Ministers Report
It is difficult for me to comment on the past year, since the last AGM as I have only been in the post for the last nearly 4 months now. In all honesty though, it’s been a great 3-4 months. We have settled in well, and it feels as though we have been here for years not months. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing though? I would like to thank the leadership, both the team of elders and team of deacons for all the hard work they have done to supporting the work of the church particularly during the time of the Interregnum. I would also like to thank everyone who calls this church their family and for being willing to journey with Jesus and follow his leading. And for stepping up to fill different roles that need to be filled.
We are a busy church that runs many mid-week groups. Are you ready for this list? Mi7, Oasis, The Passage, Catalyst Prayer Breakfast, Tiny tots, Knitting Group, Rainbows and Brownies, Lydia Group, Craft Group (not church group), Thursday Fellowship, Prophetic Group, Renew, Illuminate, Branches, Equipping Nights, Encounter Nights, 50-18, Youth Night, Saturday Morning Prayer Breakfast, this is all before even mentioning LifeGroups and ad hoc courses like Freedom in Christ. We are doing a lot. However, one of the things I am aware of is that we need to learn to just ‘be’ as well, just ‘be’ in relationship with others in church and others outside of the church. If I was to ask you how well you knew the person on the left or right of you, or how well you knew the people living to the left or right of you, how would you respond? Anyway, I digress! However, as we move forward, one of the things we need to be asking the Lord is…are these groups still working in the current format? Does something need changing? Or is it time to blow the whistle on these areas of church life. Important but sometimes difficult questions to ask. But again, this is showing an incredible effort from the church to put so much on through the week. This is something that we need to be asking ourselves over the next few weeks and months.
Sunday gatherings at the minute appear to be the pinnacle of our week, it needs to become the launchpad into the week and not the thing that is aimed for fellowship and community and ‘topping-up’. Having said this there appears to be change on Sundays and we are aiming and hoping to see the Holy Spirit move and direct our meetings more on a Sunday morning as we together pursue Jesus. It is also good to mention how awesome it is to see people step
up and be involved in the worship group. We currently have 15 people serving in this way with 3 more potential people to be added in the future. We’ve also had different people step up in different ways to anchor services and preach over the last year. It has been wonderful to see our young people step up in preaching and leading of services.
I would also like to use this opportunity to look forward to the next 12 months or so. And I want to start this section with a couple of questions. What are dreaming of? What do you want to see happen at this church. While we are already doing lots of different things, there are still different things that could be implemented. So, what would you love to see in this church do/be involved with. Where can you step up? We need to remember that this is a journey the Lord is taking is on together.
In the last church meeting, we spoke about being taken on a journey of deconstruction and reconstruction of church. This is going to require some changes. But all that we do will be aimed towards full, whole life discipleship which goes beyond our Sunday gatherings and LifeGroups. Please note that everything we do will be geared towards the mission statement of the church – making disciples, transforming lives, changing the spiritual temperature. And whenever we start anything new, we need to ask ourselves 3 questions…1. Is it biblical? 2. Is it simple? 3. Is it easily reproducible?
There have been some small changes in the way that we do things, but this will continue to grow and develop. We are not yet in the place that we need to be in.
It has been great to see more people come and be part of us over the last few months, but in all honesty, I would be happier if that growth came through new disciples. Not that the aim is to develop bigger Sunday gatherings, but more will be revealed about this as together we move forward and follow Jesus and be obedient to His voice!
Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Grantham Baptist Church Registered Charity no: 1133324 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Grantham Baptist Church for the year ended 315t December 2022. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the account5 in accordance with the requirements of the Charitie5 Act 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's account5 carried out under Section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)Ib} of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect= accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act," or 2. 2. the account5 do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the account5 to be reached. Signed: Name: Mrs Nicola L Whittaker Date: 7th July 2023