Trustees Annual Report for 2021
Missionary Ventures Europe Trust is a UK-registered charity (number 1067612) located at 3 Edmund Street, Milnrow, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL16 4HR.
The Charity is part of an international and inter-denominational missionary organisation called Missionary Ventures International (MVI) – see www.mvi.org. Founded in 1983 in Florida, USA, it now also has offices in Nicaragua, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Great Britain. MVI works through its staff and indigenous partners in over fifty countries.
The charity is sometimes known by the names Missionary Ventures or Missionary Ventures Great Britain and often by the acronyms MVE, MV or MVGB.
Governance is through a board of trustees which aims to meet quarterly. All board members are themselves actively involved in missionary activities and provide a wealth of experience and wisdom. Trustees acting for the whole of 2021 were Alan Bolton (chairman), Luther Meier (Vice President of MVI), Darren Mitzi (MVGB Director), John Orange, Mike Philipson and MVI board member, Gary Hall.
The board of trustees are empowered to select and appoint new trustees and to recruit and dismiss the director of the charity. At each meeting the director presents a report of activities and strategic future plans together with the current financial status. Potential risks and problems are discussed and action plans agreed.
Missionary Ventures in Britain is overseen by a part-time unpaid director who manages a small but effective team of volunteers. The primary role of the charity is to facilitate personal involvement in team trips, projects and programmes in foreign countries by promoting overseas mission to UK churches, organisations and individuals. Each year dozens of volunteers are encouraged to give their time, pay for their own trips and donate money to support missionary endeavours.
The Objects of the charity are included in the ‘Declaration of Trust 7 Nov 1997’ and are listed below in an abbreviated form :-
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To advance the Christian faith throughout the world
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To provide relief to persons in need, aged or sick
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To advance education including by means of establishing or operating educational establishments
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Any other charitable purpose at the discretion of the trustees
The Trustees are satisfied that these objects are consistent with the Charity Commission’s general guidance on ‘Public Benefit’. The following summary of the main activities undertaken by the charity in 2021 demonstrates how each activity provides public benefit :-
▪ We advance the Christian faith by Facilitating Short-Term Mission Teams in assisting the indigenous Christian churches, where teams focus on one or more of the
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following activities – Evangelism and Church Planting, Construction, Medical Care, Prayer or ministry to Youth and Children. Typically, short-term team trips are between 7- 12 days duration and teams would constitute from 2-15 volunteers depending on the purpose of the mission. Unfortunately, due to the continued threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions were still in place throughout much of 2021 and consequently as in the previous year, planned trips and overseas travel was postponed or cancelled. Instead, many of our volunteers and supporters continued connecting online and ministering as they did throughout the lockdown in 2020, further strengthening relationships.
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We have advanced the Christian faith by Recruiting, Preparing and Supporting Long-Term Missionaries called field coordinators for service in various countries. They form long-term relationships and mentor indigenous leaders, pioneer projects, host teams and strategically and safely channel resources from the UK. As was the case the previous year, the pandemic had grounded some missionaries in their home country, however, there were still many Field workers who remained resident in Greece, India, Uganda, Spain, Latvia, Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa for some part, if not all of 2021.
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We have provided relief to persons in need by Attracting Donors for Children Support Programmes in several countries. Throughout 2021, we have continued to help feed and care for over 200 children in India, South Africa, Zambia and Uganda.
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We also provided relief to persons in need by Attracting Donors to provide relief and financial support to families, Pastors and Leaders in India as support continued to come as a result of the previous years appeal to help families hit hard by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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We have advanced education by Assisting with School Fees and Uniforms for approx. 80 children in India, Zambia and Uganda.
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In 2021 we have also advanced education through our Support of Pre-Schools in Greece, Macedonia, Uganda, South Africa and a Christian School in Lusaka, Zambia.
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In addition, we have advanced education by Equipping Indigenous Christian Leaders through ad-hoc online conferences in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Finances
In 2021 total income was £101,269, a 4.6% increase on the previous year. At the end of the year the charity had funds of £78,147 including ‘restricted’ funds of £36,092.
Most of the income of the charity was generated from voluntary donations from individuals, churches and other Christian organisations. Wherever possible the charity encouraged individual tax-payers to take advantage of the UK ‘gift-aid’ scheme. Donations were mostly restricted in nature for specific purposes and the charity’s
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accounting system kept such funds separate and were not used for other purposes without the express permission of the donor.
Administration or ‘core costs’ were mainly funded by taking a percentage of donations for projects and children support programmes. Currently this is set at up to 15%, however no deduction is taken from donations given to support Missionary Ventures staff abroad or in the UK.
Currently the charity has no long-term loans. The office space currently occupied has again this year been offered without charge by New Life Community Church Milnrow. Office furniture and equipment are either donated or purchased from administration funds.
No long-term guarantees of financing for projects or programmes in the mission field have been given. Help has been offered on the basis that it will continue only to the extent that we receive donations for it. For this reason, no specific reserves are held. However, if significant donations are received and there is a delay for whatever reason in channelling the money to the project, then it is held in a deposit account held with the charity’s banker, Barclays PLC.
Summary
2021 was another difficult year as COVID-19 continued to affect so many lives across the nations, once again we are thankful that our team and associates were kept safe and in good health throughout the continued pandemic. We remained very thankful for the technology available to us all which allowed us to strengthen, maintain, and make new connections whilst travel and face to face meetings were still under global restrictions.
The board are satisfied that the charity continues to meet its charitable objectives and has maintained its reputation for financial integrity. We thank the LORD and give him all the glory for every life that has been changed through the work of Missionary Ventures throughout the world.
Declaration
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
(Darren Mitzi, trustee)
Date: 24 September 2022
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Missionary Ventures Europe Trust 1067612 Receipts and payments accounts
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 01/01/2021 To 31/12/2021 from
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Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Voluntary Donations: - - - - -
Ministry Support - 18,252 - 18,252 15,423
Mission Programs & Projects - 70,824 - 70,824 68,307
Ministry Tours - - - - -
Other Charitable Income 12,193 - - 12,193 13,053
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
89,076 - 101,269 96,783
Sub total (Gross income for AR) [ 12,193 ]
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 12,193 89,076 - 101,269 96,783
A3 Payments
Ministry Support 1,650 13,479 - 15,129 24,378
Mission Programs & Projects 5,018 59,395 - 64,413 70,753
Ministry Tours - - - - -
Support Costs: - - - - -
Office Rental - - - - -
Admin, Utilities etc 2,708 - - 2,708 2,927
Salaries - - - - -
Consultancy - - - - -
Travel - - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total 9,376 72,874 - 82,250 98,058
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments 9,376 72,874 - 82,250 98,058
Net of receipts/(payments) 2,817 16,202 - 19,019 - 1,275
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 39,238 19,890 - 59,128 60,403
Cash funds this year end 42,055 36,092 - 78,147 59,128
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| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities |
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Current Account Deposit Account Total cash funds Details Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 42,055 24,622 - 11,470 - - 42,055 36,092 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - Print Name DARREN MITZI |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 24/09/2022 |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MISSIONARY VENTURES EUROPE TRUST
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31[st] December 2021.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Michele Howe FCCA, CTA The Tax Emporium Limited 30 Marsden Lane Marsden Huddersfield HD7 6AF
Date: 27 October 2022