LIFE CHURCH BRIDGEND Charity No: 1050546
Trustees Annual Report 2023
Period: Ist January to 31st December 2023.
Aims and Purposes
Life Church is locally governed but partnered with the Assemblies of God U.K. The church seeks to demonstrate new ‘life’ through Jesus Christ, in both word and practice. It also seeks to be a resource to the local community — responding to identified community needs and enabling other groups to make use of its facilities. The church also cooperate with other churches in its locality and further afield, in the pursuit of shared aims.
Objectives and Activities
Life Church seeks to encourage people in the community it serves, to identify their spiritual needs and to participate in formal services and informal activities. Faith is put into practice through worship, prayer, the preaching and teaching of the Holy Scriptures, sacrament and service to groups and individuals with identified needs both in the church, communal living settings and the community.
The Charitable Aims of the church are for the benefit of the public and are set out in its governing document, the Model Deed for Local Assemblies of God Churches.
These are:
~ To advance the Christian faith in accordance with our statement of faith, in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world, as the Church Council from time to time may think fit.
~ To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to preserve and promote good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind including through the provision of counseling and support in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time to time think fit; and,
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~ To advance education in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time to time may think appropriate.
Achievements and Performance
Our Services
Open services are regularly held at the church premises on Morfa Street, Bridgend and all are welcome to attend. The usual schedule of services is as follows: the main service is held on Sunday Mornings, for worship and ministry of the Word. The service caters for young families through the provision of a créche for the under 4s and Life Kids Junior Church.
The church broadcasts its Sunday ministry via YouTube to extend its reach and enable those church members unable to attend the service, to engage with the church's teaching. A prayer meeting is held weekly and a bible study group meets mid-week on alternate weeks. A parents and toddler group meet on a Friday morning. This is open to the public and has been well-attended since its inception (January 2023). The church has experienced growth in the number of people attending during 2023,
Pastoral Care
Personal pastoral support is provided to regular attendees of the church as requested. Home visits are made to those unable to attend church due to illhealth/frailty, so they remain a part of the church community. Our Community Anna Chaplaincy continues to operate within the local hospital and a local care home. The Chaplain also provided support as the personal Chaplain to the Town Mayor until the end of his official term in office (May 2023). The Chaplain continues to provide ongoing support to the Town Councilors and staff at the Town Hall.
Use of the church building for public benefit
The minor hall is available for hire by local community groups and has been utilised in the past year by a Men’s Mental Health Support Group (Lads & Dads) and the occasional children’s birthday partty. The ‘Little Fishes’ outreach attended by parents and their toddlers, continues to grow with up to 20 parents in attendance. It is held weekly during school term-times. There is no charge for attendance (donation only) and refreshments are provided.
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This year also saw the very successful running of a week’s Summer Club for local children. This was followed by an equally successful live music Christmas event with the Church Christmas lights being turned on by a local Councilor. The week leading up to Christmas saw the church open each evening for light festive refreshments and activities for the local community to access.
A small church of International Christians who live in Bridgend also use the building on a Sunday afternoon for their weekly service. These services are held bi-lingually (English/Polish).
The Trustees recognise the great contribution made by volunteers from the congregation in support of church activities. The Trustees endorse the guidance of the Charity Commission regarding the need for the church to bring public benefit through the practical expression of our faith within the local community and beyond. This is reflected in the various activities of the church as stated above, and the use of the charity’s property by other community groups.
Safeguarding
The church maintains an up-to-date policy for the safeguarding of children and adults at risk of abuse and subscribes to Thirty-One: Eight for advisory and DBS check support.
Building maintenance
The profile of the Church was greatly enhanced by the erection of an illuminated church sign to the front of the building during this year.
Church leadership
Church leadership remains unchanged. The Minister is due to commence formal ministerial accreditation training via Assemblies of God UK, in 2024.
Financial support to missions
The church continues in its sponsorship of a 9-year old boy in Tanzania, with members also supporting on an individual basis, seven other children. These children are supported via Compassion UK. The church makes a monthly monetary contribution to the work of World of Worth, another UK-based Christian
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charity working with women and girls on a global basis and also to a missionary couple serving in Asia, via Assemblies of God USA.
Financial review
The total income of the church from all sources decreased in 2023 from £56793.75 in 2022 to £48728.74. Expenditure increased from £52707.22 in 2022 to £58,817.45 in 2023. Although these changes resulted in a shortfall of £10088.71 for this financial year, the total funds available to the church at the end of 2023, were £35934.13.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Model Deed for Local Assemblies of God Churches and the church's constitution serve to steer the running of the charity within the context of the spiritual life of the church. The Church Council of Trustees is made up of five others; - Anne Thomas (Chair), Richard Cross, Mavis Martin, Jennifer Ward and Paul Warren.
The Trustees are responsible for the general oversight and management of the church premises and financial matters. The church's minister Paul Warren is responsible for promoting the spiritual life of the church and developing its activities within the objectives of the charity. He has pastoral oversight of the church. The Trustee group is assisted by the Church Administrator, Mrs. Janet Harris and Treasurer Mrs. Jayne Cross.
It is to be noted that the Chairperson changed in 2023 with Richard Cross resigning in October 2023 and Anne Thomas taking on the position, role and responsibilities from that date. The Council of Trustees meet quarterly with further meetings called if, and when required.
Administrative Information Correspondence details are as follows: Life Church (Bridgend), Morfa Street, Bridgend CF31 1HA.
The members of the Council of Trustees who have served for the whole period covered by this report are:
Mr. Richard Cross Pastor Paul Warren
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Mrs. Mavis Martin
Mrs. Jennifer Ward Mrs. Anne Thomas (Chair)
Approved by the Council of Trustees on | .3 - ZY .seeeeees and signed on their behalf by Mrs. Anne Thomas (Chair) Signed:....... Ad rowsatn '
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LIFE CHURCH ACCOUNTS 2023 End of Year Statement (January - December)
|INCOME|2023|2022||EXPENDITURE|2023|2022|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Jan - Dec|Jan - Dec||Jan - Dec|Jan - Dec|
|GIFTAID|£15,081.00}|£12,930.00|SALARIES|£23,283.39||£12,960.62|
|GENERALOFFERINGS|£18,789.24||£19,474.96||HMRC& NEST|£6,560.02||£3,838.78|
|SMALL DONATIONSSCHEME|£3,614.87||£2,654,50|MINISTER'SEXPENSES|£0.00}|£1,095.60|
||||EMPLOYEE EXPENSES|629.36|£0.00|
|HMRCTAXRETURNS|£4,622.74||£3,806.58]|TRAINING&CONFERENCES|£1,696.33||£543.00|
|DESIGNATEDFUNDS|£2,235.00)|£940.00|GAS,ELECTRICITY, WATER|£3,515.84||£2,521.04|
|MISC.DONATION&GIFTS|£943.00}|£5,150.00|MAINTAINANCE -GRANT|£0.00}|£10,000.00|
|BANKINTEREST|£429.04|£56.71|MAINTAINANCENON-GRANT|£4,576.05|£2,686.58|
|HIREOFPREMISES|£600.00|£251.00|DOMESTICSUPPLIES/CATERING&HOSPITALITY|£1,182.94||£1,291.01|
|BUILDING MAINT.GRANTS -MARCH|£0.00}|£10,000.00|DONATIONSEXPENDITURE|£50.00}|£1,025.00|
|BUILDING MAINT.GIFTS|£0.00:|£50.00|FEES&LICENCES|£2,268.28|£1,390.00|
|FLOWER FUND|£0.00)|£40.00||||
|MISSIONS|£1,555.00||£890.00|BANKCHARGES|£139.84|£177.08|
|CHAPLAINCY|£250.00)|£0.00|PHOTOCOPIER|£1,262.51|£1,241.71|
|PARENTS&TOTS
LITTLEFISHES|£0.00]
608.25|£550.00]
£0.00|STATIONERY/MINISTRYRESOURCES
BROADBAND/TEL|£1,865.24|
£110.94|£2,808.34
£707.38|
||||INSURANCES|£798.31|£761.58|
||||FACILITIESTEAMFLOAT|£1,019.95|£1,500.40|
||||AoG PARTNERCONTRIBUTION|£1,677.20)|£1,138.92|
||||SAFEGUARDING -31:8|£260.59|£334.99|
||||MISSIONS:ANNACHAPLAINCY|£505.68|£834.70|
||||MISSIONS:HOME&GLOBAL|£4,176.84||£1,701.00|
||||DESIGNATEDEXPENDITURE|£215.00|£300.00|
||||PASTORAL CARE EXPENSES|£1,032.27|£1,388.25|
||||PARENTS&TOTS
LITTLEFISHES|£0.00
£675.87|£601.24
£0.00|
||||MINISTRYGIFTS|£1,315.00|£1,860.00|
|TOTAL:|— 48,728.74)|£56,793.75|
-£8,065.01|[TOTAL
SSSCS~*~S~S~S~S~S
B74 |_£52,707.22
£6,110,23|||
|INCOME|£48,728.74||BALANCEC/FFROM2022|£46,022.84||
|EXPENDITURE|£58,817.45||ADDSURPLUSFORYEAR|-£10,088.71||
|SURPLUSFORTHEYEAR|-£10,088.71||BALANCEC/FTO2023|£35,934.13||
|CURRENTACCOUNT|£2,284.09|||||
|DEPOSITACCOUNT|£5,133.12|||||
|KINGDOM BANK|£28,376.92|||||
|CASH IN HAND|£140.00|||||
|TOTAL:|£35,934.13|||||