TRUSTEES 2020 REPORT
We have sought to serve the Lord and to minister to our members, congregation and the community, and there has been continuity of programme and purpose from previous years. Many of our services and activities moved to online only in accordance with the government guidelines during the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic. Some activities had to pause but we have tried wherever possible to maintain contact with all those connected with or church in any way.
*Regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching;
Our core activities have been public worship, preaching, teaching and Bible study in our services, Junior Church, youth groups and Home Fellowship Groups. Many of these have been via Zoom or our You Tube channel due to government lockdown, restrictions and the requirement for social distancing. We have facilitated attendance at the building for worship during periods of relaxed restrictions and have complied with risk assessments to be Covid secure. Our Leadership have continued consecutive preaching including the ‘I Am’ statements of Christ and the Gospel of John. House groups have featured teaching around the understanding of a biblical church.
*Baptism, as defned in the Union’s Declaration of Principle;
Government guidelines have advised against baptism by immersion but we have candidates in training programmes for when this is possible.
*The Communion of the Lord’s Supper which shall normally be observed at least once a month;
We normally hold 3 communion services each month, (6.30 on the first Sunday in the month, at 9.30 on the second Sunday in the month and at 11am on the third Sunday). Due to the on-going pandemic communion has been held at the building and as part of You Tube services once monthly. Members of the Pastoral team have conducted communion services in homes for those of our congregation who are housebound, only when possible within the guidelines.
*Evangelism and mission, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally;
We have tried to serve the community by providing online resources in the form of lessons and assemblies for local schools. Our Youth Worker and team have distributed craft and story kits to parents of toddlers in the local area. Small Easter eggs have been distributed to school staff. Easter cards have been delivered to a large number of homes around the church building and also to care home residents. We have organised a socially distanced Easter treasure hunt in the local area. Our involvement in the local community centre has been curtailed due to the pandemic but we have remained in contact with them, offering support as able. There has been no direct spending as our contribution has been on line or from the youth budget.
*The teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people .
We include and involve young people in our services by having a 10-15-minute slot in the morning services particularly applicable to young people and this has continued in our online services. Junior church has been difficult to facilitate during the pandemic but our youth worker has provided an all age junior church session on You Tube after the main service. Some of the smaller groups have had their own session via Zoom. The Puppet team have maintained contact by Zoom quizzes and occasional collaboration videos. Normally, on week days there are 4 organisations catering for young people “Fuse” (yrs. 4-6); “Ignite” (years 11-16); and NUTS (Years 7-11) & Abide (16+) during the week. Some of these groups have adapted to online meetings and Ignite have met when allowed at the building under Covid secure restrictions. All online participation of our young people has been with parental permission. We have adopted and regularly commit to our Safeguarding Policy. Youth activities are funded by the church and consume approximately 3.3% of our budget.
*Nurture and growth of Christian disciples
WE have endeavoured to nurture young Christians with 1-to-1 nurturing. We also run Baptismal classes and House Groups to encourage the nurturing and growth of Christian disciples. House groups have met regularly via Zoom
*Education and training for Christian and community service
We encourage Christian and community service and offer education and training via other organisations. We support one of our members who works as a Primary Schools Worker. Training was allocated 1.8% in our 2019 Budget
*Giving and encouraging pastoral care;
We have sought to give and to encourage pastoral care for all those who attend the church and those who are not members. Deacons are elected as people with, amongst other things, “a pastoral heart” but this responsibility is shared across the church and House Groups play a key role in pastoral care.
*Supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad
We have supported and encouraged charitable action in the United Kingdom; and some members of the church are involved in Operation Christmas Child, as well as Good News for Everyone, LIVES and other charitable work. Around 15 of our members have signed up and trained with Safe families for Children who support families at points of crisis in their lives both practically and emotionally in the local area. We normally run a weekly Mother & Child lunchtime gathering for fellowship called TOTS. Contact has been maintained with them by provision of resource kits and gift through the pandemic
*Encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptists and other
Christians.
We have supported Baptists and other Christians in a variety of ways. We have a link with the Baptist Missionary Society and have supported members of the New Tribes Mission in several countries. 36% of our income was given to The Baptist Home Mission Fund or Baptist Missionary Society and to Christian workers in Grimsby.
Rachel Cook Secretary
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ED AND WAiES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Secuon A Independent EXarnInes Report Report to the trustgesl memb•rs of Grimsby Baptist Chur On accounts fortho year ended 31 Decembet 2020 Charlty no Itt onyl 1146533 Set out on pag8S 1 to3 I rep(Kt ts the trUeeS on my examinalion of Ihe actounts of the aix)ve eharity lllhe Tru5fi for year en 31 Decernr 2019. Responslbllllles and bas1$ of report As the chaiTWs InJsteÈs. YJU ar? PDsIe for the pparatIOn of the accounts in accorilance th the requirements of the Charit$ Act 2011 I report in respea of my examinalK)n of Ihe Twst'5 accounts carried out under seLcm 145 of the 2011 Act and in Ggrrwng out my 8xaminalion. I have fOlknj all the applicaue Directw)n5 gNen by Charity commion uader section 145(Sllbl of the Act. Indepèndent I have (xxnplet8d my examinaknn. I c(vffvm that no mat1a1 matters have 8xaminer's statement Gome to my attentK)n ITr (X)nnectic th the exarninètion (other than that is¢h)sed below'l which gives me cause to beIve that In, any tnaterial respect.. Ihe a(EountiThJ rewds Mt kept in accordanr wath sectk)n 130 of the Charibe5 Act., or the accounts did not with the acccAtnting r8cords,' or the accounts did Th)1 cornply wlh the apIcable wuirements concemirKJ the fonn and tent of a(rounts set out in Charities IA¢¢ounts and ReK¥xtsI RegulatIS 2(M)8 other than any requirerpent that the accounts give a Irue and fairf wew whh is not a rn8tt8r Conside a5 part of an irKlependent exarnlnat1. I have no Co1M5 and have Ix)me auoss rK> other tnatt8rs in connecti ith the examinatrffi to whith attention should dra in this repc#t in or¢erto enab a prop8r understsnding of the ac4)yJnts to be #thed. - P188s8 delete Lts8 br8Gkets rftheydo nO¢apY. Slgned: Name.. Relevant professlonal qualifica¢lonlsl or body lif any).. FOCA Addr•ts.' 414