Incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account

Note Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 4 Other trading activities 5 Investments 6 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 8 Cost of raising funds 7 Total 10 Net (losses)/gains on investments 13 Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds 12 Net movement in funds for the year Reconciliation of funds:Total funds brought forward at 1 January 2023 17, 18 Total funds carried forward at 31 December 2023 17, 18	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total All Funds 2023		Total All Funds 2022
	£ 859,667 - 1,824 135,186 996,677 924,186 23,688	£ 504,538 15,934 - - 520,472 662,821 -	£ 1,364,205 15,934 1,824 135,186 1,517,149 1,587,007 23,688		£ 2,016,945 12,501 2,238 71,280 2,102,964 1,530,130 23,972
	947,874	662,821	1,610,695		1,554,102
	23,546 72,349 -	- (142,349) -	23,546 (70,000) -		(235,105) 313,757 -
	72,349 3,395,719	(142,349) 678,522	(70,000) 4,074,241		313,757 3,760,484
	3,468,068	536,173	4,004,241		4,074,241

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

All activities are continuing

The Notes on pages 28 – 42 form part of the financial statements

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Company Number 2796412

THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION Balance Sheet at 31 December 2023

Fixed Assets Investments Current Assets Debtors Cash at Bank Current Liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Provision for Constructive liabilities Net Assets Funds Unrestricted Funds: General Legacy Designated Building Fund Designated Bible Fund Restricted Funds: Welfare Project Aid Bible Missionary Fund Total Funds	Notes 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 18	2023 £ 3,397,716		2022 £ 3,408,703
		114,391 840,728		106,312 843,420
		955,119 (41,188)		949,732 (24,983)
		913,931		924,749
		4,311,647 (307,406)		4,333,452 (259,211)
		4,004,241		4,074,241
		1,053,199 2,391,690 322 22,858 417,046 113,411 5,715		1,124,976 2,088,493 154,860 27,391 588,996 79,594 9,931
		4,004,241		4,074,241

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 December 2023 although an audit has been carried out under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements under the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, for the year in question in accordance with section 476. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

Approved on behalf of the Council of the Christadelphian Bible Mission on ………….…………… and signed on its behalf by

M Basten – Chairman D Jenkins – Treasurer

The Notes on pages 28 – 42 form part of the financial statements

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Note Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities 20 Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of investments Interest & Dividend Income Purchase of Investments Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 20	2023 £ (172,411)	2022 £ 423,150
	2,126,678 135,186 (2,042,802)	2,469,173 71,280 (3,020,149)
	219,062	(479,696)
	46,651 991,390	(56,545) 1,047,935
	1,038,040	991,390

The Notes on pages 28 – 42 form part of the financial statements

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

1. Accounting Policies

Legal Form

The company was incorporated in England and Wales and its registered office is Vinyamar, Craig Yr Eos Avenue, Ogmore by Sea, CF32 0PF. The charity is a charitable company.

Basis of Preparation

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS102.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

Presentation of the accounts on a going concern basis

At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.

Taxation

As a registered charity, The Christadelphian Bible Mission is entitled to the exemption from taxation in respect of income and capital gains received with sections 478-489 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects purposes only.

Foreign Currency

Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are included in net outgoing resources.

Recognition of income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Legacies

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

Donations

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount.

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

Tax reclaim on donations and gifts

Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.

Volunteer help

The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.

Income from interest, royalties and dividends

This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.

Expenditure Recognition and Irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs relating to the furtherance of the charity’s objectives as stated in the trustees’ report and their associated support costs.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

Governance and support costs

Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants with performance conditions

Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.

Grants payable without performance conditions

Where there are no conditions attaching to the grant that enables the donor charity to realistically avoid the commitment, a liability for the full funding obligation must be recognised.

Offsetting

There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.

Buildings and land overseas

The policy of the charity is to fund a number of purchases of land and the construction of buildings in mission areas. These assets are purchased to enable the local members to worship and give them a meeting room. Where possible these are registered in the name of the local community, but in those countries where the local organisation is not recognised, the assets are held in the name of the UK charity as a nominee for purposes of protection of the asset against confiscation or dispute, or where this is not possible by trustees

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

appointed in the Country with sufficient independence from one another and standing to provide adequate protection.

CBM have no control over the use of such assets and none of the rewards of ownership. The charity has no real powers to force a sale or to recover the proceeds of a sale if one is made. In reality the assets are not controlled by the charity, the name on legal documents is simply as a nominee and procedural and the substance of the land and buildings purchased is that they are charitable expenditure that passes out of the hands of the charity when purchased. Consequently, all purchases of land and buildings are written off in the year in which expenditure is incurred.

Investments

The policy of the charity is that the majority of its funds are split between readily accessible “high interest” bearing bank/building society accounts and an investment vehicle from which funds if required could be withdrawn in a staged manner with little notice. These arrangements are made to maximise income and to provide a measure of security for the company’s reserves against inflation and other factors. Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.

Investment income plus associated tax recoverable is credited to income when received, using statement dates for dividends.

Stocks of literature

These stocks are written off in the year in which expenditure is incurred as they have no net realisable value.

Cash at Bank

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Provisions for liabilities – constructive liabilities

A liability is measured on recognition at its historical cost and then subsequently measured at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date.

The charity understands the need to make provision for constructive liabilities. The SORP requires a charity to recognise liabilities arising from funding commitments and constructive obligations.

Evidence of a constructive obligation exists where:

a. the commitment made by the charity is specific, e.g. a promise is made to provide a particular service or grant funding;

b. this commitment is communicated directly to specific beneficiaries or grant recipients; and c. there is an established pattern of practice that indicates to the recipients of services or funding that the charity will meet its commitment.

The policy of the charity is to recognise those liabilities established by past patterns in connection with regular payments made that it would be valid for the recipient to expect. In particular this relates to rent of properties and regular grants made for central office operations in some countries.

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

Financial Instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the charity’s balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charity transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

The Unrestricted Funds are as follows:

General (Preaching) Fund covers all the general preaching work, pastoral work and administration costs of the Christadelphian Bible Mission. Funding is received by donations from Ecclesias and individual brethren and sisters.

Legacy Fund Most legacy receipts do not have any restriction and are credited to the General Legacy Fund to be used wherever necessary in the work of the CBM. If the legacy has a restriction placed on it then it will be credited to the relevant fund.

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

Designated Building Fund is for the construction and repair of Ecclesial Halls using funds designated by Council for this purpose.

Designated Bible Fund is to purchase Bibles, written in either English or local language, for new members and advanced students. It is also used to supply hymn books to ecclesias.

The Restricted Funds represent monies donated for specific purposes. Thus the:

Welfare Fund is for the support of brethren and sisters overseas in need,

Buildings Fund is for the construction and repair of Ecclesial Halls, when restricted donations are held for this purpose.

Project Aid Fund is for expenditure on specific projects.

Bible Missionary Fund (BMM Fund) relates to a quarterly Magazine that includes news from all missionary areas.

Bible Fund is to purchase Bibles, written in either English or local language, for new members and advanced students. It is also used to supply hymn books to ecclesias.

2. Critical Accounting Estimates

In the application of charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

3. Income from Donations and Legacies

		2023				2022
	Donations - Non Gift Aid	Donations - Gift Aid	Legacies		Donations - Non Gift Aid	Donations - Gift Aid	Legacies
Unrestricted
Funds	£	£	£		£	£	£
General Fund	340,999	173,129	-		725,612	157,749	-
Legacy Fund	-	-	313,435		-	-	156,113
Designated
Building Fund	32,104	-	-		-	-	-
Designated Bible
Fund	-	-	-		4,003	-	-
	373,103	173,129	313,435		729,614	157,749	156,113
Restricted Funds
Welfare Fund	269,488	104,991	7,132		470,180	90,779	248,030
Buildings Fund					67,826	-	-
Project Aid Fund	101,152	21,775	-		79,403	17,251	-
	370,640	126,766	7,132		617,409	108,030	248,030
Total Funds	743,743	299,895	320,567		1,347,024	265,779	404,142
			1,364,205				2,016,945

4. Income from Charitable Activities

Bible Missionary Magazine Sales Totals	2023 £	2022 £
	15,934	12,501
	15,934	12,501

5. Income from Other Trading Activities

Stamp Sales Book Sales Total	2023 £	2022 £
	1,522 302	1,842 396
	1,824	2,238

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

6. Income from Investments

Interest receivable on short term cash deposits Dividend Income Totals	2023 £	2022 £
	81,031 54,155	28,067 43,213
	135,186	71,280

7. Expenditure on Raising Funds

Investment Management Fees Totals	2023 £ 23,688	2022 £ 23,972
	23,688	23,972

8. Expenditure on Charitable Activities

A split between grants payable and cost of activities is broadly determined as:

“Grants” are amounts paid directly to brethren and sisters and Ecclesias overseas for ecclesial support and to give welfare/famine/refugee support over which the CBM Trustees have no control.

“Cost of Activities” represents amounts paid either overseas or in the UK to meet specific costs for ecclesial and preaching support or to give welfare/famine/refugee support identified to CBM, over which the CBM Trustees retain control until the debt is settled.

		2023				2022
	Grants	Cost of Activities	Support & Governance Costs		Grants	Cost of Activities	Support & Governance Costs
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund	165,157	389,483	33,370		75,448	478,793	26,208
Legacy Fund	-	-	-		-	-	-
Designated Building Fund	-	301,642	-		-	195,590	-
Designated Bible Fund	-	34,533	-		-	35,256	-
	165,157	725,658	33,370		75,448	709,639	26,208
Restricted Funds
Welfare Fund	471,294	82,267	-		435,761	71,291	-
Buildings Fund	-	-	-		-	67,826	-
Project Aid Fund	-	89,111	-		-	123,580	-
BMM Fund	-	20,150	-		-	20,376	-
	471,294	191,528	-		435,761	283,073	-
Total Funds	636,451	917,186	33,370		511,209	992,712	26,208
			1,587,007				1,530,129

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

8. (Continued) Expenditure on Charitable Activities by Region

2023 Unrestricted Funds General Fund Legacy Fund Designated Building Fund Designated Bible Fund Restricted Funds Welfare Fund Project Aid Fund BMM Fund Total Funds	East Africa	West Africa	South East Europe	North West Europe	BKRU	Other	Support & Governance costs
	£ 228,973 79,901 20,361 329,235	£ 152,546 221,741 13,985 388,272	£ 75,365 - 187 75,552	£ 50,914 - - 50,914	£ 18,952 - - 18,952	£ 27,890 - - 27,890	£ 33,370 - - 33,370
	355,490 20,957 - 376,447	57,046 38,686 - 95,732	132,217 9,857 - 142,074	2,335 - - 2,335	6,473 1,104 - 7,577	- 18,507 20,150 38,657	- - - -
	705,682	484,004	217,626	53,249	26,529	66,547	33,370
	1,587,007

2022 Unrestricted Funds General Fund Legacy Fund Designated Building Fund Designated Bible Fund Restricted Funds Welfare Fund Buildijng Fund Project Aid Fund BMM Fund Total Funds	East Africa	West Africa	South East Europe	North West Europe	BKRU	Other	Support & Governance costs
	£ 233,021 124,852 27,206 385,079	£ 195,221 70,739 7,870 273,830	£ 42,178 - 179 42,357	£ 38,393 - - 38,393	£ 4,679 - - 4,679	£ 40,748 - - 40,748	£ 26,208 - - 26,208
	286,417 11,510 46,230 - 344,157	58,100 56,316 48,318 - 162,734	149,975 - 13,358 - 163,333	1,430 - 1,048 - 2,477	11,129 - 1,684 - 12,813	- - 12,943 20,376 33,319	- - - - -
	729,236	436,564	205,690	40,871	17,492	74,068	26,208
	1,530,129

The Expenditure on Charitable Activities for each of the Restricted Funds relates to monies raised for the specific purpose of each of those Funds. These purposes are given in Note 1 and the expenditure from each Fund is restricted to the purposes for which it was raised.

CBM Annual Report & Accounts 2023

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

9. Payments to Trustees and Related Party Transactions

During the year payments made to Trustees totalled £129,637 (2023: £143,147).

Truste Payments Overseas trips - Trustees own costs Non-Trustee costs paid via Trustee Travel Costs to meetings Office expenses Total	2023		2022
	£	No.	£	No.
	27,724 101,711 - 202	8 6 1	30,823 112,000 - 324	8 7 - 1
	129,637		143,147

During the year eight Trustees (2022: 8) went on overseas missionary visits to fourteen countries (2022: 10) There was no Trustees’ remuneration paid during the year. During the year four trustees donated £4,460 to the charity (2022: 4, £2,577). There were no other “related party” transactions.

10. Expenditure on Support and Governance

Stationery, Postage and other Office costs Mission News Including distributiom Zoom Charges Bank Account & PayPal Charges Corporate Insurance Policy Subscriptions Currency (gains)/losses Total General Fund Support Costs AGM Costs, including Annual Report Audit Fee Legal & Professional Costs Trustee Expenses Trustee Indemnity Insurance Policy Total General Fund Governance Costs	2023 £	2022 £
	513 - 768 3,821 10,004 821 (22)	324 - 432 3,922 4,791 216 -
	15,905	9,685
	572 8,100 396 202 8,195 17,465	483 6,480 48 - 9,512 16,523
	33,370 26,208

11. Total resources Expended

Total resources expended includes an audit fee of £8,100 for 2023 (2022: £6,480).

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

12. Transfers between funds

	2023 Transfers Between Funds were made as follows: Unrestricted Funds General Fund Legacy Fund Designated Building Fund Designated Bible Fund Restricted Funds Welfare Fund Bible MissionaryFund	Legacy to General re Deficit for year £ - - - - - -	Legacy to Designated Funds to fund activities £ - (145,000) 115,000 30,000 - -	Legacy to Restricted Funds to fund activities £ - - - - - -	Totals £ - (145,000) 115,000 30,000 - -
	2022 Transfers Between Funds were made as follows: Unrestricted Funds General Fund Legacy Fund Designated Building Fund Designated Bible Fund Restricted Funds Welfare Fund Bible MissionaryFund	Legacy to General re Deficit for year £ - - - - - -	Legacy to Designated Funds to fund activities £ - (270,000) 250,000 20,000 - -	Legacy to Restricted Funds to fund activities £ - - - - - -	Totals £ - (270,000) 250,000 20,000 - -

13. Fixed Assets – Investments

13. Fixed Assets – Investments
Valuation at 31 December 2022 Additions Disposals Investment Charges Equalisation Investment Income Gain on revaluation of Investments	Cash Deposits	Listed Investments	Cash	Total
	£ 1,760,000 1,495,000 (1,560,000) - - - -	£ 1,500,733 548,895 (566,678) - (1,093) - 23,546	£ 147,970 (548,895) 566,678 (23,688) 1,093 54,155 -	£ 3,408,703 1,495,000 (1,560,000) (23,688) - 54,155 23,546
Valuation at 31 December 2023	1,695,000	1,505,403	197,313	3,397,716

Included within the listed investments above is cash contained in the portfolio totalling £197,313 (2022: £147,970).

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

14. Debtors: due within one year

Inland Revenue - Gift Aid recoverable Other Debtors Prepayments and Accrued Income Total	2023 £	2022 £
	7,966 34,072 72,353	8,532 68,429 29,351
	114,391	106,312

15. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Other Creditors Totals	2023 £	2022 £
	41,188	24,983
	41,188	24,983

16. Constructive Liability

East Africa	West Africa	South East Europe	North West Europe	BKRU	Other
£ 89,256 - 23,228 112,484	£ 65,655 - 70,947 136,602	£ 32,100 - - 32,100	£ 10,810 - - 10,810	£ 5,410 - - 5,410	£ 10,000 - - 10,000
- - - -	- - - -	- - - -	- - - -	- - - -	- - - -
112,484	136,602	32,100	10,810	5,410	10,000
307,406

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

16. (Continued) Constructive Liability

2022 Unrestricted Funds General Fund Legacy Fund Designated Building Fund Designated Bible Fund Restricted Funds Welfare Fund Project Aid Fund BMM Fund	East Africa	West Africa	South East Europe	North West Europe	BKRU	Other
	£ 122,025 - 3,630 - 125,655	£ 78,971 - 22,300 - 101,271	£ 12,550 - - - 12,550	£ 6,910 - - - 6,910	£ 2,825 - - - 2,825	£ 10,000 - - - 10,000
	- - - -	- - - -	- - - -	- - - -	- - - -	- - - -
	125,655	101,271	12,550	6,910	2,825	10,000
	259,211

17. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds

Fund Balances at 31 December 2023 are represented by	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total
Investments Current Assets Current Liabilities Constructive Liabilities Totals	£ 3,397,716 413,345 (35,586) (307,406)	£ - 541,774 (5,602) -	£ 3,397,716 955,119 (41,188) (307,406)
	3,468,069	536,172	4,004,241

Fund Balances at 31 December 2022 are represented by	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total
Investments Current Assets Current Liabilities Constructive Liabilities Totals	£ 3,408,703 268,997 (22,769) (259,211)	£ - 680,735 (2,214) -	£ 3,408,703 949,732 (24,983) (259,211)
	3,395,720	678,521	4,074,241

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

18. Movement on funds for the Year

2023 Unrestricted Funds General Fund Legacy Fund Designated Building Fund Designated Bible Fund Restricted Funds Welfare Fund Buildings Fund Project Aid Fund BMM Fund Total Funds	Balance 01.01.23	Income	Expenditure	Transfers*	Investment Gains	Balance 31.12.23
	1,124,976 2,088,493 154,860 27,391	516,234 448,339 32,104 0	(588,011) (23,688) (301,642) (34,533)	- (145,000) 115,000 30,000	- 23,546 - -	1,053,199 2,391,690 322 22,858
	3,395,720	996,677	(947,874)	-	23,546	3,468,069
	588,996 - 79,594 9,931	381,611 - 122,927 15,934	(553,561) - (89,110) (20,150)	- - - -	- - - -	417,046 - 113,411 5,715
	678,521	520,472	(662,821)	-	-	536,172
	4,074,241	1,517,149	(1,610,695)	-	23,546	4,004,241

2022 Unrestricted Funds General Fund Legacy Fund Designated Building Fund Designated Bible Fund Restricted Funds Welfare Fund Buildings Fund Project Aid Fund BMM Fund Total Funds	Balance 01.01.22	Income	Expenditure	Transfers*	Investment Losses	Balance 31.12.22
	800,793 2,409,210 100,450 38,645	904,632 208,360 - 4,002	(580,449) (23,972) (195,590) (35,256)	- (270,000) 250,000 20,000	- (235,105) - -	1,124,976 2,088,493 154,860 27,391
	3,349,098	1,116,994	(835,267)	-	(235,105)	3,395,720
	287,059 106,518 17,809	808,989 67,826 96,654 12,501	(507,052) (67,826) (123,578) (20,379)	- - - -	- - - -	588,996 - 79,594 9,931
	411,386	985,970	(718,834)	-	-	678,521
	3,760,484	2,102,964	(1,554,101)	-	(235,105)	4,074,241

• Transfers relate to the replenishment of funds with little or no income to meet expected expenditure.

19. Legacies

Legacies are included in income upon the entitlement becoming legally enforceable and there being sufficient certainty as to the amount. At 31 December 2023 no outstanding legacies had been notified (2022: £0k).

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

20. Reconciliation of Net Income / (Expenditure) to Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities

Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the Statement of Financial Activities) Adjustments for: (Increase)/decrease in debtors Investment Income Loss/(gain) on investments Increase/(decrease) in creditors Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities Analysis of Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash held in investments Cash in Hand Total Cash and Cash Equivalents	2023 £ (70,000) (8,079) (135,186) (23,546) 64,400	2022 £ 313,758 (30,013) (71,280) 235,105 (24,420)
	(172,411)	423,150
	197,313 840,728	147,970 843,420
	1,038,041	991,390

21. Analysis of changes in net debt

The charity had no net debt during the year.

22. Financial instruments

	2023	2022
Instruments measured at fair value through the profit and loss	1,505,403	1,500,733

23. Employees

The Christadelphian Bible Mission does not employ any staff, volunteers undertaking all work.

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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

24. Comparative Statement of Financial Activities

Note Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 4 Other trading activities 5 Investments 6 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 8 Cost of raising funds 7 Total 10 Net (losses)/gains on investments 13 Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds 12 Net movement in funds for the year Reconciliation of funds:Total funds brought forward at 1 January 2022 17, 18 Total funds carried forward at 31 December 2022 17, 18	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total All Funds 2022		Total All Funds 2021
	£ 1,043,476 2,238 71,280 1,116,994 811,296 23,972	£ 973,469 12,501 985,970 718,834	£ 2,016,945 12,501 2,238 71,280 2,102,964 1,530,130 23,972		£ 1,672,775 18,709 1,003 44,668 1,737,155 1,087,632 17,647
	835,268	718,834	1,554,102		1,105,279
	(235,105) 46,621	267,136	(235,105) 313,757 0		73,903 705,779 -
	46,621 3,349,098	267,136 411,386	313,757 3,760,484		705,779 3,054,704
	3,395,719	678,522	4,074,241		3,760,484

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