Good Word Ministries, UK Good Word Christian Centre, Durham
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS
2024
CHARITY NUMBER: 1115842
1. Pastor’s Report
2. Treasurer/ Secretary’s Report, Statements of Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 30[th] September 2024 On behalf of the Trustee Board
3. Conclusion and Decisions
Pastor’s Report
Preamble:
I . The Journey
Good Word Ministries’ (the Church’s) aims and objectives are “to advance Christianity and its charitable activities throughout the United Kingdom and the world”. The works and activities of the Church are therefore tailored to accomplish its aims and objectives. The aims and objectives of the Church are being effectively met through practical steps that ensure the Church’s continuing relevance in and beyond our present local community. Through its programmes and activities, the Church remains resilient. Members continue to show unwavering support for the church’s missions and work. This is positive news both for the church and our local communities.
Members' financial support and their volunteering activities enable the Church to deliver on its commitments and outreach programmes. This includes our in-person church services and activities, Christian television broadcast on Sky television, and our growing online presence. The account year 2024 saw the continuation of the growth of church membership that began in 2023. This is in testimony to God’s continuing grace that the church is enjoying, and the faithfulness of members in creating an enabling environment where everyone feels welcomed and a sense of belonging. It is also a testimonial to the Church’s role in providing a caring community that responds to needs within our local community and beyond. These are important parts of our collective efforts to ensure that the aims and objectives of the Church are always met.
The programmes and activities of the financial year 2024 are a satisfying improvement on the trend of progress begun in the preceding year. Our Christian television broadcast, the Voice of Hope, continues to lead the way for us in reaching more and more people with the Good News of our LORD Jesus Christ. Our social media presence is also growing, with now 170 individual Christian video messages on our page for people to view free of charge. The TV and online ministries afford us many opportunities, including reaching those at home with the Gospel to provide healing, comfort, and hope. They are ways in which we extend but also complement and reinforce the Church’s weekly in-house worship services, by members being able to revisit the sermons that are preached. Beyond these tools, we were able to partner with other Christian brothers and sisters who are involved with small Christian missions’ outreaches in different localities. It is encouraging to note that our flagship programmes, including the Good Word Power Conference and our annual Water Baptism outdoor celebrations, are continuing to thrive.
We acknowledge here again with gratitude the continuing support of members of the Church throughout. Members have remained very supportive in their voluntary activities and their charitable giving toward the work and
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the programmes of the Church. This has helped immensely, and there was no need to resort to public fundraising. The church has always managed to keep its operational costs as low as possible through the support of members and leaders of the church. Some members volunteered in various capacities to ensure success in achieving our aims and objectives.
We acknowledge that having our own rented church premises has also been an immense advantage. This has accorded us both convenience and the necessary space to host weekly church services. The same building serves as a hub for most of our programmes and activities. Unlike short-term hired venues, our present rented premises inspire confidence and ensure stability in the running of the Church. Financial savings are also being realised in addition to enjoying safety due to having exclusive use of our present church.
To demonstrate what the financial year was like, a select outline of important works and activities of the financial year is set aside below. There were more, but these are to highlight key programmes and activities of the year, all of which are in keeping with the Church’s aims and objectives, and the realisation of the Public Benefit requirements for the financial year 2023/2024. Members are to note that the key programmes and activities highlighted here are only in addition to the Church’s regular weekly services and activities (eg, Weddings), which were not specified in this report.
The Secretary’s Report, the Accounts for the Financial Year 2023/24, together with Decisions for the next financial year, will follow subsequently under specific headings further down.
II. Church Programmes & Public Benefit Activities: Some Highlights
A) Christian Television Broadcast: Sky TV, Freeview and Social Media
“Voice of Hope”, the church’s Christian television weekly broadcast, launched on UK Sky TV and Freeview Channels in July 2020, continues to air via Faith World Television channel 588 platform. The TV broadcast and our online screening are both for Public Benefit actions and in fulfilment of the Church’s aims and objectives. These broadcasts not only further our mission’s efforts, they also complement our in-person church services, making them accessible to families across several parts of the world and members who cannot physically attend services at the church for various reasons.
The programs and television broadcasts continue to inspire hope in many viewers in our community as well as around the world with strengthening messages of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They continue to gain a growing public viewership. The evidence is seen in the growing number of viewers’ statistics that are displayed on the live App broadcast of Faith Television,
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and the testimonies of those who confirm to be watching our broadcast on Sunday mornings.
B) Free Bibles for Church and Community
Our free Bible delivery continues. The year has seen the successful delivery of free Bible and Christian literature to members and enquirers within and beyond our immediate communities. These are NKJV Bibles, complete with Old and New Testaments, delivered to anyone, especially new converts to Christ and those seeking to learn about the Christian Faith. It aims at creating awareness and public education about the Christian faith through the delivery of full-size Bibles as part of Good Word Ministries’ aims, objectives and public benefits in Christian education. Our stock of Bibles and Christian literature was boosted by receiving donations of used Christian books, devotionals and Bibles.
C) Community Day Project and Bus Trip
As usual, the church successfully held its traditional outdoor gathering. The year’s event brought together families and friends from the community for a day of outdoor sports, picnic, and fun at the Hollyday Park. The event was as usual, preceded by the Church’s annual Baptismal Service and witnessed the baptism of several new and continuing members of the church.
Likewise, the Church successfully organised a Bus trip away to spend a day in Scarborough, a popular holiday destination in the UK. This afforded church members and their families to spend quality time together and promoted friendship among us and those we invited.
These events fulfil important aspects of Good Word Ministries’ aims and objectives, and are also important gestures of public benefit from the Church. The purpose of the Community Day Project, of which these events are a part, is to foster friendship and to promote community, health and wellbeing at all levels through exercise and community outreach activities.
D) Food Bank Project (Good Word Community Food Bank)
The Church’s Food Bank initiative, which was launched in March 2018 as an outreach to members of the Church and members of the public, is now only on a need-assistance-request basis. After enjoying an early busy period, demands have now dropped drastically, making it no longer viable to collect or store items. However, the church may provide small assistance on a present-need basis to help tide people over upon request. Church members are encouraged to support those among us who may fall in need of food or material assistance (such as clothes, shoes, toiletries), and such generosity, of course, is not unusual among members of the church who naturally show kindness to one another and visitors.
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E) Church Outreaches and Community Conferences
This year also saw the successful holding of our scheduled church outreaches and regular church conferences. There were guest speakers from outside Durham for some of our events. Some of these include: 19[th] – 20[th] October 2023 - Good Word Power Conference; 29[th] March – Praise Night; 28[th] – 29[th] April 2024 Fruitfulness (Healings and Miracles Conference); 7[th] July 2024, the Leading Ladies Conference; 20[th] July 2024 – Baptism and Church Panic;11[th] August 2024 - Summer BBQ event. 1[st] September 2024 – International Day Celebration.
Good Word outreaches and community conferences are designed to host both local and external guest speakers drawn from various backgrounds and expertise, and are strategically aimed at empowering members and people of our community. They comprise activities ranging from divine healing services to life coaching sessions, and our flagship ‘Family & Friends’ activities with a focus on ‘befriending’ and opening our church doors to our community. Good Word International Day celebration, a vital part of the Church’s outreach services, was held a few times in the year and the final in September 2024. It aims to celebrate diversity, cultures, and friendship within the church and our local community. Overall, Good Word outreaches and community conferences combine to deliver the church’s aim and objectives and its public benefits agenda.
F) Modern Gym for Church and Community
Good Word Ministries operates a gym which is manned by a professional trainer, who is a member of the church. An active community is a healthy community. The Church’s gym, equipped with modern gym equipment continues to help members and the community to meet their health and fitness needs in relation to physical exercise, while also providing a unique setting for socialisation. This fulfils Good Word Ministries’ aims and objectives and fulfils our public benefits requirements.
G) Multi-purpose Church Premises and Programmes
The Church’s rented premises has multi-functions. It houses the church’s gym, hosts the weekly church services, Sunday schools, conferences, and is open to the public. The premises is officially approved for holding wedding ceremonies and the Church has a resident ‘Appointed Person’. These functions and activities allow Good Word Ministries to serve the community, ranging from individual to family life needs within our community. In so doing, Good Word Ministries is delivering successfully on its established aims and objectives and fulfilling its public benefit requirements.
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H) Solidarity with Missionaries and Churches
We continue to work informally with like-minded churches and Christian missionaries, with whom we have forged positive friendships over the years. We pray for one another, share Christian fellowship and, where possible, support Christian mission works and missionaries by sending small gifts to assist them in carrying out the work of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ based on the Bible. This is not only biblical, it fosters the aims and objectives of the Good Word Ministries to help spread the teachings of Jesus, and also delivers on the Church’s public benefits agenda for those who receive such an education.
Report of the Treasurer /Secretary on Behalf of the Trustees
III. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 30[th] September 2023
1. Introduction
The following are the Statement of Receipts and Payments Accounts for the financial year ending 30[th] September 2024. They are the final accounts, and as usual, have been checked by both carrying out bank reconciliation and have been independently reviewed by the Trustee Board. The examiner’s report is attached.
The Trustees are asked to receive and note the financial activities and position for the year, the financial position of the Church, and the decision noted in section IV.
2. Main Features of the Year
Receipts
A summary of the main changes in receipts compared to the previous financial year 2023 are:
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Whereas in 2023 our total receipts were £59,220.35, our total receipts in 2024 were £ 75,258.88
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Compared to 2023, the total receipts in 2024 exceeded by £16,038.53
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The difference in the total receipts for the year is due to an increase in church members’ voluntary donations in tithes and offerings, along with the accompanying gift aid (Repayments) for qualified donations. In
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2023/2024, church attendance rose numerically, reflected in the amount of tithes and offerings. This also reflects a stabilisation in Church members' offerings and tithes.
- Note: As usual, in 2024, there was no public fundraising or donations from outside sources. The Church limited its receipts to church members’ tithes, offerings, and accompanying gift aid repayments on qualifying totals.
Payments
A summary of the main changes in payments compared to the financial year ending 2023 are:
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Whereas in 2023 our total payments were £57,637.84 in 2024 our total payments came up to £72,301.09. However, £8000 of this amount was put into the church’s savings Account, which means the actual amount spent on expenses is less, and is: £64,301.09
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The difference in total payments ( actual expense ) for 2024 compared to 2023 was £6,663.25. The Net Income (the difference between total receipts and total payments) was £2,957.79, which is positive. However, when the amount of £8,000, which was transferred to the church’s Savings account, is added to this amount, we can say that we have £10,957.79. This is reflected in the actual Result of the year and the Statement of Financial Position , which gives the bank balances below.
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The change in total payments is mainly explained by a change in the following accounts: Missions and Conferences, Utilities (Electricity), Small Tools and Equipment, Support and Giving to Others, Refreshments / Special Church Services, Christian TV Broadcast, and Operations.
See Table 2 for a breakdown and itemised Receipts and Payments accounts.
3. Results for the Year
The outcome for the year ending 2024 is a net income of ££2,957.79 (the difference between total Receipts & total Payments for the year only). A snapshot of the accounts and financial position at the end of September 2024 is as follows: Checking Account bank balance of £ 4,768.07 ; Saving Account bank balance (1) £ 266.10 , and Saving Account bank balance (2) £ 8007.59 , making a total (current assets) of £ 13,041.76 at the end of the year.
Note : The Church’s account balance at the end of the financial year 2024 for both saving and checking accounts stands at £ 13,041.76 in total.
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Tables 1&2 on pages 8, 9 & 10 contain the figures, breakdown, and results of how the Church account performed overall. They also indicate the Financial Position overall.
4. Church’s Financial Position and Overall Goal
The Church’s accounts reflect its financial standing relative to its present membership strength. We are grateful for God adding numerically to His church and advancing its works. We have been able to support other Christian brothers and sisters in God’s mission and purpose of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. The Church has shown resilience in the face of all the challenges that caused even businesses to fold completely. The church continues to be financially self-supportive without recourse to public funds through public fundraising campaigns. Overall, the trend also indicates unwavering commitments from members of the Church through their support and voluntary offerings. This trend equally shows a promising prospect for the future of the church. The present account is also evidence of the church members’ eagerness in their continuing support for the achievement of the aims and objectives of the Church.
The Church wholeheartedly appreciates members’ unwavering voluntary support and contribution to the church’s works and aims. We anticipate that in the coming years, we will continue to do more to expand and to offer essential services in agreement with the church’s aims and objectives, and its charitable Public Benefit agenda: advancing the Christian faith and serving the general public in ways that support health, well-being, and the alleviation of poverty.
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Table 1
Good Word Ministries Statement of Financial Position As of September 30th, 2024
| ASSETS Current Assets Checking & Savings Lloyds TSB (Checking A/C) Lloyds TSB (Savings A/C1) Lloyds TSB (Savings A/C2) Total Lloyds TSB Savings A/C Total Checking & Savings A/Cs Total Current Assets TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES & EQUITY Equity Unrestricted Net Assets Savings Net Income Interest (Lloyds TSB Savings A/C1&2) Total Equity TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY |
Sep 30, 24 |
|---|---|
| 4,768.07 266.10 8007.59 |
|
| 8,273.69 | |
| 13,041.76 | |
| 13,041.76 | |
| £13,041.76 | |
| 2,073.09 | |
| 8,000.00 | |
| 2,957.79 10.88 |
|
| 13,041.76 | |
| £13,041.76 |
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Table 2
Good Word Ministries Statement of Financial Income and Expense 1[st] October 2023 to 30[th] September 2024
| Oct ‘23 – Sept. ‘24 | Oct ‘23 – Sept. ‘24 |
|---|---|
| ORDINARY INCOME/EXPENSE | |
| Income | |
| Tithes/Offerings | 62,440.80 |
| Others [Refunds etc] | 32.23 |
| Repayments [Members’ Gift Aid] | 12,785.85 |
| Total Income | 75,258.88 |
| GROSS RECEIPT | 75,258.88 |
| CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES / EXPENSE | |
| Refreshments / Special Church Services | 841.37 |
| Service Charges | 825.60 |
| Christian TV Broadcast /Evangelism | 3,121.20 |
| Advertising | 0.00 |
| Support and Giving to Others | |
| Assistance to churches /Missionaries | 2,991.04 |
| Assistance to Individuals / Members | 355.37 |
| Total Support and Giving to Others | 3,346.41 |
| Computer and Internet Expenses | 591.87 |
| Missions and Conferences | 8,044.74 |
| Operations | |
| Transfer to Lloyds Savings A/C2 | 8000.00 |
| Miscellaneous Expense | 108.62 |
| Supplies | 177.82 |
| Operations - Other | 393.76 |
| Total Operations | 8,680.20 |
| Other Types of Expenses | |
| Public Liability Insurance | 478.07 |
| Total Other Types of Expenses | 478.07 |
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| Payroll Expenses & Staffing Cost Rent Expense Small Tools and Equipment Utilities Water Electricity Total Utilities TOTAL EXPENSE Net Ordinary Income NET INCOME |
26,866.77 15,000.00 405.59 332.31 3,766.96 |
|---|---|
| 4099.27 | |
| 72,301.09 2,957.79 |
|
| £ 2,957.79 |
IV. Conclusions and Decisions for 2025
The Church appreciates the continuing support and services of members. The Trustees are to note the following for the coming financial year 2025 :
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We agreed, the Trustee Board will continue to work with the church leaders and congregation to encourage church growth and to assist the Church’s stated aims and objectives. The Trustees will continue to lend their unwavering support to the ongoing activities of the Church in seeking to work hard to serve its members and the public. They will continue to successfully deliver on the church’s Public Benefit agenda in the next year.
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We agreed that the current assets/funds deemed unrestricted or specified for specific objectives should be appropriated as such. This agrees with the present church policy of using church income/receipts for the continuing works of Good Word Ministries and its charitable activities under the aims and objectives stated above. Donations given and received for special projects and the Church’s outreach programmes deemed to be restricted will be used under the terms of their restrictions.
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We agreed, the Church will continue in its efforts to explore ways and means by which it can faithfully advance the Christian faith, to expand, and continue to serve more and more people. Good Word Ministries will continue to work towards acquiring its permanent premises, the Good Word Christian Centre.
NB: Copies of the breakdown of the Church’s Payments and Receipts Accounts, and Financial Position for the year, including balance sheet and bank
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reconciliation, are available for members’ information. The Independent Examiner’s Report is also herewith attached.
Trustees Endorsement:
On behalf of Trustees
Rev. Dr. Bernard O. Appiah___
Senior Pastor’s Endorsement: On behalf of Church Leadership
Pastor Saye Didi Dolopei ___ fg
Cc: All Trustees
By signing, this report has been verified and passed as final. A copy of the Independent Examiner Report is provided below here:
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE CHARITY TRUSTEES OF GOOD WORD MINISTRIES (THE TRUST)
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 30[th] September 2024 , which are set out on pages 5 to 9.
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARITY TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER
As the charity’s Trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act
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Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under
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section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act
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State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act. My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity Trustees concerning any such matters.
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:
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That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act
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That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records
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That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
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That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT
I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
| Name: Mr. Kevin Taylor | Signed: | Address: |
|---|---|---|
| General Operative Mears, UK |
12 Date: 15thMay 2025 a |
2 Central Avenue Meadowfield, Durham DH7 8SE |