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← Tree Of Life Church

2024-03-31-accounts

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

CHARITY NUMBER: 1136703

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

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_______________ Trustees Ben Conway Chris Fadero Aileen Leslie Charity Number 1136703 Registered Address BM BOX 2031 LONDON WC1N 3XX Lead Pastor Ben Conway

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Tree of Life Church is fulfilling its mission statement of inspiring people to dream and challenging them to live the dream. This year we have opened new locations in Manchester, Sheffield, Blackpool and Southampton, and are now having weekly church services in Sheffield, Nuneaton, Dagenham, Guildford, Watford, Manchester, Croydon, Brentwood, Dorset, Suffolk and Swindon. We are caring for hundreds of people and supporting them in a pastoral, evangelistic and community-based manner. We are planning for new churches by leadership training and development, fundraising and holding introductory meetings in Bristol, Enfield and Stirling. We are preparing to plant more churches across the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The church is committed to enabling as many people as possible and having open paths to as many people as possible to become, if they wish, part of our church community. We currently have eleven weekly services in Sheffield, Dagenham, Guildford, Watford, Manchester, Croydon, Brentwood, Dorset, Nuneaton, Suffolk, and Swindon. In addition, we have four monthly meetings in Exeter, Bristol, Enfield and Stirling. Throughout our services, with both the worship section and the preaching of the Word, we enable both Christians and non-Christians alike to learn more about the Christian faith and how to put the Christian faith into practise.

We attract many people who have never been to church before, as well as a significant number of people who have not been in a long time. We also attract people from a wide range of Christian backgrounds, both Catholic and Protestant. We have deliberately inculcated a culture within our churches that is welcoming to new people ensuring that people who have never been to church before are made especially welcome. We are bringing together people from now forty different nationalities to our nine congregations every weekend and believe that this in itself benefits all our communities that this occurs within.

When planning our annual activities, the trustees have carefully considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and in particular, the specific guidelines on charities that are for the advancement of religion. In particular, our remit is to equip everyone in the church to be able to minister, serve and communicate the Christian faith to others within their communities. To ensure this work is maintained and monitored, we invest in the community and in resources and venues that enable us to continue and increase what we are doing

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

All our services are growing slowly in attendance and have time for people to develop friendships and relationships, time for singing songs that the congregation find spiritually nourishing and preaching that is both inspirational and challenging.

Our services combine contemporary worship from around the world with homegrown songs from our own bands, with a lecture on how to live the Christian life. We often bring in speakers from around the United Kingdom and other nations around the world to ensure people are exposed to and given an understanding of how Christianity is expressed throughout the world.

All are welcome to attend our services, and many listen or watch later on social media, and there has been a year in year growth in all our congregations. We advertise on local radio, in newspapers, on billboards and through leaflet distribution. We also have a strong online presence through Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

As well as our weekly services, we have several conferences every year featuring guest speakers with specialisms in areas that we believe will benefit people. This year we ran a family conference, a leadership conference, a men’s conference, and a ladies’ conference, all online, with some sessions being viewed online over 12,000 times. We are currently planning a marriage conference.

We also have several small groups that meet in houses, which we entitle Living Churches, some of them are on Zoom, most are in houses. Most of these are Bible study groups where people share the Christian faith, study together, pray for each other, and worship together, with the small size of the group ensuring the group can be interactive and let more people contribute. Some of these small groups are on specific topics that we consider relevant and helpful, such as raising children, how to pray for others, and financial management.

These small groups are the bedrock of our church family and have helped many people face problems with support around them. They have helped many people deal with difficult situations and get answers to difficult questions. These groups are all led by lay-leaders and because of that we invest considerable time and finances in training these leaders who we title “Elders”.

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TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

VENUES

As yet, Tree of Life Church has no building assets. We hire meeting places for all our locations every weekend. In Dagenham, we meet in the Vue Cinema on Cook Road, in Guildford in a local hotel, in Watford and Dorset in community centres, and in Brentwood in an education centre, and in Croydon we meet in a local community centre having moved out of a school. Our Sheffield church meets in a scout hall, and our Manchester church meets in an old church building.

As our paid staff travel frequently from location to location, one significant expense in the Tree of Life Family is mileage, and our long-term plan is raising up leaders locally and training them within each of our church plants and release them into being autonomous but networked and guided from Dagenham. Our long-term goal is to plant churches that plant their own churches.

Our plan is to purchase property within Dagenham as our congregation reaches the 250-300 attendance mark, and not to purchase elsewhere until we have a building in Dagenham.

PASTORAL CARE

We provide pastoral care to many people in our various congregations through our team of pastors and elders. We have organised several social events and provide pre-martial counselling as well. We also have parenting classes for those with young children.

WORLD MISSION

We give over 10% of our income each year to world mission, focusing on supporting several orphanages in Africa, and several charities that are involved in teaching about Christianity around the world. Among others we give regular support to three children’s homes in Burundi, children’s work including feeding them in Kenya, a Bible College in the West Midlands, a Bible College in Colorado and a pregnancy centre in Kenya. We also support several charities that help churches study the Bible more effectively. Nearer to home, we hold several

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evangelistic meetings a year, and have made gifts to those struggling within our congregation, normally in the form of food.

ECUMENICAL RELATIONSHIPS

Since FMIN has disbanded due to the passing of the founder and president, Tree of Life Family is working to build new ecumenical relationships. Many of our staff are members of ARMI which is a minister’s association in Colorado, and we are currently investigating new options. We have joined the Evangelical Alliance and are investigating a relationship with Grace Alliance, a European church planting organization.

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

MEDIA MINISTRY

Our media ministry has maintained this year, with us now being on Revelation TV five times a week, on gospeltruth.tv twice a week, and on Word Network now internationally. We are also on UGN radio sixteen times a week, and back on Faithworld TV six times a week. Also this year, we started on Faith TV across all of Africa, and GNC across Kenya and Uganda. Our big expansion this year was to start on the WORD Network, which gives us access to a potential 2.4 billion households per week. We have a team of volunteers that take phone calls when programmes are broadcast, and they will pray with people. We have an app so people can access previous broadcasts and sermons from our ministry. We have set up an America number as we are now reaching people internationally.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Our income this year as £914,323, entirely in unrestricted funds. Receiving offerings at our services is currently our main method of raising income, but we also receive offerings via the telephone and online through the TV audience. This figure contains the amount claimed and received through gift aid during the financial year. Our total expenditure throughout the year was £879,103. This increased expenditure is due to higher rental costs, more TV slots, and the new church and new locations we have opened. In addition, we have given all our staff pay rises and moved one part time staff to full time.

VOLUNTEERS

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We would like to thank publicly all the wonderful volunteers who make Tree of Life Church happen every week in every location throughout their regular and ongoing serving. We want to thank the elders and others who open their houses week after week to enable our Living Churches to run and to educate people in the Christian faith. We also have people coming in early in all our locations to welcome people, to make teas and coffees, and other essential tasks. We want to give a very special thankyou to those who are involved in children’s ministry, donating their time freely every weekend to educate children and youth in the church about the Christian faith.

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Tree of Life Church has two parallel systems of management structure. In terms of accounting the trustees are responsible for ensuring that finances are raised ethically and spent appropriately ensuring that the charity benefits the public interest.

In terms of spiritual and community care, the Pastoral Team decides and plans what will happen in the Celebration services and is responsible for who is running and leading the Living Churches and who teaches in the Living Churches and Celebration Churches. The elders have jurisdiction within their own living churches, but are expected to follow the teachings and structure put in place by the Pastoral Team.

The Pastoral Team and the Pastoral and Eldership Team decides and plans on issues of general concern and to ensure that care is provided throughout the church services. As financial matters arise, they are passed onto the board of trustees.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 18 January 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

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Ben Conway

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Note
Income from donations
3
Interest income
Total income
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable
activities
4
Total expenditure
Net movement for the		 Unrestric
ted
Funds
Restrict
ed
Funds
Year to
31/03/2
4
Year to
31/03/2
3
885,
932
28,392
914,323
788,707
522
30
886,
454
28,392
914,323
788,737
879,
103
-
87
9,103
81
9,168
879,
103
- 879,103
819,168
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28,392
35,220 (30,431)

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year
Reconciliation of
Funds
Total funds brought
forward
Total funds carried
forward		 ,350
46,
081
-
46,081
76,512
53,431
28,392
81,301
46,081

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 18 January 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

Ben Conway

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 March 2024

_
Note
Tangible Assets
7
Current Assets
Debtors
8
Cash in Bank
Total Assets		 Unrestrict
ed Funds
Restrict
ed
Funds
Year to
31/03/2
4
Year to
31/03/2
3
13,
500
-
13,500
-
13,
500
-
13,500
-
1,
200
-
1,200
1,000
58,
301
23,000
81,301
46,081
59,
501
23,000
82,501
47,081
73,
23,000
96,001
47,081

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001

Liabilities
Amounts falling due in
one year
9
Net Current Assets
Restricted funds
Dorset Field Reserve
10
Dagenham Building
Reserve
10
Guildford Building
Reserve
10
Total Restricted Funds
Total Funds		 2,
625
-
2,625
2,187
2,
625
-
2,625
2,187
70,
376
23,000
93,376
44,894
-
15,000
15,000
-
-
7,000
7,000
-
-
1,000
1,000
-
-
23,000
23,000
-
82,501
47,081

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies

a) Basis of Preparation

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019, the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally

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Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP). The presentation currency is Pound Sterling.

The charity is a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102, and assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

b) Fund Accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the accounts.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the accounts.

Volunteer Help

The value of any such help received is not quantified in the accounts

Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with use of the resources. Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to lay its resources.

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at the following rates calculated to write off each asset less its estimated residual value over its estimated useful life, as follows:

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Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Financial Instruments

The trust only has basic financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

2. Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

3. Income

Year to Year to 31/03/2 31/03/2 4 3

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Donations
Gift Aid
Total		 776,880
684,322
137,444
104,385
914,323
788,707

4. Expenditure charitable activities

Donations
Ofce/General Administrative
Computer & Software Costs
Other Expenses
Advertising/Promotional
TV & Media Expenses
Rent/Lease of Buildings
Other Professional Services
Wages and Salaries		 Year to
31/03/2
4
Year to
31/03/2
3
119,896
168,703
128,632
82,591
21,124
22,464
118,943
79,087
68,211
8,889
111,621
164,462
136,593
131,006
15,517
12,766
158,566
149,201
879,103
819,168

5. Trustees’ Remuneration and Expenses

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the centre manager. One trustee received remuneration amounting to £41,070 during the year (2023 - £40,093). No other trustees were reimbursed expenses or received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023 - £nil).

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the trust, including the trustee’s remuneration, were £41,070 (2023 - £40,093).

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

6. Employees

Year to Year to

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No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000
(2023 - nil)
The average number of employees during the
year was
Employment Costs
Wages and Salaries
PAYE, NIC and Pension
Total
7. Tangible Fixed Assets
Cost as at 1 April 2023
Cost as at 31 March 2024
Depreciation and Impairment as at 1 April
2023
Depreciation and Impairment as at 31 March
2024
Carrying Amount		 31/03/2
4
31/03/2
3
7
7
Year to
31/03/2
4
Year to
31/03/2
3
146,076
136,740
12,490
12,461
158,566
149,201
Year to
31/03/24
Year to
31/03/23
0
-
13,500
-
-
-
6,750
-
6,750
-

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

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8. Debtors

. Debtors
Amounts falling due within one
year
Other debtors
Prepayments
Total		 Year to
31/03/24
Year to
31/03/23
-
-
1,200
1,000
1,200
1,000

9. Creditors

Other taxation
Accruals and deferred
income
Total
0. Restricted Funds
Dorset Field Reserve
Dagenham Building
Reserve
Guildford Building Reserve
Total Restricted Funds		 Year to
31/03/24
Year to
31/03/23
1,864
2,187
-
-
1,864
2,187
Year to
31/03/24
Year to
31/03/23
15,000
-
7,000
-
1,000
-
23,000
-

10. Restricted Funds

TREE OF LIFE CHURCH

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT

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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Tree of Life Church

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024. The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

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 a consideration of any unusual items of disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be needed 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.

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

  2. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

  3. To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

  4. Have not been met; or To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

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