## **WEYMOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023** At the end of 2022 we said ‘2023 will yet again be a year of challenge and change, as we seek to recruit our new Senior Minister and Youth Pastor’. Recruiting a new Senior Minister through the Baptist Union network did not bear fruit, although we did hold two interviews. In September, we widened the advertising network outside the Baptist Union and received a considerable number of applicants from around the world. Support from our Interim Moderator during the continued period of the interregnum was exceptional. We recruited a new part-time Youth & Children’s Coordinator to continue the work amongst young people and children on a temporary contract until the new Senior Minister was appointed. Our youth and children’s clubs continue to thrive, and many who attend are not ‘churchgoers’, and as such it is their only experience of ‘church’. Our part-time Pastoral Support Coordinator re-established the pastoral care team to provide a pastoral and visiting ministry. It is our desire that no-one connected with the Fellowship should ever be (or feel) overlooked. We continued to encourage members of our own congregation to preach at our Sunday services during the interregnum and several outside speakers preached at our church. A significant development in 2023 was when asylum seekers from the ‘Bibby Stockholm’ barge arrived at the Church one Sunday. Around 20 men continued to regularly attend Sunday morning services, and we provide translations of our worship songs for them each week. They are supported by our Fellowship in several ways, including one of our Elders setting up a ‘WhatsApp’ group for them. Several of them were baptised at the Church. Two ‘Alpha’ courses were run in 2023, and many continued to meet after the courses ended, to air issues and ask questions, with several of them becoming Church members. Many of our ministries continued to be ‘volunteer hungry’ in terms of numbers of leaders and volunteers required to enable them, not just to happen, but to grow. Our over 50’s group continues to grow in number. Their programme of events is varied, from monthly walks to trips away together. Regarding other ministries associated with the Church, the Foodbank continued to operate from the building twice weekly. The Lord continues to bless this work abundantly, with both donations of food and finance. Two not-for-profit community shops and a public café continued to thrive, providing cheap, good quality, nutritious food for those on limited disposable income. Both ministries work closely and regularly supported the local Christians Against Poverty (CAP) group in Weymouth. Since our staffing costs were significantly reduced in 2023, we were able to build our reserves, and pay for further essential work to improve the fabric of the building. One major project is to provide disabled access to the building. Whilst we hope to be given a grant towards this substantial cost, we are aware that we may need to make a significant financial contribution to this much needed facility. We look forward to 2024 with hope and faith for the appointment of a new Senior Minister. 11$11110 4thth) 41XII 4*71 OIF nj 31 1339b Isi. 1SJ• 14&J 10) Nl• I¢•YA p* 4V 21•. IL41.7T m1. JTJ tS78.4Q 2731 +) ki_ll. I￿5 1*1 GIIknC4intty 02 i¥J P