Annual General Meeting 19th February 2025
Reports
Charity Number 1052523 Page 1 of 10
Please Note:
The Charity Commission report, as per guidance, will only include the following:
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Administrator’s report
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Pastor’s report, as Chairman
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Treasurer’s report and the Independent Examiner’s Report
Charity Number 1052523 Page 2 of 10
2025 Reports
ADMINISTRATOR
Bob Woods
Partners
We welcomed Peter Rudd, Tony Fittes, Tim Cole, John & Charlene, Dominic, Agmadalo & Beracha Umoro into partnership. Sadly, Tony Fittes decided not to retain partnership:
| 1stFebruary | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Active members | 33 | 40 |
| Emeritus(Those housebound) | 4 | 4 |
Church Leadership/Management
During 2024
Church Council: Met 4 times during the year, along with a sub-committee to discuss salaries. Leaders Group: Met twice, with Cliff Henderson providing input and encouragement at the October session. Eldership Group: Met formally 5 times along with informal get togethers.
Land Holding Trustees
There was no change to the 4 Land Holding Trustees, one above the minimum requirement.
Internet
As in previous years our website, YouTube, and Facebook accounts continue to be updated and provide useful contact resources.
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YouTube : Our Sunday service has been live streamed using this platform with an edited version held for later viewing.
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• Facebook : Links to our recorded service have been posted.
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Website: Has proved valuable with some new folk finding our website, making contact, and now attending.
Estates
Routine Maintenance
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Fire alarms and extinguishers, and main boilers have again been tested and serviced.
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In-house minor works have been completed, alarms tested, central heating set. The 5 yearly PAT testing was undertaken. Many thanks to those involved.
Drains
These were inspected, and the issue with periodic blocking seems to be with the length of the drain and the relatively low drop in fall. It is considered too expensive, and the amount of work involved to re-route the drains prohibitive. Suggested to try to increase flushing and regular monitoring. Periodic clearing has still been required. Thanks to Andrew Britton and David Robson for covering this.
Keyboard
This was a major purchase during 2024
Kitchen replacement
During 2024 we received a specialist report on what needs to be considered when updating the kitchen. 2025 has already seen us make contact with kitchen planners, so we can take this forward and provide a modern and appropriate facility. This will be a major financial investment
Once this work is complete it will be an opportunity to seek a food hygiene rating.
Other considerations
The minor hall requires decorating. This will be considered alongside kitchen decoration The projector is also an item that may require replacing.
The Computer Café laptops are now 10 years old and are becoming unusable. Requirement for these has diminished. We are looking to dispose of these.
Charity Number 1052523 Page 3 of 10
Networks
2024 saw us formally join the ‘Churches In the Community (CIC)’ network. The links, contacts and zoom meetings have been encouraging. We are hoping to have a visit, and ministry, from one of the CIC leaders during 2025.
Hill Benson is already accredited as a member of CIC, being a chaplain. Now WVCC has joined CIC, we have agreed to bring Hill under our membership.
WVCC is part of Bishop Auckland Fellowship of Christian Churches (BAFCC)
Missions
We have continued to support various overseas missions work both financially and prayerfully. These are detailed in the full report below by our Missions Secretary, David Potts. In response to good practise, noted by the Charity Commission, we introduced a simple contract to cover our financial support. For 2025 this will be used for all financial support.
Locally
As well as our primary objective of meeting as a church fellowship, we have been involved with the community through:
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Hire of the building, mostly by Slimming World.
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We supported the foodbank at Woodhouse Close Community Church with our harvest donations. Also financially with gifts at Harvest (£85) and Christmas (£195).
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Each Thursday morning the church has been open as a ‘drop-in’ centre providing friendship, wi-fi, computer help, and refreshments.
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The Bible Times Exhibition was well supported again with over 200 children attending, from infants to Year 7 pupils. King James Academy once again brought all their year 7 children.
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We had opportunity to share our faith and answer questions to all year 7 pupils at Barrington School.
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We held an evening of Christmas Carol Singing at Runnymede Court; a sheltered housing complex
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Financial donations (£170) were received for Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal.
Finances
The full report is included below.
We are grateful to Karen for taking on the treasurer’s role over the last five years. For a while now Karen has wanted to hand this over. She will continue until the end of June 2025.
Charity Number 1052523 Page 4 of 10
TREASURER
Report written by Karen Kahindi & Bob Woods Based on reports from Henniker & Co. Accountants, Spennymoor
| 2023 | 2024 | Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | ||||
| Offerings | 46,383 | 42,425 | -3,959 | |
| Hire | 3,620 | 3,520 | -100 | |
| Interest earned | 391 | 5,427 | 5,037 | |
| Gift Aid | 1,085 | 3,619 | 2,534 | |
| Total Receipts | 51,479 | 54,991 | 3,512 | |
| Payments | ||||
| Employees | 31,357 | 31,860 | 503 | |
| Employees expenses | 248 | 256 | 8 | |
| Accountancy | 1,452 | 1,452 | 0 | |
| Pension Admin costs | 2,253 | 2,301 | 48 | |
| Bank charges | 179 | 163 | -17 | |
| General and Administration | 1,924 | 1,695 | -229 | |
| Housekeeping | 400 | 903 | 503 | |
| Premises | 7,498 | 7,880 | 382 | |
| Miscellaneous | 220 | 85 | -135 | |
| Subscriptions and memberships | 1,097 | 1097 | ||
| Insurance | 1,521 | 1,595 | 74 | |
| Ministryspeaker | 1,650 | 955 | -695 | |
| Missionarysupport | 6,157 | 3,795 | -2,362 | |
| Donations and Gifts | 265 | 1,070 | 805 | |
| Computer equipadditions Fixed assets | 459 | 1,999 | 1,540 | |
| Hospitalityand events | 473 | 358 | -115 | |
| Total Payments | 56,056 | 57,463 | 1,407 | |
Surplus/Deficit(-)foryear |
-4,577 |
-2,472 |
2,105 |
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| WVCC- Reserves | ||||
| Balance brought forward 1 January | 72,781 | 118,204 | ||
| Add: Surplus for theyear | -4,577 | -2,472 | ||
| Interest from Savings | 2,755 | |||
| Interest from Kingdom Bank Savings | 2672 | |||
| Transfer from 51581392 | 85,000 | |||
| Transfers to kingdom savings | -35,000 | -50,000 | ||
| Total Funds at Bank-31 December | 118,204 | 60,305 | ||
| As at 31st December 2024 | ||||
| Balance at bank | 118,204.29 | 60,305.14 | ||
| Savings | 47,080.48 | 49,835.68 | ||
| Kingdom Bank | 35,390.93 | 88,063.17 | ||
| Quilter Cheviot(15th Jan 2025) | 113,494 | 123,257 | 9763 | |
| Total Charity Funds | 314,169 | 321,461 | 7,291 |
Charity Number 1052523 Page 5 of 10
Notes on the finance report
Overview
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Minor adjustment to 2023 funds by accountants
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Missionary support reduced by £69
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Computer equipment not previously shown of £459
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Balance carried forward to match bank account
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Our day to day running costs show a deficit of £7899.
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With savings interest, the accounts show a deficit of £2474.
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Finances were closely monitored and discussed throughout the year.
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With the high level of reserves, no major actions were taken.
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With interest on savings and Quilter Cheviott investment, the overall Charity Funds show a small surplus. However the investments in Quilter Cheviot are prone to market changes.
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2025 commitments
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Increase in salaries
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Expenditure on assets / buildings, notably the kitchen upgrade.
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Kingdom Bank interest to be spent on Missionary work/projects
Historic Ring-fenced monies
Computer Café:
Through discussion with Lloyds bank, the ring-fenced Computer Café money has been released. They are happy with how the Café has moved to a Warm Space and Drop-in, with the money supporting this. Encounter: £922
Hire
2024 continued to see income supplemented through hire of our facilities, mainly by Slimming World on a weekly basis.
Reserves
As part of safeguarding our reserves we moved money from the sale of PCC to a savings account with Kingdom Bank. This is gaining interest. We have agreed that this interest should be used for missionary work, and probably one-off projects/emergency needs. In 2024 part of this helped with the items below. o A CIC pastor in Jamaica whose house was devasted in the hurricane: £390
- Provision of 80 chairs for a fellowship Shadrack Nyota, in Kenya, is involved with. £250 was given.
The remainder (£2060) is designated to support issues as they arise throughout the year.
We are thankful for the faithful support given throughout 2024.
Charity Number 1052523 Page 6 of 10
Charity Number 1052523 Page 7 of 10
PASTOR Masai Kahindi
What a joy it is, serving such a loving and caring congregation as your Pastor. Karen and I are so grateful to be here with you at Wear Valley Christian Centre.
We are thankful too for your prayers and for all you do in the spirit of Christian love. We serve a gracious God and He will lead us toward another successful year.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus once said, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And in Acts, we see the formation of that promised church.
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It was a crazy time. Tongues of fire descended on people, people were healed, there were brushes with the law, people died, there were fights and disagreements and there were missionary journeys.
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It was a messy but beautiful time, an uncertain but exciting time, a dangerous time but a fruitful time. And as you finish the book of Acts, you can’t help but notice one thing: Nothing is able to stop the Church as it moves forward in fresh faith and biblical truth which encourages me to know that there is hope for us in 2025, as we continue to trust in the Lord with unwavering faith. Every year we take time to review and celebrate what God has done through the life and ministry of our congregation.
We also discern how God is leading us and what God is calling us to in the coming year. Slowly and steadily, we have seen God do several wonderful things among us here at Wear Valley Christian Centre, and undoubtedly God has much more in store for us.
Thank you all for being an amazing congregation. Willing to step in where we needed help and in ministering to one another as a Body of Christ. Thank you for being amazing people, amazing leaders, amazing servants of God. Thank you for your generosity, your leadership, your encouragement, and your unwavering commitment to loving God by caring for and serving others.
What a year we experienced together here at Wear Valley Christian Centre. Even though it may not have been in the time and the way that we may have expected, in 2024, God gave us reasons to celebrate, moments to reflect, and opportunities to grow.
We could use many terms to describe the past 12 months, but 2024 is most appropriately defined by two thoughts: progress, and increase, even though slowly but steady.
We have seen new people come and fellowship with us every Sunday. More kids have joined our kids church, which really, has been an answer to prayer for us after seeing several families move away.
It has been encouraging especially, to see our young people beginning to be confident and to feel free to take part in our main Sunday service. As our lives and calendars have turned, we remind ourselves that God’s steadfast and faithful love has remained constant.
We are also confident that regardless of what this new year may bring, His promises will never fail, and His mercies will remain new every morning.
Progress
- After many years of praying, and seeking God’s guidance and leading on which church denomination, or association we should affiliate ourselves with as a fellowship, a decision that as leadership, we took very seriously, at last we came to a final conclusion that, we join Churches in Community International (CiC) which was a real answer to prayer for us. And since then, we feel at peace being part of a big family of God.
Charity Number 1052523 Page 8 of 10
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Again, we thank God for our worship team, which has been doing a tremendous job during our Sunday services. Some time ago however, they expressed to me that they would love to have a worship leader. We tried many ways to secure someone to help us in this, but surely God’s ways are not our ways and Tim Cole recently came to join the team, which has really been a great blessing.
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Our Bible studies on Wednesdays has been great in illuminating the Word of God to us and challenging us to not only know the Word, but to also create a desire in our hearts to draw us closer to Him more than ever before. The series on the book of Romans proved to be insightful and challenging and we look forward for what we will learn in 2025.
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The decision to keep running our warm space has proved to be very beneficial to our fellowship in many ways. We have been able to not only fellowship with each other every Thursday in a relaxed small group setting, but also to meet new people who were able to just walk in to enquire what is going on in the church, giving us the opportunity to chat, share about the church and sometimes be able to help practically.
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Our Men’s ministry was a great way of challenging each other in the things of God and bringing us as men together. I believe this year God has great things for us as we spend time fellowshipping together and inspiring one another into Godliness.
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Likewise, our Women’s ministry was a great opportunity for the ladies in the church to grow together in the Lord by looking into the Word of God in smaller groups, doing things together and getting to know each other better, not just meeting during Sunday services.
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Our Evangelism team worked tirelessly in prayer and physically going out sharing the Gospel with people, and we thank God for their zeal and commitment to this vital ministry. Our prayer is that our Evangelism team will see great breakthroughs and fruit in 2025.
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In August 2024, I went to Kenya for one month to prepare for Pastors Conference that will take place on the last week of November 2025. I am planning to take an outreach team from here along with some pastor friends, from other churches with us. We are looking forward to a great time of teaching men and women of God who are hungry for the Word. And as Paul rightly put it in 2 Timothy 2:2, our desire for those we will be teaching there is that, the things which they will hear from us, they will entrust them to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.
Increase.
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In Hebrews 10:23, the writer to the Hebrews says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful.” God honoured the diligent efforts of the Wear Valley Christian Centre family in 2024. We saw new people attending weekly at our services each Sunday morning. We saw an increase in the spiritual hunger of the church as well. Worship experiences were life-giving, exciting, and challenging.
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Thank you for being people of prayer, for believing in the Miracle Worker and for expecting God to move in our midst. The best news is that we saw an increase in the number of people who were added as partners. You are a vital part of the Wear Valley Christian Centre family!
In Mark 16:15, Jesus told us to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” In our pursuit of that mission, we know that strategic days of ministry await us in 2025.
Thank you for your passionate commitment to share the love, joy, and peace of Jesus Christ with the least, the last, and the lost. Most of all, thanks be to God for His faithfulness and provision.
The purpose of Wear Valley Christian Centre remains to please God, and we believe that our best days are yet to come!
To God be the glory.
Charity Number 1052523 Page 9 of 10
Charity Number 1052523 Page 10 of 10