## **Trustees Annual Report for 2023**
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 2023 were Alan Bolton (chairman), Luther Meier (Vice President of MVI), Darren Mitzi (MVGB Director), John Orange, and MVI board member, Gary Hall. During the year Mike Philipson resigned from the board after many years of faithful service, support and encouragement.
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 :-
- To advance the Christian faith throughout the world
- `o` To provide relief to persons in need, aged or sick
- To advance education including by means of establishing or operating educational establishments
- 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 2023 demonstrates how each activity provides public benefit :-
1
- 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 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. During 2023 more than 6 teams ministered in Greece, Spain, the USA & Kenya.
- 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. In the year field workers were resident in Germany, Sweden, India, Uganda, Spain, Latvia, Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa.
- We have provided relief to persons in need by **Attracting Donors for Children Support Programmes** in several countries. Throughout 2023, we have continued to help feed and care for over 200 children in India, South Africa, Zambia and Uganda.
- We have advanced education by **Assisting with School Fees and Uniforms** for approx. 80 children in India, Zambia and Uganda.
- In 2023 we have also advanced education through our **Support of Pre-Schools** in Uganda, South Africa and a **Christian School** in Lusaka, Zambia.
- In addition, we have advanced education by **Equipping Indigenous Christian Leaders** through ad-hoc online conferences in Andhra Pradesh, India and Kingston, Jamaica.
## **Finances**
In 2023 total income was £65,810, a 38% decrease on the previous year, this was primarily due to the large donation received for the project in India in 2022 which is currently on with no further donations being received at the present time. At the end of the year the charity had funds of £89,911 including ‘restricted’ funds of £57,626. This amount remains similar to last year and relates to the aforementioned project currently on hold.
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 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
2
no deduction is currently 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**
2023 continued to be a year of positive change for the trust. 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: 29 February 2024
3
**----- Start of picture text -----**
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Missionary Ventures Europe Trust|1067612|
|Receipts and payments accounts|CC16a|
|For the period|
|01/01/2023|To|31/12/2023|
|from|
|ee|
|ee|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|-|13,171|-|13,171|21,400|
|Mission Programs & Projects|-|46,322|-|46,322|75,881|
|Ministry Tours & Teams|-|-|-|-|798|
|Other Charitable Income|6,317|-|-|6,317|8,674|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|59,493|-|65,810|106,753|
|Sub total|(Gross income for AR)|[ 6,317 ]|
|A2 Asset and investment sales,|
|(see table).|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|-|-|-|-|-|
|a|SS|SS|SS|
|Total receipts|6,317|59,493|-|65,810|106,753|
|| a|||ee|||[Ye]|
|A3 Payments|
|Ministry Support|866|10,121|-|10,987|21,428|
|Mission Programs & Projects|1,960|47,472|-|49,432|65,884|
|Ministry Tours & Teams|-|-|-|-|798|
|Support Costs:|-|-|-|-|-|
|Office Rental|-|-|-|-|-|
|Admin, Utilities etc|2,551|-|-|2,551|2,848|
|Salaries|-|-|-|-|-|
|Consultancy|-|-|-|-|-|
|Travel|3,071|-|-|3,071|3,800|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|8,448|57,593|-|66,041|94,758|
|A4 Asset and investment|
|purchases, (see table)|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|-|-|-|-|-|
|SS|
|Total payments|8,448|57,593|-|66,041|94,758|
|es|||esSS|||SSes S||es|S|
|Net of receipts/(payments)|- 2,131|1,900|- - 231|11,995|
|A5 Transfers between funds|-|- -|-|-|
|A6 Cash funds last year end|34,416|55,726|-|90,142|78,147|
|Cash funds this year end|===|32,285|57,626|- 89,911|>=|90,142|
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|
|Categories|Details|funds|funds|funds|
|to nearest £|to nearest £|to nearest £|
|B1 Cash funds|Current Account|32,285|11,444|-|
|Deposit Account|-|46,182|-|
|-|-|-|
|Total cash funds|32,285|57,626|-|
|=|
|(agree balances with receipts and payments|
|account(s))|OK|OK|OK|
|—|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|
|funds|funds|funds|
|Details|to nearest £|to nearest £|to nearest £|
|B2 Other monetary assets|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|
|ee|
|Fund to which|Current value|
|Details|asset belongs|Cost (optional)|(optional)|
|B3 Investment assets|-|-|
|-|-|
|-|-|
|-|-|
|-|-|
|===>|
|Fund to which|Current value|
|Details|asset belongs|Cost (optional)|(optional)|
|B4 Assets retained for the|-|-|
|charity’s own use|-|-|
|-|-|
|-|-|
|-|-|
|-|-|
|ee|
|Fund to which|Amount due|When due|
|Details|liability relates|(optional)|(optional)|
|B5 Liabilities|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|Signed by one or two trustees on|Date of|
|behalf of all the trustees|Signature|Print Name|approval|
|DARREN MITZI|29/02/2024|
|——|
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **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 2023.
## **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:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- 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:
- 1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- 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: 3 October 2024
**Registered Office: 30 Marsden Lane, Marsden, Huddersfield. HD7 6AF. Telephone: 07710 645777**
**Co. Reg. No. 13543701 England & Wales Director: Michele Howe F.C.C.A, C.T.A.**