Ministers’ Report for the year 2024
I think that we can all agree that the year 2024 seemed to pass very quickly. Whether it was because we didn’t have a nice long Spring, or a long dry sunny summer before the first lot of snow came in November. You will remember that it lasted just one day.
As you will read in the reports, we all engaged in our usual activities and special events, including our regular coffee mornings at which we raise fund for mainly Baptist organisations. And as you will see from the information given to us from our Treasurer, the amounts raised are substantial. But how many of us look beyond the name of the organisations and the amount raised and know what they do with the money?
As most of you know, Pudsey Baptist has always supported, ‘Baptist Home Mission’ (it used to be called Baptist Sustentation Fund) and Baptist World Mission’ (it used to be called Baptist Missionary Society), and whereas the Baptist Union asks each church congregation to contribute a per capita subscription to both funds, we at Pudsey raise above the amount requested through our coffee morning with Cake sales and personal donations. Thereby helping those who administer the Home Mission Fund to help churches who can’t afford a minister to have ministerial oversight, and/or help churches who have limited funds to hold outreach activities in their local communities. Plus helping to fund our Association and Union staff. Similarly, the monies we raise for BWM are used to train our missionaries who take the gospel to countries all over the world. To date there are over 300 missionaries in God’s service. Many of our missionaries have everyday jobs in secular situations where their work and actions witness to Jesus, some are ministers, and teachers in Bible colleges, most are in the caring professions—doctors, nurses, first responders, health educators and the like. Some of us help to support the ‘Medic’s through the BMS Birthday Scheme.
Then there is Operation Agri (it used to be part of Baptist Men’s Movement alongside Tools with a Mission) who are a different breed of missionaries as they are mainly agriculturist who teach women, men and young people how to tend the land and build irrigation systems so that they can grow crops and fruit to sustain their families and sell surplus to provide education for children. And, they teach animal husbandry too so that whole communities can share in the produce. And, they teach building skills, and other life skills to help families to become self-sufficient. Operation Agri isn’t an organisation that gives handouts—it gives a hand up to those they serve as they tell all people about Jesus.
Spurgeon’s Youth and Child Care is based in the UK and this organization's primary task is to care for children and young people who find themselves in homeless situations, be it temporary because of a family upset, or longer term because of physical harm or abuse. They work alongside local social services and police but stay in contact with the youngsters longer to ensure that they are cared for and receive opportunities to live loved and valued lives, be it with foster carers or in assisted living accommodation.
We support two local organisations too: REACH Project and Zephaniah Trust. Within the AGM handbook is Revd. Ernie Whalley’s report on the REACH project and I was very pleased to be able to attend one of the baptismal services last year. Though John Froud has been a visitor to lead worship for us over the years and to play at our BBQ, Zephaniah Trust (which he founded 31 years ago) is a team of enthusiastic Christians that takes the gospel of Jesus into schools (mainly primary but some senior schools) in and around West Yorkshire. They lead Christian assemblies; teach RE, hold holiday clubs, and tell Bible stories that captivate the imagination of the youngest of listeners. John is also a singer/songwriter in his own right and together with his daughter, Cath they record their music and give concerts.
So, whilst our biggest celebration in 2024 was the baptism of Gareth, Rani and Krissy in our flat-pack baptistry that took an age to fill, we can celebrate the fact that each one of us has helped to provide the wherewithal for the gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour to be made known in our town and beyond. So, thank you for your support of me and of the organisations mentioned here. Blessings,
PUDSEY BAPTIST CHURCH ACCOUNTS 2024
| RECEIPTS | PAYMENTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Cash offerings | 2,451.81 | 2,970.52 | Ministry | 6,340.00 | 6,275.00 |
| Covenants | 5,340.00 | 4,850.00 | Organ fees | 208.00 | 208.00 |
| Gift Day | 1,428.16 | 1,913.55 | Rent | 9,999.96 | 9,999.96 |
| Messenger | 151.00 | 112.00 | Property (note 2) | 4,485.63 | 5,931.20 |
| For other funds (note1) | 4,737.08 | 4,628.77 | Printing | 2,323.31 | 1,455.57 |
| Donations | 347.74 | 270.00 | Donations & subs (note 3) | 13,623.34 | 19,752.29 |
| Social events | 2,007.35 | 1,733.89 | Social events | 740.55 | 537.73 |
| Gift aid rebate | 2,510.12 | 0.00 | Fair Trade | 1,057.19 | 855.79 |
| Fair Trade | 425.00 | 495.00 | Flowers | 473.00 | 488.00 |
| Flowers | 495.00 | 558.00 | Sundries (note 5) | 2,205.44 | 6,238.61 |
| Sundries (note 4) | 1,850.68 | 3,577.00 | |||
| 41,456.42 | 51,742.15 | ||||
| 21,743.94 | 21,108.73 | Less cheques UP at 31.12.24 | -148.54 | -1,502.23 | |
| Balance in hand 31.12.23 | 228.06 | 310.36 | 41,307.88 | 50,239.92 | |
| Balance in Current Acct 31.12.23 | 12,250.92 | 3,563.78 | |||
| Transfers from Reserve Acct | 0.00 | 3,736.03 | |||
| Transfers from Investments | 24,000.00 | 34,000.00 | Transfers to Reserve Acct | ||
| Transfer from Current Acct. | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||
| 58,222.92 | 62,718.90 | Balance in hand 31.12.24 | 181.80 | 228.06 | |
| Less cheques UP 31.12.23 | -1,502.23 | 0.00 | Balance in Current Acct 31.12.24 | 15,231.01 | 12,250.92 |
| 56,720.69 | 62,718.90 | 56,720.69 | 62,718.90 |
Notes
PUDSEY BAPTIST CHURCH ACCOUNT 2024
NOTES ON THE 2024 ACCOUNTS
NOTE 1 Income for other funds
| Spurgeon's Childcare | 442.54 |
|---|---|
| Air ambulance | 589.09 |
| Baptist Missionary Society | 1,080.33 |
| Home Mission Fund | 1,131.67 |
| Operation Agri | 551.28 |
| Reach Project | 365.86 |
| Lebanon appeal | 118.47 |
| Christian Aid Week | 457.84 |
| 4,737.08 |
NOTE 2
| NOTE 2 | |
|---|---|
| Property expenses | |
| Rent | 9,999.96 |
| Insurance | 746.21 |
| Cleaner | 1,224.00 |
| Southern Electric/EDF | 1,665.19 |
| Yorkshire Water | 218.75 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 484.69 |
| Sundry purchases | 146.79 |
NOTE 3 Donations & subs
| Yorkshire Air Ambulance | 395.00 |
|---|---|
| Spurgeon's Childcare | 485.00 |
| Baptist Union Subs | 80.50 |
| Churches Tog. in Pudsey | 0.00 |
| Operation Agri | 605.00 |
| Baptist Missionary Society | 1,090.00 |
| Home Missions | 1,160.00 |
| Northern Bapt College | 100.00 |
| Reach Project | 1,700.00 |
| Bible notes | 100.00 |
| Lebanon appeal | 120.00 |
| Chee Chang | 1,000.00 |
| Zephaniah Trust | 6,000.00 |
| Other | 25.00 |
| Pudsey in Bloom | 55.00 |
| Christian Aid Week | 457.84 |
| 2387 Pudsey ATC | 250.00 |
13,623.34
14,485.59
NOTE 4 Sundry receipts
| Donations | 347.74 |
|---|---|
| Bible notes | 87.00 |
| Repayment of car loan | 1,500.00 |
| Nativity donations | 263.68 |
| Gift Aid rebates | 2,510.12 |
| 4,708.54 |
NOTE 5 Sundry Payments
| Auditing | 50.00 |
|---|---|
| Crib dismantle repair & set up | 1,330.00 |
| Website maintenance | 350.00 |
| Other | 475.44 |
| 2,205.44 |
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Assets & liabilities
PUDSEY BAPTIST CHURCH ACCOUNT 2024
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 31.12.24
| VIRGIN CURRENT ACCOUNT | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance brought forward | 12,250.92 | 3,563.78 | |
| Receipts | 19,454.12 | 18,935.10 | |
| Transfers from reserves and investments | 24,000.00 | 37,736.03 | |
| 55,705.04 | 60,234.91 | ||
| Payments | -40,474.03 | -47,983.99 | |
| Transfers to Reserve Acct | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Balance as per bank statement | 15,231.01 | 12,250.92 | |
| CASH ACCOUNT | |||
| Balance in hand 31.12.23 | 228.06 | 310.36 | |
| Cash received | 45,743.94 | 58,844.76 | |
| 45,972.00 | 59,155.12 | ||
| Transferred to bank | -43,454.12 | -56,671.13 | |
| Cash paid out | -2,336.08 | -2,255.93 | |
| Balance in hand 31.12.24 | 181.80 | 228.06 | |
| RESERVE ACCOUNT | |||
| Balance at 31.12.23 | 0.00 | 3,729.13 | |
| Bank interest | 0.00 | 6.90 | |
| Transfer from Current Acct | |||
| 0.00 | 3,736.03 | ||
| Transfers to Current Acct | 0.00 | 3,736.03 | |
| Balance as per bank statement | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| INVESTMENTS | Book value | Market value | Market value |
| Quilter (was Old Mutual) | 387,937.00 | 448,974.78 | 450,820.00 |
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