Charity name: New Life Christian Fellowship Registered Charity number 1063033
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
For the year ended 31st December 2023
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NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (1063033)
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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The Church Council are pleased to present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023. New Life Christian Fellowship is a Registered Charity (number 1063033). The Charity is also commonly referred to as New Life Church.
The Charity is in fellowship with the Assemblies of God in Great Britain and Ireland, a Registered Charity (number 1032245).
Registered Address
18 Normandy way, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 1EX
Officers
Church Council
The Charity is managed by the Church Council. The Council members during the year were:
Pastor Steve Ovens (Chairman) Tony Birch (Secretary) Rob Allingham (Treasurer)
Holding Trustees
There were no holding trustees this year as the charity church building was sold in 2020. Sale proceeds and funds of the previous building were held in reserve and a new building was acquired in October 2022. New holding trustees will be assigned once registration is completed with Land Registry in 2024.
Object of the Charity
The objects of the Church are for the benefit of the public locally, nationally and across the world:
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A) To advance the Christian faith by proclaiming Jesus Christ and teaching the principles and ways of God according to the Holy Bible (The Word of God)
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B) To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind including through the provision of counselling, support & prayer; and
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C) To advance education for children, young people, adults, the elderly and for people with disabilities.
Activities Review
The Church Council are pleased to report continuing support for the Charity which has enabled it to continue to benefit the public locally, nationally and across the world (during their use of hired venues for Sunday Services and other events, and while the renovation works were undertaken on the new building purchased in October 2022):
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‘Connect Groups’ continued to meet regularly to encourage people to grow in their faith:
oMon mornings (online) – Time specifically to pray for needs locally, nationally & internationallyoMon afternoons – Home Group: met weekly alternating between online and people’s homesoTues & Wed evenings – Small Groups: met weekly at various people’s homes -
Wed mornings – Weekly prayer meeting met at the Beacon (or other locations around town)
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oSun, Tue, Wed & Fri (fortnightly) – Young People would meet for various age groups/ events -
‘Community Events’ to benefit the local people, to proclaim the gospel message, and/or to raise funds to help those in need around the world:
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Numerous Men’s & Women’s meals/ breakfasts & socials were arranged during the year
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Family & children’s events were held in the Autumn, Spring & Summer to bless local people
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Church family events & socials were arranged during the year eg. Summer Picnic in the Park
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oBodmin Youth Project – events, gatherings & socials were arranged for local young people -
In October a ‘Traditional Harvest Supper’ was arranged along with a ‘Harvest Auction’ to raise funds for the local Bodmin Youth Project (BYP). The event raised £1000 for BYP.
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During the Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Appeal, we held a ‘Packing Party’ to invite and involve others in the local community to be part of packing shoebox gifts for other children in deprived parts of the world.
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‘Community Action’ has continued throughout the year:
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Foodbank volunteers helped to distribute food & regular food donations were received
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Operation Christmas Child (OCC) – as a local church we filled & packed 57 shoeboxes
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Bodmin Youth Project (BYP) continued to run their fortnightly Immerse Youth Club for all young people (10-17’s) in the area, as well as a number of other events/ activities that included free Football Sessions in the community (provided fortnightly during each term)
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oChristians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre continues to serve our local area;-
Four local churches are in partnership to manage & finance the CAP Centre & employ 2 part-time Debt Coaches who visit clients across North Cornwall with a team of 12 befrienders/ volunteers from various local churches
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Over 130 clients have been supported since opening, 60 clients have gone debt free, and 16 clients have prayed to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts!
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‘Bodmin Churches’ are continuing to be united to serve the community:
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Regular meetings continue between 4 local church leaders to work together in our community
oThis involves supporting and involving volunteers from across our churches in various ministries that include: CAP Debt Centre, Foodbank, Bodmin Youth Project -
Bodmin Youth Project (BYP) registered as a charity in 2019 (No.1182695), continues to unite 4 churches on a regular basis to work together & serve the young people in our local area;
- This includes partnering with Scripture Union, and with South West Youth Ministries (SWYM), while we have a full-time youth leader/ intern serving on our team until the summer of 2024.
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‘Sunday Services’ have varied in locations/ venues throughout the year:
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Since selling our church property back in Sept 2020, we have held our Sunday Services in the Bodmin Football Club, Immanuel Church, Light & Life Church & the Shire House Suite.
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Recordings of the Sunday services, or the sermons, were posted on our website but also distributed on CD or DVD to those unable to get online or had no internet connection.
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Various ministers and ministries have visited the church over the year to share about their work, charity and/or preach God’s Word.
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‘Church Website’ (www.newlifebodmin.org) continues to be updated & the Facebook page;
oFor locals/ visitors to find out more about us & what we do as a church charityoTo provide links, updates, news, blogs, testimonies, photos & videos for all people to seeoTo use as an online ‘Notice Board’ for up-coming community events or meetings. -
For ‘Christians’ to share resources online to encourage others in their Christian faith;
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This is kept updated with audio/ video recordings of Sunday services & sermons
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The ‘YouTube’ page continues to be used to share internal videos to those in NLC
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‘Missions Overseas’ continue to be supported financially and with prayer:
oSee the Accounts Annual Report for more details of financial gifts -
Numerous missionaries have visited our church during the year to update us of relevant needs overseas. Others have kept us updated by regular newsletters/ correspondence.
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Financial Review
A surplus of expenditure over income of £64,007 arose, giving an accumulated fund at 31 December 2023 of £115,341 (this includes: Current Account £96,009; CAP Centre Account £19,106 and Savings Account £226).
The Charity's main sources of income arose predominantly from New Building Fund donations of £116,033; Church Offerings of £36,745 and CAP Debt Centre donations of £7,373 totalling £167,991. The majority of the income and reserves was spent on the refurbishment of the new Building (£45,835), Pastoral Remuneration* (£23,735); CAP Debt Centre (£18,314) and Support Given to other organisations and ministries (£5,866), this year totalling £103,984.
Levels of support given to other organisations have been 14% of unrestricted income for the year.
** includes £22,008 salary, £1,541 pension and payroll admin costs.
Financial Policy
The Finances of the Charity are managed taking account of the following considerations:
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To reach and maintain an appropriate level of remuneration for our one key full-time employee
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To sustain the operation of the CAP Debt Centre, including the part-time Centre Manager
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To maintain our level of support to other organisations and ministries in line with our objectives
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• To build sufficient reserves to cover maintenance and fund future projects to progress the objects of our Charity
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To recognise the risks associated with having reliance on voluntary donations.
Resources
The Charity employs a full-time Pastor to direct the work of the Church as well as providing pastoral oversight within the Church and pastoral support through contacts in the local community. The charity is also employer to the part-time CAP Debt Centre Manager and Debt Coach, co-ordinating debt relief counselling to those in need. Much of the practical work of the Church is undertaken by member volunteers who also support other local community activities outside the Church.
18th October 2024
Chairman/ Pastor Steve Ovens On behalf of the New Life Church Trustees
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NLCF 2023 Accounts - Income & Expenditure General Designated Funds Total Income Funds Funds Building CAP Debt Centre Gift Aid Offering & Donati ons Other Special Offe ring Grand Total 582 115,451 7,373 116,033 7,373 6,621 36,675 982 6,621 36,675 982 52 255 307 44,911 123,079 167,991 Expenditure Admin & Management CAP Debt Centre Church Building Ministries & Outreach Staff Support & Donations Grand Total 4,460 815 18,314 38,367 531 5,275 18,314 45,834 4,959 23,735 5,866 103,984 7,467 4,428 23,735 5,366 45,457 500 $8,527 Surplus / Loss (IncoffÉ less E¥penditure) 545 64,552 64,007
NLCF 2023 Accounts - Balance Sheet
As at 31 Dec 2023
| Opening Balances Current Account £20,371.38 CAP Centre Account £30,736.77 Savings Account (Building Fund) £226.35 Petty Cash Account £0.00 Balance at 1/1/23 £51,334.50 Income Over Expenditure for y/e 31/12/23 £64,006.92 Balance as at 31/12/23 £115,341.42 Closing Balances Current Account £94,814.92 CAP Centre Account £19,106.00 Savings Account (Building Fund) £226.35 Petty Cash Account £1,194.15 £115,341.42 Balance as at 31/12/23 £115,341.42 |
Designated Funds -£108,905.57 £30,736.77 226.35 £0.00 £64,552.41 -£13,390.04 -£32,722.39 £19,106.00 £226.35 £0.00 -£13,390.04 |
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Designated & Restricted Funds
In addition to the sums shown above for the designated CAP Centre and Building Fund accounts, the table below shows designated funds included in the Current Account balance at start and end of 2023:
| Designated Fund CAP Centre account Savings account (New Building Fund) Petty Cash Account Held in Current account: CYNC Samaritans Purse/OCC CAP Elizabeth House Uganda Yemen Appeal New Building Fund - Current account sub-total - GRAND TOTAL - |
- | Held at 31 Dec 22 £30,736.77 226.35 - 530.99 225.00 500.00 165.00 110,326.56 108,905.57 77,942.45 |
Restricted Income 7,373.00 - 1,795.00 280.00 213.00 - 115,451.40 125,112.40 |
Restricted Expenditure 18,314.12 - 1,795.00 530.99 5.05 500.00 - 38,367.07 59,512.23 |
General Funds applied to cause 689.65 481.70 - 123.59 - - - - |
General Funds applied to cause 689.65 481.70 - 123.59 - - - - |
Held at As at 31 Dec 2023 19,106.00 226.35 - - 280.00 48.75 - 165.00 33,118.64 |
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| - | 32,722.39 |
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| 13,390.04 |
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