Annual Report and Financial Statements of Eritrean Beth-El Church in London st Year Ended 31 of December 2023 Charity Number: 1083084
Erltrean Beth-El Church in London Annual Report & Financlal Statements for the Year ending 31¥1of December 2023 TABLE OF CONTENT l. Legal and Administrative Information.................................................. 2. Trustees. Report..................... . .....................................................................................2- 28 3. Independent Examinerfs report...................................................... ..29 4. Statement of Financial Activities..... ..30 5. Balance sheet.. .31 6. Notes to financlal statements................................. ..32- 35 OIPag& Charity Number 1083084
Erltrean Beth-El Church In London Annual Roport & Flnanclal Statementsforthe Year endlng 311tof Decernbei 2023 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Re81Stered Charity Number 1083084 Reglstered Office Units l and 2 OSKA Building Empress Works Boreham Road N22 6SL Board of Trustees Name Role Nataniel Yemane Chair Dr Mesghina Abraha Secretary Samson Amanuel Men8histu Treasurer Goitom Slum Mebrahtu Trustee Goitom Gulay Truste6 Asheber Tesfay Biniam Bereket Trustee Trustee Mussie Habte Trustee Teklit Gebrekirstos Trustee Daneil Weldy Trustee Dawit Araya Trustee Bankers Barclays Bank Brixton Branch 463-465 Brixton Road London, SW9 8HL 11Page
Erltrean Beth41 Church In London Annu31 Report & Financial Ststements forthe Yearenthng31*of December2023 TRUSTEES, REPORT LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION The Trustees present their report with financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice ISORP)'Accounting and Reporting by Charities, issued in March 2005. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Eritrean Beth-el Church in London is a Church and a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The management of the church is the responsibility of the Trustees who are appointed on a permanent basis. The Trustees meet on quarterly basis. The day-to-day management including the implementation of strategies approved by the Trustees is delegated to the Elders Board, whose members are elected by the members of the church on Five years interval. There are 4 part-time pastors, and I part-time office admin employed bythe church. TRUSTEES, INDucfioN AND TRAINING New Trustees are trained by a delegate of the chair using the charity commission guidance paper. Existing Trustees attend trainin8 from time to time to keep up to date wlth the latest requirements and best prattice. In addition, Informal learning continues to take place on an on- going basis. RISK MANAGEMENr The Trustees have the dutyto identify and reviewthe risk to which the church 15 exposed to and ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide a reasonable assurance againstthe identified risk5. The Trustees have assessed all the major risks that may affect the operation of the church in the foreseeable future and are satisfied that there are systems in place to manage the exposure to them. FREEHOLD PROPERTY The Trustees act as custodian {regi5tered owner5} of Eritrean Beth-el Church in London main freehold property which is used as its place of worship (Unit l and 2 OSKA Buildin& empress work, Boreham Road, Turnpike Lane, London N22 6SLI and (Sterling Road, Wood Green, N22 58TI which is currently rented to another church as a place of worship. 21Page
Efitrean 8eth-El Church in London Annual Report & Flnanclal statements for the Year endin8 31*of Decernber 2023 OBJEcfivES AND POLICIES l. To advance religion among the Eritrean Community in United Kingdom by proclalminE the gospel of Lord Jesu5 Christ in their mother tongue. 2. To advancethe education of the Eritrean Community in the United Kingdom in all matters relating to their indigenou5 and British culture and way of life. 3. To provide advice, information and practical asslstance to those members of the Eritrean Community who are in need of such service. ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE During 2023 The church operated its work and all services from its main church at Boreham Road in Turnpike lane wood green N22 (Sunday services and mid-week service). this building Is also used as the base for small group prayer, bible study. support, advise, counselling and other small to medium size meetin85. The board of Elders consists of 11 people with four of the leaders being paid a part time salary, three of them working for 16 hours and one 21 hours a week. The board of Elders works d05ely with the church trustees, the church Deacons and the wlder church membership. EBC is a memberof Alliance of Eritrean churches in the United Kingdom and continues to work I partnershlp with all churches and carry out its outreach work within the United Kingdom PRAYER GROUP The prayer teams are the backbone of the church and are very dedicated to prayer and they partner with the Holy Spirit to release the love and power of God to those in need. There are regular prayer sessions via Zoom and in person. The Prayer session via Zoom 15, Monday to Friday, every morningfrom 5am to 7am and evening from 8p to 10pm. Also prayer at individuals request during the Zoom prayer sessions or pre- booked one to one prayer via Zoom. The prayer sessions in person are held at the church premises, Boreham Road, N22 6SL. Every Monday from 7pm to 9pm, in the pastorfs office Also a monthly prayer and fasting on the second Saturday of each month from 11:30am to 4:00pm followed by fellowship and refreshment time together until 6pm. Moreover in year 2023, two 21 days prayer and fasting were organize and held in the month of March, which carried on to April and the second one in 31Page
Erltrean Beth-El Church In London Annual Report & Financial Ststtments forthe Year endlnB 31Stof December 2023 October. Many more prayers at individuals request during the Sunday services or at their home ddress or in hospitals. The prayer team are always passionately prayin8 for the Youth and children and families in our church, for the gospel to be preached and for the salvations of new souls, for our people in Eritrea and for the healing of the land, for the people who are in prisons, for the sick and weak souls and many more. Due to the current conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the prayer team also pray passionately and intercede for peace in Eritrea and Ethiopian and all other nations in similar situation. The prayer team regular hold meetings to evaluate the progress and the prayer demand and had virtual fellowships via Zoom and in person at a restaurant. The goal of this team is to help equip and keep the church rnembers prayin8 faithfully and effectively on an ongoing basis. BIBLE STUDY Blble study sessions are one of the best place for people to grow spiritual and develop their knowledge in the word of God IBible}. Therefore the Bible Study leaders alway5 encourage everyone to participate in the discussion, ask questions, lead in prayer and share the word of God from the provided Biblestudy material. However sometimes members mightshy away from volunteerirbg, due to their levels of knowled8e in the word of God and the luck of participation forces the Bible Study teachers to teach by themselves, while helping and encourage the Bible Study members to grew in confidence and be able to participate in the dlscusslon, to lead In prayer and share the word of God. Bible Study is the best way to shepherd and to fellowship. The Bible Studies are held at individual's homes. Currentlythere are ten active Bible Study groups in all areas of London, UK, with 21 leaders & teachers. This year's. Bible Study materlal Is THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, this material help guide the Bible Study teachers and also keep the church members spiritually harmonised. The material has been sectioned in parts and the first part that was studied is THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PART ONE (CHAPTERS 1- 121, followed by part two of the book. As a church procedure once the material was prepared and drafted as a book, the Bible Study leaders & teachers met to read and discussed the material in details. Then it Was presented to the church Elders, Deacons and the Bible Study leaders for censor, before it was sent for print. Once approved It was printed and distributed to the church members. In each of the Bible Study the number of attendees vary and approximately slx to twelve mernbers attend in a session. Members are always being encouraged to join the Bible Study 8roups and new people have joined at the beginning of this year. 41Page
EritTean Beth-El Church In London Annual Report & Financial Ststewnents forthe Year ending 311tof December 2023 Out ofthe ten Bible Study groups, seven are conducted virtuallyvia Zoom so membercan attend from the comfort of their home and the remaining three are in per50n, members of the group gather at individual's home. The church leaders and the Bible Study leaders always encourage member5 to organised special occasions, to fellowship together. Most of the Bible Study groups go out every Christmas for dinner and fellowship, either in December or in January of the New Year, depending on their arrangement. Also members are always encouraged to support each other during Weddings, visiting during childbirth or celebrating birthday, bereavements and many more. The goal of this team is to help equip and grow in the 8race and knowledge of our Lord and Saviourjesus Christ. DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONS Bethel Church has had a Department for Missions since 2002. The church leadershlp belleved that Bethel should be at the forefront of God'5 work of salvation through missions. To this end, various practical measures were taken to facilitate its vision. The Department has been sending short-term missionaries to the Horn of Africa for two decades. These include countries such as Egypt. Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Djibouti. The short-term mlssion teams have been engaged in evangelistic campaigns involving several local churches in Khartoum as well as In Ethlopla during 2003. During the evangelistic campaign, the appropriate trainings were given to members of the churches to do personal evangelistic work prior to the rnain campaign week. Others were provided with appropriate tralnings so that they might help the newly converted people. Evangelistic literature has been prepared and distributed in the targeted area. Bethel Church believes that it has a divine mandate to address not only people's spiritual needs. but also its material needs. Therefore, the church has had a feeding program to the desperate people, especially those in Sudan. This particular scheme ha5 helped hundreds of people with food, clothing and other essential materials. The recipients of the love gift provided by the church were grateful. and many of them saw God's love in action and responded to the evangelistic message positively. The evan8elistic outreaches In the Horn of Africa, and especially in Sudan were aimed at two national groups; these were mainly Ethiopians, Erltreans refugees residing in Khartoum. The churches in Khartoum were convinced that unity is of utmost importance, especlally if evangelism and mission work is to be carried out successfully. And by God'5 sheer grace and mercy the work of mission has had a greater impact in the capital Khartourn. Many people, who previously were indifferent to the Gospel message, responded positively once they saw God's healing power and the ministry of exorcism. It is estimated that durlng theten years period from 51Page
Eritrean Beth-El Church In London Annual Report & Financial sefflents forthe Year endlng 31Jtof December 2023 2004to 2014 an estimated 2000 people have come forward to receivejesus as their saviour, and a great majorlty of them were baptized in water. Bethel church's mission among the Eritrean refugees in Northern Ethiopia had made a significant impact. Unlike in Sudan however, here a different approach was used to carry out the missional mandate. The reason behind irnplementing a new approach was because ofthe delicate security situation around the camps. In addition. some of the Eritrean Orthodox church leaders in the camps opposed the evangelistic campaigns. Therefore. the mission's team from Bethel and the local evangelical churches devised a new approach. Instead of holding mass evangelistic meetin8S, they used small group evangelistic programs. Moreover, the charity work to help the needy refugees had a prominent role in opening a relationship with the locals. This newappmach opened a greater door of opportunity for the Gospel work. In addition, the Mission Team gave counselling to the bereaved and traumatized. As a result, many testified that these therapeutic provisions have helped them. In the year 2023 no evangelistic related activities were carried out. This was due to the fact that the security situation in Sudan and Ethiopia was not conduciveto carryout such activities. Asthe security situation in the Horn of Africa improves, we will resume the evangelistic and relief activities in the region. BEfHEL BIBLE COLLEGE Bethel Bible College sessions have the aim of supporting Students within the Eritrean community in their education. The sessions are conducted both face to face and distance learning modes. For distance learnin8 mode synchronous learning with live video streaming via Zoom, are streamed to students across the World. Streamed video lessons are also loaded into Moodle Learning Management System for LMS for asynchronous learnln& making the delivery of the content more flexible for students that cannot attend face-to-face sessions or the live video streaming, for many different reasons including time restrittion5. The lessons sessions are mainlv conducted via Zoom with live video streaming. also delivered Face-to-Face to students. In branches including Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Juba & Kassala in Sudan, Jeddah & Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Edmonton in Canada, Australia and Boston & Nashville in USA. During this period ten bible theology courses to each classes including Certiticate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Bachelor's Degree and a Ti8rigna Language Grammar courses are given. The programme started with 27 students for the first time as pilot Face-to-Face project commencingjanuary 2017 till Decernber 2017. In 2018 the number of students increased to 58 who completed the courses successfully with 33 Face-to-Face from local churches in London as well as 28 online distance and graduated at certificate level. In year 2019, the college extend the courses to diploma level and enrolled students from all over the world including Europe. Canada, 61Page
Eran 8eth-El Church In London Annual Rew)rt & FInarLl3 Ststements forthe Year endi 315iof Oecember2023 America, Australia. Africa and Israel, energised by the good previous Student's engagements and the successful delivery of the online streaming of the lessons. Every year most of the certificate Students continue their studies into the Diploma courses. In year 2021 the college also introduced a new course in Advanced Diploma level. In year 2022 the college successfully delivered all lessons in three of the levels Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma, and celebrated graduation ceremony in all of the countries, including London, UK, Germany, Denmark. Juba & Kassala, Sudan. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Edmonton, Canada and Houston Texas, USA. In year 2023 the college successfully delivered all lessons in three of the levels Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Bachelor's Degree. Gain this year celebrated graduatlon ceremony in all the countries, including Europe in Denmark, Africa in Juba, Sudan and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jeddah & Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Edmonton, Canada and B05ton & Nashville, USA. This year no graduation ceremony was held in UK. asthe student5from UKwas encouraged to travel to Europe and they graduated in Denmark. In 2023 the following number of students completed their lessons and attended graduation ceremony. Certificate Level 115 Students Diploma Level 70 Students Advanced Diploma 21 Students In total 196 student5 successfully completed their lessons and attended graduation ceremony. The BA class is a two year program therefore the students will graduate in year 2024, once they complete the 2. year cl3s5. A long-term plan is to expand the programme to reach more members of the community, especially people in disadvantaged areas such as those who cannot acces5 to a theology course in the places they reside including refugees. BETHEL MEDIA MINISTRY Mlsslon: The primary mission of Bethel Eritrea Church is to share the 8ospel message of Jesus Christ. In today's dlgltal age, there are numerous channe15 available for spreading this message to people worldwide. Bethel Church recognlzes the Importance of utilizing media technologie5 to reach a broader audience. Traditional medla models have undergone significant changes due to shifting consumption patterns. As a result, Bethel Church embraces a hybrid media model that emphasizes emerging 71Page
Errtrean 8eth-El Church In London Annual Report & Flnan¢lal smements forthe Year endlng31rtof December 2023 platforms like the Internet and mobile technologies. One such platform Is YouTube, the leading video sharing website. Bethel Church has its own YouTube channel, which Serves as a platfomi for Sharing content. With over 100 million monthly users on YouTube, it provides a substantial congregation to engage with. The content uploaded on the Bethel Church YouTube channel recelvesvarious comments, not 311 of which are positive. However, it is encouragingto knowthat the messages are being viewed by those who often need to hear them the most. This ministry not only supports the technical aspects of our worshlpi Including the choir, but also records various events, teachings, and sermons. These recordings are made available online through our YouTube channel and Facebook Page, allowing for live streaming and on-demand access for individuals to engage with the content. Therefore, the media team arrange a trainlng day to equip and empower the team in all aspects of the technical medla equipment's. Including the recording material and audio visual equipment. So that they would be able to produce a proftsslonal materlals to be shared on the social media plat forms of the church. Sunday Worship: Our church, like many others, has embraced online servlces. We have expanded our worship experience by utilizing platForm5 such as YouTube Live, Facebook, Instagram and website. This allows us to connect with individuals who are unable to attend Sunday Worship in person. Our live video stream5 are acce55ible on our Facebook Page and YouTube Channel every Sunday at 10'.30 am. Prayer Group: We have established Prayer Services on Zoom and Conference Call Dialup, available every morning and evening throughoutthe week. This provides a convenient platForm for communal prayer and allows individuals to participate remotely. Blble Study Groups: Despite the challenges, our Bible study groups have continued to meet primarily through Zoom. We remain dedicated to studyin8 the Bible and have implemented an ongoing Bible study series provided by our church leaders. Lastly, we have found Hybrid worship, a combination of in-person and online ministry. to be highly effective in engaging both our local and online communities. We believe that Hybrid ministry is the way of the future, extending beyond Sundays and offering opportunities for engagement, discipleshlp, teachln& and reaching the community in unprecedented ways. However, undertaking Hybrid ministry alone can be overwhelming. Fortunately. our solid media team at Bethel Church enables u5 to make a significant impact for Christ. AnCIpat[n£ and adapting to the changing realities brought about by new media is crucial for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. Here are some steps to consider- 81Page
Eritrean Beth-El Church in London Annual Report & Flnanclal Ststementsfor the Year endSng 31Étof Decemb 2023 l. Stay informed: Keep ourselves updated on the latest trends. technologies, and platforms in the digital media landscape. Stay connected with industry new5, attend conferences or webinars, and engage in di5CUs5ions to understand the evolvin8 landscape. 2. Understand the audlence". Gain insights into the preferences, habits, and needs of our target audTence in the digital space. Conduct surveys, analyse data, and actively listen to feedback to understand how best to engage with and serve them. 3. Embrace new plarforms: Be open to exploring and utilizing emerging platforms and technologiesthat can effectivelyreach and engageyourtargetaudience. This mayinclude social media platforms, live streaming services, podcastin& moblle apps, or virtual reality experiences. 4. Create relevant and compelling content: Develop content that is meaningful. authentic, and relevant to the lives of your audience. Consider their needs, interests, and questions, and provide valuable resources, teachings, and stories that re50nate with them. 5. Foster engagement and interaction: Encourage attive participation, dialogue, and community buildin8 through your digital platforms. Facilitate discussions, respond to comments, and create opportunttiesforpeopleto connect, ask questions. and sharetheir experience5. 6. Collaborate and network: Seek partnerships and collaborations With like-minded ministries, organizations, or indlvlduals. Poollng resources. sharing knowledge, and leveraging eath other's Strengths can lead to more Impactful digital initiatives and broader reach. 7. Emphasize dlsclpleshlp and spiritual growth: Leverage digital media to support and enhance discipleship efforts. Provide resource5 for Bible study, online courses. virtual mentorship, or prayer networks that nurture spiritual growth and support individuals on their faith journey. 8. Evaluate and adapt: Regularly assess the effectiveness of your digital initiative5 by analy5ing metrics, feedback, and engagement levels. Adapt your strategies and approache5 based on what resonates with your audien and ali8ns with your mission. 9. Seek guidance and wisdom.. Seek guidance fmm God through prayer, seeking Hi5 direction and wisdom in using new media for His Kingdom. Consult with experienced leader5. mentors, or advisors who can provide insights and support in navigating the digital landscape with integrity and purpose. 91Page
Erttrean Beth.El Church in London Annval RepY)rt & Flnanclal 5tèlements for the Yearendin8 31rtof December 2023 By ant[c[pan8 the changlng realtties of new media, adapting our strategies, and remaining focused on serving God's Kingdom, we can effectively use digital platforms to spread the gospel, disciple believers, and impact lives for Hi5 glory. CHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRY Abbreviations EBC- Eritrean Bethel Church EBYM- Eritrean Bethel Youth Ministry EBCM - Eritrean Bethel Children Ministry OrBanlsational Strurture The EBC Children and Youth Ministryaretwo interconnected Service Departmentsof the Eritrean Bethel Church UK. As described in Article 11.1.3 of the conskntution. Pastor Ghirrnai Ghebru, appointed by the Board of Elders (see Article 11.2 of the constitution}, serves as leader ofthe Children and Youth Ministry Department. FDr a comprehensive roles and responsibilrties of the leader and deputy leader of Eritrean Bethel Church's Children and Youth Mlnistry. refer to {Arhcle 11.2 of the constitution: Responsibilities and Functions of Church SeNices Department Leaders. hence not described within this section 2.11. Youth & Chlldren Minlstry Leadershlp: Ghirmai Ghebru Israel Haddish Dawit Aregay Tekltt Gebrekir5tos Youth Mlnlstry Sub Departments: Teaching Department Youth Choir AdminTeam MediaTe3m 10IPage
Erltrean Beth*l Churth Mi Ltsndo Annual Report & Flnanclal sratements forthe Year endin8 31Stof December 2023 Children Mlnistry: Sub Departments Teaching Department Children Choir Admin Team Eritrean Belhel Church Children Minlstry (EBCM) "Bethel Erltrean Church believes that children have a vital part to play within the body of Christ. They are not second-rate cltizens In the kingdom of God. We believe God is raising a generation of excellence who will make a siand for him in our nation." We have four specific Sunday school classes adapted and tailored to the children's ages. These classes allow our children to grow in wisdom and stature within their age groups as they are acquainted with theword of God. Forthe past Ioyearswe have been followingscripture Union's Light Compendium resources with week-to-week session materials for running our classes, allowing our children to explore the Bible, respond to Jesus and grow in faith. In 2024 we have partnered with Urban Saints Energize to develop a comprehensive and engaging curriculum. Thus, we have transitioned to utilise a new. dynamic, comprehensive curriculum that contains access to engagin& lively, biblical session plans for ages 3-15. It also contains online training resources to help our teaching department grow in confidence and be better equipped to authentically disciple children and young people. Bubbles Splash Xstream Grld class for 3- 5 year5 of age class for years 2, 3 and 4 class for years 5, 6 and 7 class for years 8, 9 and 10 Children Ministry Activltles Half Term Artlvltles: EBCM holds regular day tlme acilvities for the children during half term. These activity days foster Sense of belonging and community among the children at our church, offering them a chance to learn about their faith in an interactive and age-appropriate manner. The activity day5 have varled, ranging from workshops hosted at churchto day out activities- such as amusement parks and leisure centres. The heart behind these half temi activities is to provide occasions for our young chIldn to come together, soclallze and bulld friendships outside of regular Sunday service classe5. Additionally, family members are encouraged to attend and many volunteer to support its running. This has strengthened familial relationships as it as an occasion forfamilies at church to spend quality time together, with their children, in a supportive and faith- based environment. 11 IPage
Eritrean Beth-El Cthurch in London Annual Report & Flnanclal Statements for the Yearenélng 31Stof December 2023 ScienceTrip: In 2024 we have sought to expand the type of activities organised for the young children, including more educational outreach days. For instance, during the recent half term activity in February a few volunteers from the youth took children from both Xstream and Grid classto the National Science Museum located in South Kensington. This educational outing was designed to enhance the children's understanding and appreciation of science through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. The National Science Museum offers a unique learning experience with its diverse range of displays, allowing the children to explore various scientific concepts in an engaging environment. There were 7 different exhibitions that the chlldren parttcipated In. These consisted of the following: Exploring Space Gallery, Medicine, Flight/Aerodynamics, Making the Modern World, Technicians, Secret Life of Home and the Clock Makers Museum. This day trip was an excellent way for both the youth and young children to fellowship and strengthen their relationships with one another. ef f ective 121Page
Erfitrtan Beth-El Church kn London Annual Report & Financial Statements fwthe Year endin¥ 31JEof Decefflber 2023 YoungTeens Conference: In July 2023, EBC took the younE teens (12 to 15 years of age) on a four-day resldential trip to Kingswood Adventure Centre, in Aston Clinton, England. It was a fantastic opportunity for the children toform newconnections, strengthen their unityand worshipthe Lord. Itwas an amazing time which included activities such as, abseiling, rock climbing and low ropes alongside our evening workshops that involved testimonies of salvation and group discussions. Days were divided into two slots, with morning activities and evening worship/ discussion tirnes. The children thoroughly enjoyed the range of activitie5 available to them, especially in the sports hall where they were able to fellowship and play games as they chose. On the last day we had a camptire wwth marshmallows, rounding our time together with sorne worship. All in all it was a memorable experience, and the grace of God was Witnessed as el8hteen (18} young children accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour. Following our trip, to facilitate the zeal of these young people, a separate class titled Young Warriors was created to foster their spiritual growth. 131Page
Erltrean Ueth-El Church In London Annual Report & Financial Ststements for theyear endlng31Stof December 2023 Drnma Projects In April 2023, the children put on a play called still Able which explored the journey of a young child coming to know Christ through a personal encounter. It was written by a member of the youth. who is in the performing arts industry, and performed by chlldren ranging between the ages of 8 - 14 year5 old. The children were selected by video auditions that were sent in. Rehearsals began injanuary, everysunday between 1pm- Zpm and the children were supported by mernber5 of the youth who are in the creative industry. The children love music and drama so it was an opportunity to do something they loved but also develop thelr skllls whllst working with industry professlonals.They recelved l-to-lsupportalongside group rehearsals. The impact we saw through this play were a deeper relationship with the Lord, increased confidence in public speaking, new friendships being forrned, and gifts of leadership and service being nurtured in the children. This is something that we will be doing year Children Chrlstmas Dlnner On Saturday the 6th of December, we organised a Christmas Dinner for the Children Minlstry, spanning classes up to Grid level. Members of our Youth Ministry led the event, orchestrating games, and food arrangements. The day kicked off with a variety of games and activities tailored for the younger children. Following that, the children gathered for worship, expressing gratitude, and enjoying a special Christmas Dinner together. The aim of this event was to provide a feSve gathering forthe children, offerin8them an opportunltyto bond outside of Sunday School while enjoying a safe, Christ-centred environment. Feedback the children indicated they had a blast with the games, worship, and food, expressinga desirefor moresuch gatheringsto spend quality time with friends and family. 141P£ge
ErItan Beth-El Church In London Annual Report & Frnancial Staternentsforthe Yearendlng 311tof Dember 2023 Chlldren Mlnlstry Partnerships A5 of April 2023, we are excited to announce that we have formally partnered with Scripture Union'5 Faith Guide programme. This programme seeks to connect servants from local churches to a local Scripture Union Mission Enabler who would provide prayer, support, workshops and resources to advance the good news of Jesus to the younger generation. They have a trained mission enabler, Jordana Smith, who is on hand to direct us to resources we can utilise and provide workshops as desired, which allows our local Children's Ministry to grow in creativity and facility as we serve to share the gospel. Urban Salnts Towardsthe latter halfof the year, we have also developed partnership with Urban Saint5. Urban Saints are a Christian organisation who provide support to local church in resource development and leadership training. We have subscribed to Urban Saints Energize curriculum which has Eiven us access to new, engagin8 and diverse biblical sessions to utilise for Sunday school syllabus. Further, in October 2023 we invited MarkArnold. from Urban Saints Additional Needs Ministry. to host a workshop training session at Church. This session was fantastic.- it gave us practical insight on how we can effectively disciple all children and young people, especially those with additional needs or disabilities. The workshop concluded wtth pragmatic steps we can take as Sundayschool teachersto equip and enable all ouryoung people. We were alsogiven 'lnvited to Belon¥ resources, which are tailored booklets to support our continued developrnent around additional needs. All Inclusive? Invilqd to 8•long-2U 11 8#3 Erltrean Bethel Church Youth Ministry (EBCYM) EBCYouth Mlnlstry(16+} hasgrown massively in 2023,with saint5from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. We have witnessed a revlval In this ministry with souls saved, lives transformed, and countless testimonies of God's goodne55 at work in individual lives. We thank God for the committed ministers who, emboldened by faith. serve our youth and young adults wholeheartedly, contributing to the congregation's spiritual growth and overall well-being. 151Page
Erttrean Beth-El Church In Lonéon Annual Report & Flnancial Ststements for the Yearendin8 31Stof December 2023 Why a Youth Ministry? Bethel Eritrean Church aims to provide a holistic approach to nurturing our young people's spiritual, emotional, and social well-being within Biblical beliefs and values. As such, EBCYM run various classes, fellowship meetings. counselling sessions and annual retreats to help our young people grow in their faith, enrich their relationship with God, and develop a strong foundation for their spiritual journey. Teaching Department The Eritrean Bethel Youth and Youn8 Adults Church teaching department, exists to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carrled about by every wind ofworldly ideologies, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Ephesians 4.'12-14I. We aspire to achieve these through teathing and preachlng the Scripture which is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness {2 Timothy 3.161. We believe the Scripture is not merely a body of truth, butthe very power of God which bears holistic change for a person who encounters it. We, therefore. aspire and work to train and raise young leaders who can cary out the divine imperative to grow both in quollty ond quantity. EBCYM provides several morning classes alongside the Sunday afternoon English service, with rigorou5 teaching that 311ows individuals to 8row deeper in their understanding and faith. Our morning classes are divided into three Idetalled below). tailored to the Spiritual Maturity of Its attendees. Shepherds Ila:00am- 11:25 am) Thls group comprlseof selected leadersfromtheyouth and young adult ministrywhich is created in November 2019 with the aim of training and raising young leaders who can carry out God's divine imperative. That 15, to raise leaders who have a biblital truth, convictions and a heart for God who are effective In Impacting their generation for the glory of Jesus Christ. All the shepherds are now actively engaged in teaching and running the EBCM. Discipleshlp {11:25 am- 12:25 pm) Pre baptismalteachin& that is. teaching on growing up in salvation I Pet 2: 2. The doctrine of the fall and of the Cross. The focu5 of thi5 class is to Show the sufficiency of the atonement of Je5US Christ for the salvation of mankind. 161Page
Erftrean Beth-El Church in Londcn Annual Report & Flnanclal Statements for the Year endin8 31Ytol Oecewnber 2023 Gloryto Glory {12:25 pm- 1:25 pm) Thisclass is aimed forthe saints who have already baptized to bringthem into the understanding of the purpose of original creation and recreation is to glorify God and be part of His glory. The theme of the teaching is to be fully alive as a human person is to be empowered by the Spirit of God to glorify God. We believe the ethos of human life is the adoration of God and the love of others as one self. Our leading verse is: And we all. wlth unveiledface, beholding the glory of the Lord, ore being tmnsformed into the some imogefrom one degree of glory to another. For thls comesfrom the Lord who is the Spirit., 2 Chor. 3.. 18 'For it wasfitting that he, for whom and by whom all thinos exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make thefounder of theiTrsalvotion perfect through sufvring.'Heb. 2.. 10 Sunday English Service (2.30 pm - 5:30 pm) Everysundaywe have topical teachings, discussion, prayer and worship Weekly Fellowshlp Outside of the regular Sunday programme, which includes tailored morning classes and an afternoon Sunday English Service for the entire congregation, we have fellowships during the week. These fellowships are: Prayer & Worship The weekly Prayer & Worshlp Servlce at EBCYM (opening hours Wednesday 6'.30pm to 9..00 pm) offers a space for saintsto pray forthemselves and one another, promoting a sense of belonging and community. Sparked by a recognised need for more gatherings for the upbuilding of the youth and young adults through prayer and worship and the sharing ofthe Word of God: itwas decided that prayer meetings would take place weekly {Hebrews 10'.251 These meeting5 were founded in August 2022, and are held in English it is an opportunity for believers to unite and reinforce their biblical beliefs, values. and convictions as they '...pray for one another.., (James 5.161 and'carryeach otherfs burdens.. ' (Galatians 6'.2}. This weekly prayer and worship sen4ice creates a bond that goes beyond mere social interactions as it is chance to share experiences, support one another, and strengthen relationships. Youth and young adults are encouraged to attend as freedom and enjoyment are found in worshippin8 the Lord (Psalm 100.41. These meeting are an opportunwty to be led bythe Holy Spirit and learn what He sees as true prayer and worshlp {John 14.26, John 16.13) 171Page
ErIton Beth-El Church In London Annual Report & Financial Ststernents forthe Yearending315tof Dernber 2023 We have received the followingfeedback from one of our attendees: "I think it's been really helpful for me havin8 a check In throughout the week in the form of Wednesdays Iprayer and worship meetingsl. I think for me that has helped me to be really grounded. And also, I think this coming together and having a chance to come intentionally to a time 501ely dedicated to prdyer is extremely beneficial, especially in cornmunal prayer which isn't as common In the ChUh, and It glves 800d time of reflecttn8 and quiet time with God in the middle of a busy week." Biblestudy The weekly Bible Studies at EBCYM lopenin8 hours Friday 6:30prn to 9:OOpml is a focused and structured way for individuals to deepen their understanding of Scripture and their faith. It provides a platform for believers to explore and gain a deeper understanding of the teachings, parables, and wisdom contained within the Bible. It is open to those who are 16 years old and above. Usually, there are around 30 people who attend. The purpose of the bible study is to dig deeper into God's word, looking beyond the surface of biblical texts and creating a space where we can discu55 our thought5 and share the life of the word with one another, The usual bible study programme runs as such: prayer, sharing the word leither by the youth pastor or one of the youth members), discussion followed by prayer and worship. However, during the year 2023, our bible study took a different course as we started reading Mere Christianity by C,S Lewis. Thi5 was suggested as an idea by one of the members of the youth because we had been learnin& in the latter part of 2022, about apologetics and wanted to go deeper into that subject, which Mere Christiantty was a great resource for. We read the book alongside other passages of scripture, which challenged our thinkin8 and the narrow view that Christians who are born into the church have in regard to relating to questions and ideas about God that we may not have been exposed to until later on in our lives, through various relationships le.8. school, workl. One of the benefits we have found through this time Is a willinÉness to be more open and love others who have not been raised as most of u5 have and to get to grips With the challenging questions of life In order to help us evangelise, spreading the gospel with more splritual and Intellectual knowledge. Manyyoung people who alsojoinedthe church during the timewe were focusin8 on this book came to see the gospel in a new liÉht and appreciate the message of the cross. In the latter half of the year, we started to read the gospel of John. The youth pastor and a member of the youth would lead the sessions, and there would be discu5510115 on the passages of scripture that we are focusingon. However, we then moved to appoint two people within the youth to lead the sessions sothat everyone would have the opportunltyto share what they have meditated on. Primarily this ha5 helped us in 8ethng to know Christ more and imitating him 181Paga
Erftrean Beth-El Church In London Annual Report & Financial Statements forthe Yearendln8 315tof tiecember 2023 through that knowledge. which has developed our spiritual lives. It has also helped in building confidence in others to share and speak, who normallywouldn't do so, which is one of thethings our youth struggles with. Every couple of months, we take one of the Fridays to pause on our normal bible studies and spend ttme in intentional prayer and worship, where we collectively pray for one another, the church and the world. EBCYM Fellowshlp Activitles: Annual Youth Retreat A key event in the Youth Ministry is our much-anticipated annual retreat to Wales. It serves as a focused and intentional period of time in which our church community ternpordrily withdraws from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to focus on their spiritual journey. ThrouEh intentional worship, prayer. meditation, and reflection, saints experience a deepening of their faith as they take a break from the distractions of everyday life. Our annual retreat creates an environment conducive to forrning deeper connections with fellow church members through recreational activities, shared meals, and workshops. Spending this extended time together has encouraged more meaningful conversations and the development of stronger relationshipswithin the church community. Our retreat is designed to promote spiritual growth and a dedicated time for refflection. Through the teachings. discussions and workshops, individuals can contemplate their life's direction, spiritual journey, and areas where they seek grovrth or change. We have seen countless testimonies of breakthroughs,deliverance. and healin85 from thisfocusedtime away, which gives credit to its positive impact on our local church community. It 15 a150 an opportunity for rejuvenation, a break from the stresses of everyday life, allowing our church community to recharge physically and emotionally. Sn summary, ourannual retreat in Wales is designed to offer believers a unique opportunity to step away from their usual routines, engage in spiritual activities, strengthen relationships, and experience personal and communal growth in a supportive and tranquil environment. Over the years, we have witnessed lives transformed and a strong community spirit developed as church members come together outside of the usual church setting. Men's Football Match The Men'5 Youth 7-A-Side Football match took place in Tottenham Power League. This eventwas held with the initiative to fundraise for the International Youth Conference meaning all proceeds will begoing back into the summer conference. This was a great to bring the youth together whilst allowin8 the players to enhance their team work and communication skills. It was an 191Page
ETreall Beth-El ChuKh In Lorthn Annual RepK)rt & Financial Statements fortheyear endlng 31#of December 2023 evening full of competltlveness and an Incredible amount of determination. Whilst plannlng this event. many of the youth were given responsibllities such as contacting the facilities and ensuring all participants have signed up and paid on time. Thi5 was a brilliant way to allowthem to exercise ollective responsibility and organisation skills. The event ran smoothly and everyone had a lovely time. Men's Football Match 20IPage
Eritrean 8eth-El Church In London Annual Report & Financkil Statements fr)r the Yearendlng 315tof Decernbei 2023 Game5 Night Games Night 2023wasanightfullof social activities andfellowship.Theaim ofthegame's night was more than'havlngfun., It was an intentional way of creating opportunities for individuals to interact with each other. This night was packed wlth games such as Finish the Lyric, Bob's Not the Builder. Guess the Baby, Run and Seek, Balloon-Set-Go, No time to Chew. Head Shoulders Knees Cup- hosted by Paul and Sharon. The most popular game was Bob's Not the Builder. This game consisted of the team member5 buildin8 the tallest free-standing structure with 10 spaghetti stick, tape, and marshmallows. All teams were given the same account of time {3 mins). Once this was done, there was a wobble test to see how sturdy each team's structure was. Thi5game allowed all team memberstoget hands-on whilststrengtheningtheir team works. The night closed with a youth member sharing an incredible word and a further youth member leadingthe saints in a time ofworship. Worship & Paint Worship and Paint, in February 2024, was an event held to fundraise for the International Conference thatwill be held in the upcoming Summerof 2024. The evening allowed the youth to participate in an arlistic activity, glvlng them an opportunity to showcase their creativity whilstspendingtheirtime singingpraises. It was an amazingwayto discoverthe hidden artists amongst our Kingdom. The theme of the Worship & Paint was linked to the topic of our teachlngs for the past couple of months- Righteousne55. All participants were instructed to paint how they would envision righteousness. There were varying interpretations which was a pleasure tosee. This was a nightthatallowed the youth tostrengthen In fellovtshlp and grow an intimate bond with one another. 211Page
£rItan Beth1 Church In London Annual ReFx)rt & Financial Statements forthe Year ending 311Iof tkcemter 2023 Chri5tma5 Dinner 21+ Thls event was deslgned for those aged 21 and above to enjoy a Christmas dinner together, fostering fellowship among attendees. We were fortunate to have a larger turnout than anticipated, surpassing our capacity of 40 people. Organi5ed by the youth member5, the evening took place at a venue in Muswell Hill. Guests were treated to a delightful 3-course me31 and ample time for conversation and camaraderie among the gathered saints. The gathering also included the sharing of the word of God, followed by prayer and team-based games like charades. The night culminated in joyful singing and dancing as we played mezmur. The primaryaim of the Chri5tma5 dinnerwa5 to unitethe Saints in celebration ofchrist's birth, hence the emphasis on sharing the word. It proved to be a meaningful occasion for saints to connect wlth unfamiliar faces and for those less frequent in their church attendance to reconnect with fellow member5, resulting in a sense of blessing from both the shared word and life experiences of the community. Some even expressed a desire to return to church because of the event, for which we give glory to the Lord. Baptism Service In July 2023, we held a Baptism Service for the youth, fourteen1141 individuals were baptised. This Involved their public profession-n of faith In Christ Jesus as they proclaimed dyingto their Sin (Romans 6.111 as they were submerged in the water and being raised to a brand-new life (Colossians 2.121 as they emerged from the water. Before the baptisms took place. the individuals were given an opportunity to share their testimonies. This was a joyous and remarkable moment as they gave countless testimonies of God's saving powerl At the end of the baptism Service, the church community prayed over the saints for God's guidance, strength, and empowerment in their faith. Following the service, we had a time of celebration as the congregation celebrated the newly baptised individuals. 221Page
Er5trean Beth.El Church in Londo nval Report & Flnanclal Statemertsfoi theyear endlng31rtof December 2023 Communlty Impart All 810ry be to God as 2023 saw the children and youth ministry at our local church becoming a beacon of community impact. Through its dynamic weeklyfellowships, Sundayservices, half- term activities and annual retreats we've witnessed a remarkable surge in congregational members, indicative of a growing interest and involvement in our fellowshlp. More significantly, these fellowships and programmes have led to hearts fully turnin8 to the Lord, fosterlng splrltual growth and deepening connettions within our congregation. Notably, there's been greater en8agement from members across all age groups, illustrating a vibrant sense of community and shared faith. Through heartFeltthanks8lvlngto the Lord, we celebrate this transformation, recognising it as a testament to His grace and the dedication of our leadership team. As our fellowship continues to expand, we are inspired by the tangible evidence of Ilves belng touched and hearts being uplifted, reinforcing our commitment to serving and nurturing our community in faith. Testimonies Anonymous: Testlmony of Youth Mlnistry "Before Christ, I really didn't understand who I was or purpose I had in life and honestly. I didn't care either. I didn't think my life was necessarily bad because I wasn't doing the things others dld whlch I vlewed as bad, in my eyes that is. I had no idea of my lack,. I was truly lost. But God met rne when I didn't even expect. I sought HIM out of fear of judgement, but He met me with grace. When I came to Christ, I didn't know what to make of it but thankfully I knew friend who was in Christ. I reached out to her. and she invited me to her church, Bethel. Here, I have encountered God's love through His people and have truly found a family. I've learnt so much about God, and I'm growing every day. l am encouraged every day and have people with whom I can laugh and cry. I'm blessed to be in their midst." Anonymous:Testimony of Blble Study "I have received theblessingof communlty. frlendship and knowingthetruth at Bethel Church. My life before Christ in short was always stressful. I was on guard 24/7 and filled with fear 24/7. This broke me down to being a shell of a human. I have grown to be feeling, to love God and love people, to have a clearer Mind. I started coming to Bethel when I wa5 in sixth Form. Each Friday, there is bible study. I started reading the blble, researching things myself and saw the teaching were true. Since then, here, I never see the idea of bein8 'done' when learning about God. Because of this, it is very clear to me that God is real, infinite, eternal, and can do anythin8. The humility I see in the leadership is what Pushes me personally to know God.. 231Page
Erltrean Beth41 Church In London Annual Report & financial Statements forthe Yearendlng 314to* Drnber 2023 Anonymous: Testimony of Wale5 Annual Retreat ales felt 'make or break, for me. I had been dealing with multfple attacks/lssues at once, primarily affecting my health and finances. Ichronic headaches, fatigue, unexpected bills/payments1 Having bare appointments with dottors who couldn't diagnose anything lover the years). Long story short 15tarted to think God wa5 for everyone but me {Which put me down a dark path}. I'd been fasting and praying and vowed to be as intentional as I could in all the teachings. (Seek his klngdoml. I remember gettingto the penultimate day of Wales and I sat down with a youth leader and explained that l understoodthe teachings in Wales however I felt incapable of actioning them (due to attacks). This youth leader started to pray. and manifestation began. I remember him saying, "Resist with me" I didn't fully understand what he meant until a manifestation started during worship". the demon became destructive and fled the worship. {I'm conscious during my deliverances) The penny finally dropped. "Resist with me" I started remembering quoting verses like Ilsaiah 54.17, 2 Timothy 1.7, and Psalm 23:11 and I was finally delivered. No more chronic headaches, and I can read and take in the Bible. The word of God is powerful. FAMILY MINISTRY Challenges Faced by Young People in University The Family Ministry conducted a workshop addressing the challenges that young people face when they transition to university life. The workshop, which saw the participation of over 60 individuals, included both parents and young adults from the congregation. The aim wa5 to foster open communication between generations, allowingthe young people to expressthelr concerns and seek support from their families and the church. Workshop Overview The workshop provided a platform foryoung adultsto share their experiences and challenges in university. The issues raised included.. Financial Straln: Many students spoke about the financial pressures they face while pursuing their studies, including tuition fees, accommodation costs, and daily living expenses. E)ram Stress:The ovenNhelminE pressuretosucceed in examswas a common concern. with students discussing the mental and emotional toll it takes on them. Homesickne55: Young people expressed how much they miss their families and the comfort of home-cooked meals, parkncularly mentioning'mum'sfood" as a signwftcant source of comfort they miss. Emotional Well-being: The absence of famlly support and the struggle to adapt to a new environment led many to feel isolated and stressed. 241Page
Erttrean 8eth-El Church In londo Annual Report & Financval statements fctr theyear endin8 31rtof t)ecember 2023 Requests from the Young Adults The young adults made several requests to their parents and the church community.. Regular Check-lns: They urged their parents to malntaln regular contact, offering emotional and moral supportthrough phone calls or visits. Church Support: They requested that church shepherd5 (leaders) reach out to them, provide splrltual guidance. and, if possible, visit them in person to pray together. Outcome and Feedback The workshop was met with positive feedback from the participants. Many parents expressed their gratitude towards the Family Ministry for organiiing such an event, recognizing the importance of understanding the struggle5 their children face durinE their University life. The open dialogue helped bridge the gap between parents and young adults, fostering a deeper sense of community and mutual support. Family Mlnlstry Update5 Family Ministry welcomed two new members to the team: Yordanos Habtemicheal and Mussie Habte. Their addition is expected to strengthen the ministry's efftirts in supporting families and young people within the church, Futu Plans The Family Minlstry has outlined plans for future events, including: Fellowshlp for Senior Member5: There is a plan to invite all church members over the age of 60 for a fellowship gathering. This event aims to engage senior members of the church and offer them a platform for social interaction and spiritual enrichment. Upcomingworkshop: Before the end of theyear, the Family Mini5trywill hostanother workshop to contlnue addressing relevant issues within the church. Conclusion The recent workshop organized bythe Family Ministry was a resounding success, highlighting the challenges faced by young people at university and the essential role of family and church support. As the ministry continues to expand its efforts. it remains committed to fostering a nurturing environfflent for all members of the congregation. WORSHIP TEAM This particular department consists of more than 20 members although on average only 10- 12 people have been serving every Sunday service. The reason behind thi5 low turn will be disclosed below in this document. Choir leadership is responsible for the day to day administration and technical team are responsible for the worship and technical aspects of the Service. 251Pagè
E11tan BetlkEI Chuich in London Annual Report & Finarfial Statements forthe Yearendlng 311tof December 2023 Recruitin8 new choir members involves candidates passing mandatory selection process and entails the following. l. Singing/vocal test sessions 2. Attending practice sessions for 90 days The body responsible for facilitatingthe above is technical team. Duties of technical tearn also includes selection process of new worship leaders, microphone allocation and maintaining qualityof sound PA system. Due to the longterm effects ofthe pandemic technical team have not had the chance to fijlfil the outstanding training/workshop sessions they had in plan. Similarly choir leadership has not had the opportunity to positively caprf(alise on the good relationship it has with other Eritrean churches in London. The main aim of the worship ministry is to lead worship on Sunday as well as durin8 prayer and other special services. The Worship Ministry serves beyond Bethel Eritrean Church's congregation. to people all over the world through social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook. Throughout the period mentioned the team consistently gathered for practice sessions every Tuesday and also Served on Sunday mornin8s. We also commenced having fellowship dinner time on Tuesday evenings after practice sessions intermittently on non- obligatory basis, and this had positive impact in the team's bond and created togetherness. We also held prayer and fasting meetings intermittently. We also encouraged choir members to write their own song5 in orderto make the most of the grace that wa5 given to us by God almighty. Thi5 evidently lifted the confidence of the team and enhanced sense of belonging. Worship leaders a150 have been tasked to select new songs of rnember5 and include them in the worship songs. We aim to enshrine this practice in our worship serviceGod willingfor months and year5 to come. Thiswill be one of our legacies. We 150 had a separate lunch fellowship time in October and held informal discussions about the service and our wellbeing/welfare. Prior to this meeting formal annual choir members meetinÉ was also held in August where we negotiated and outlined proposals collectively, and agreed on action plans. The low turn attendance reasons mentioned above are forthe following reasons Extended maternity leave Relocation Work commitments Bibllcal Dlscusslon: Every Tuesday evenlng, our church Elders host live discussion5 on a range of topics, including spiritual growth, church development, and social issues. We invite speakers from around the world to share their insights. These discussions are also aired on MaEzer Seamy Satellite TV, reachln8 a broader audience. Bible study 261Page
Eritrean 8eth-El Church Lcndon Annual Report & Flnanclal Ststemewrtsforthe Year endlng 31Staf December 2023 FINANCIAL REVIEW Reserves Policy The Trustees are aware of the requirements of the charityto have a Reserve policy and alm to maintain a target balance of three months operation costs at any time to ensure on going delivery of its charitable objectives. Principal Funding Thi5 15 provided mainly through voluntary tithes and offerings by members and through glfts aid scheme. Pledges are also taken for specific projects whenever needed. Flnancial Review Eritrean Beth-el Church London had incoming resources of £260,969 as shown on the statement of financial activities. Resources expended in undertaking its charitable activities amounted to £203,755 resu5ting in a surplus of £57,214. All the church asset5 are held forthe furtherance of its objectives. PUBUC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Trustees in determining how best to pursue these objectives, have taken on board guidance from Charity Commission in Section 17151 of the Charities Act 2011,including the guidance on the Advancement of Religlon for public benefit. 271Page
Eritrean Beth-El Church in London Annual Report & Financill Strdtementsforthe Yearendlng 31nDf December 2023 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally accepted Accountin8 Practice. The law applicableto charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charty (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust of the deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charbty and of the incoming resources and application of resource5, including the incorne and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: Select suitable accounting policies and the apply them consistently observe the method and principles in the Charity SORP make judgement5 and estimates that are reasonable and prudent Prepare the financial statements on the basis of current concerns unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in busines5. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the charity at any time and to enable them to ensure that the financial 5tatement5 comply wtth the Charities Act 2011. the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the asset5 of the charity and hence for taking reasonable Steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: Nataniel Yemane Date: ... 281Page
EritrEan Beth-El Church In London Annual Report & Flnancrdl stateme forthe Yearenthng 31Jlof Decernr 2023 I report on the account of Eritrean Beth-el Church In London forthe year ended 31 December 2023 set out on pages 2 to 35. Respective responsibilitie5 Qf trustees and independent examiner The charitvs trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audlt Is not required for this year under section 144 {21 of the Charlties 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, to follow the procedures lald down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145151 Ib) of the 2011 Act; and to State whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent examinerfs 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 astrustees 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 REPORT In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: l. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: To keep proper accounting records In accordance with section 130 of the Charity Act. To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn In order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Independent examiner Tsega Ateweberhan l Henderson Drive, DAI SLE 291Page
Eritrean Beth-El Church in London Annual Report & Financial Ststements forthe Year ending 31rtof December 2023 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCOMING RESOURCES Notes 2023 2022 Incoming Resources from charitable artivltles: Activities for generating funds Other Incombng resources Total Incoming resources 180,257 4,556 76,155 260,969 135,379 6,692 91,046 233.117 EXPENDED RESOURCES Charitable activities 203,755 166,749 Total resource expended 203,755 166.749 Net Incomin81(outgolng)resources for the year/ Net income / (expendlture) for the year 57,214 66,368 Total funds brought forward Totsl funds carried forward 896,052 829,684 896,052 953,266 The Statements of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a separate stamen of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared. All of the above amounts relate to continuing activities. 30IPage
Eritrean Beth-El Church in Lofidon Ar¢nual Report & Financial Statements forthe Yearendlng315tof Deomber 2023 BALANCE SHEEr 2023 2022 Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 777,856 802,704 CURRENT ASSErs Cash at bank and in hand Prepayment CREDITORS amounts fallings due within one year 379,432 161 325,458 1186 Net current assets 379 593 324 272 TOTAL ASSET LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 1,157,449 1,126,977 CREDITORS Amounts falling due after more than one year -230 925 NET ASSETS 953,266 896.052 FUNDS General Purpose Fund The Flnanclal statements were approved by the board of Trustees on Ilth of June 2024 and were signed on its behalf by: Samson Amanuel Men8histu The notes from Page 32 to 35 forms part of these financial statements 31IPage
ErStrean Beth-El Church in London Afinual Report & Financ1 Statements frjr the Year endin¥ 31Xtof December 2023 NOTES TOTHE FINANCIALSTATEMENTS I. ACCOUNTING POLICIES Accounting convention The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and In accordance wlth the Financial Reportingstandard forsmaller Entities (effective April 2008}. The Charities Act 2011 and the requirements of the Statement of Recornmended Practice. Accounting and Reporting by Charities. Incoming re50urces All incoming resources are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activitie5 when the amounts are realised and can be quantified wlth reasonable accuracy. Church collections and gifts to the church are recognised as income when received. Grants and donations are only Included in the SOFA when on receipts. Tax reclaim on donations and glfts Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SOFA on accruals basis. Gifts in kind are accounted for at a rea50nable estimate of their value to the Church or the amount actually realised. Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distribution bythe Church. Donated services The Charity does not quantify and include services provided by the volunteers in the financial statement as the costs of collecting such data is considered to be more than any benefit to the charity. The value of the voluntary help is however described in the trustee5, annual report. Investment Income. galns and losses Investment income Is included In the financial statements when received. Gains and losses on sale of investments or resulting from revaluation of investments are determined at point of disposal or revaluation. Gains or losses arising at the point of revaluation are not included in the accounts. 321Page
Eritrean Beth-El Church In Ltsndon Annual Report & Financial Ststements fortheyear endlng 31Jtof Decembtr 2023 Resource5 expended Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be dirertly attributed to partlcular headings they have been allocated to actTvitie5 on basis on5iStent with the use of resources. Tanglble fixed assets Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off the cost less esttmated residual value of each asset over its estimated useful life. Freehold property {Buildingl-2% straight line basis. Muslcal Instruments and office equipment- 25% reducing balance basis. 2. ACTIVITIES FOR GENERATING FUND 2023 2022 Building Fund Fund raising Sales 4,556 4,556 6,692 6,692 3. INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE A1VITIEs 2023 2022 Tithes and Offerin85 Tax reclaimed on Gift Aids 162,509 17,749 180,257 123,375 12,005 135.379 4. OTHER INCOME 2023 2022 Rent Deposit Interest Refund Contribution Gift Tuition Fee 3,890 2,401 ioi 11,458 4,974 3.241 182 416 4,575 5,127 53,331 76,155 77,504 91.046 5. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS 331Page
Eritrean Beth-El Church In London Annual Report & Flnancial Ststements fcrthe Year endlng 315tof December 2023 2023 2022 Payment for the Ministers PAYE and Nl Pension Office Materials 59,940 7.277 2,512 1,842 3.528 23,832 8,417 7.853 49,459 5,394 2,273 2,651 1,882 7.545 4,030 4.353 1.410 3,576 3,692 9,892 4,380 Insurance Donation & Gifts Bible, Cassettes, News Papers etc Travel & Subsistence IT and OfPice machines Maintenance Telephone, Gas & Electricity Rent Conference & Training Catering & Refreshment Printin& Statlonery, Photocopy, Postage Bank Charges Premises Expense Professional Fee Membership Fee Mortgage Payment Repair/Maintenance of Property Depreciation 4,383 2,239 ii,iii 4.067 1,361 2,580 8,930 1,912 1,353 17,253 7,217 26,149 203.755 3,324 778 7,827 1,954 2,512 11,645 11,482 26,694 166.749 6. TRUSTEES. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS During the year and in the previous years, no Trustee received remuneration, benefit in klnd or had relmbursement of expenses. 7. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AER MORE THAN ONE YEAR 2023 2022 Bank Loan 204,183 230,925 The Bank loan is a commercial mortgage secured by charges on Eritrean Beth-el Church in London's premises at Unit l and 2 OSKA Building, Empress Works. Boreham Road, N22 6SL. 8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS 341Page
Erltrean Beth-El Church in London Annual Report & flnanclal Ststements forthe Year endlng 31Xof December 2023 Office Equlpment & Musical Instrument C051 Property Total At 0110112023 Addltions Disposal 140,093 1,301 1,010,181 1,150.274 1,301 141,393 1.010.181 1.151,574 Depreciation At 0110112023 Additions Disposal At 3111212023 117,287 5,945 230,283 20,204 347,569 26,149 123,232 250,486 373,718 Net Book Value At 0110112023 At 3111212023 22,806 18,161 800,102 759.695 822,908 777,856 351Page