Trustees Annual Report – 2023
Events post year end
As in the past there is often an overlap from the end of the financial year of 31[st] December in making this report, and thankfully, the serious effects of Covid have passed and we continue worshipping as a fellowship in the church premises, with life seemingly returning to normal. Several of our more elderly congregation have experienced life changing illnesses, which has resulted in us not being able to enjoy fellowship with them on such a regular basis as we did in 2023. We continue to pray for their recovery and freedom from pain and that they may again join us in worship at Church.
The economic challenges following the sharp increase in energy costs in 2022 continue to be a financial challenge. The electricity costs on a fixed term contract expired in September 2023 and we again negotiated a 3 year fixed rate based upon current prices. The gas contract will expire in this coming year and we trust that the tariffs will be a little more forgiving.
Towards the end of 2023, we noticed cracks appearing in the external fabric of the Church which has been confirmed as a result of subsidence. The insurance policy, regrettably does not cover this so this will be a major expense from the Church finances going forward into 2024. We are fortunate that we have in our fellowship, members who have experience in construction and that we can draw upon their expertise to ensure the successful remedy of the situation.
Our worship via on-line conferencing software, continues to stream the live services to those who being unable to attend through illness or other infirmities. We continue to invite folk from other parts of the United Kingdom to join us in worship which are well received. Recordings of these services are posted to our web site, as well as on an on-line database.
In 2023 we held a reflection weekend at the Church and plan to meet in 2024 at an external location to reflect on what God has in mind for His Church moving forward.
In 2024, we have committed to hosting another Life Exhibition and inviting students in years 5 & 6 from the local schools to come and learn through interactive technical equipment about our Lord Jesus.
Regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching
We are blessed that the teaching brought by both Rev Freddy Farias Palacios and Simon Black, our minister in training, has encouraged and directed the fellowship to the extent that we are exploring more in depth what God is wanting from us. In 2023, the Church was open every Sunday throughout the year, typically but not exclusively led by the Pastor or Assistant Minister. The Elders have met together regularly with our m inister to pray and plan the way forward. We have a full team of Deacons. They all work together with the Elders and Minister in leading the Church forward on a day to day basis.
We continued to be supported during our worship services by a talented group of musicians. The Music Group has blessed us week after week with their songs of praise and worship and for responding to the call to lead us in prayer and preaching when asked. The Church and Music Group could not function without the support of the small team of computer operators who control the PA system and overhead projector , who of recent months have engaged themselves in the continued presentation of Sunday services, prayer and administrative meetings by means of Zoom conferencing. Attendance at Sunday Zoom Church averages in the order of 3 logins indicating a loyal attendance in the region of 6 to 7 people. This is in addition to the regular attendance in Church of between 45-55 people every Sunday.
A number of Home Groups exist and meet throughout the week in person to provide attenders with a Bible Study and fellowship opportunity. There were Bi-weekly and Monthly Prayer meetings in the Church for corporate prayer to complement the existing opportunities at various times during the week.
Baptism, as defined in the Union's Declaration of Principle. There have been 3 baptisms, 2 of which were conducted in the sea at Dungeness .
Marriages & Funerals Although there were no weddings during 2023 our authorised person is supporting preparation of one wedding for 2024.
The Communion of the Lord's Supper , which continues to be observed at least twice a month throughout the year, Communion on every 1st and 3[rd] Sunday s during public worship.
Evangelism and mission , locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Mission has always remained a priority in Zion as we continue to look beyond our building at the mission opportunities presented to us. The preaching series on various themes has helped to focus the church on our mission responsibilities.
Internationally we continue to support our Baptist Missionary Society link missionaries working overseas, and we also support and engage with Christian charities such as Mission Aviation Fellowship, Ambassadors Football and Cry in the Dark. Financial support continues to support these organisations.
Closer to home we continue to hold an informal Thursday morning to allow the Church to be open for prayer on Friday mornings. We have found this invaluable in identifying social needs in non-church members and has resulted in us being able to offer advice and practical help where needed. The toddler group called Rainbow Tots under the leadership of Suzanne Martin and Christine Hendry, have been instrumental in identifying ongoing hardship. There is also a regular evangelistic presence in the High Street by some members of the church. In 2023 we were able to have our “Christmas Tree Festival”, and we had a “tree of peace” allowing folk to write and place on the tree prayers and messages of hope. Hopefully in 2024, we will again be able to revisit the event as this has proven popular with the community and is well received.
Regionally we are proactive with the South Eastern Baptist Association, the body that represents Baptist Churches throughout the South East region. More locally, we are encouraged to network with other Baptist Churches and we do this through the South Kent Network that consists of 17 Churches across Kent. Nationally, we are a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. We will seek to support, certainly by prayer, all current mission initiatives that they are engaging with across the UK.
Nurture and growth of Christian disciples
The Church through its elders and leadership team has concentrated on ensuring that those Christians attending Church are cared for and nurtured in their faith and growth. A preaching/teaching address is always available on a Sunday morning, all of which is intended to enable attenders to move on in the faith walk. Mid-week, at various times, home group meetings provide for the same.
Education and training for Christian and community service
There have been DBS checks made on all the trustees and leadership team, and those engaged in work with children and the community. Standard update training on Safeguarding (provided by SEBA) was received by all relevant volunteers in sessions in October 2023.
In 2023 saw Simon Black continuing his ministerial training at Spurgeon’s College the course expecting to conclude in 2025. Simon is providing much needed youth ministry through his football outreach. The numbers of unchurched young people is continuing to grow, and we have hopes that in the coming months and years that they will start attending church.
Giving and encouraging pastoral care.
During the year our fellowship have continued to assist the Pastor in offering much needed help and prayer to those within our fellowship and outside. There have as always been some intense needs over this last year due to illness, hospitalisation and bereavement and the fellowship have dealt with them all with love and compassion dealing with spiritual and practical needs. We have been really blessed at Zion with the willingness of the fellowship to volunteer to help wherever needed which has meant that any new initiatives can move forward and existing ones to function fully.
Supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad. Local groups from the community continue to use the building for their activities, including clubs and local branches of well known national charities. We continue to support debt counselling and other initiatives run by CTIT.
Communication
Throughout the year the church produces a regular monthly newsletter listing activities and containing a monthly message from the pastor. This is in print form available in the church and is sent to the membership in electronic form. As nearly all the membership is now online, communication can be achieved quickly and economically by e-mail. The upgraded Church Web Site communicates general information to the wider world.
Refurbishment & fundraising
The building has disabled facilities to Building Regulations Part M so allowing the church to meaningfully engage with the needs of the disabled community in a new and contemporary way.
The Church became debt free in 2023, having paid off all loans from the refurbishment of the rear of the building. The Church has been able to maintain its regular anticipated day to day income and expenditure and in doing so we have continued wherever possible to donate funds to help support other charitable groups. This position following the identification of the subsidence regrettably will not continue.
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period UnrEstricted funds Categorie5 Restricted Endowment fund# Details B1 Ca8h fun B7re5t£ to 14226 93.100 14.22fj End fund8 tunds funds Details FWKI tOThith Details Co# loptiona Curr•ntvalug nal 623,57Y B3 Inve8tm•nt assots CW.69 HKJh Sbeei .016 FtsntttPT•hfjch Details Current valu• onal B4 Assets retained for the chartty's own use FvrKI tOT ountd Details Wln duo B5 Llabilitios S3ngd tsy0 or trmtees on ehalfof au the trustees 3nalur8 Prirrt Name roval 1010412024 Frwjdy Farias Palac)s 1010412024 CCXX R2 amnts {SSI 024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Stttlon A Ind•p•nd•nt Examln•V• R•port R•port to th• tru•t• Zion Baptist Church (Tenterden) On ceounts for th• ywr •nd•d 3111 December 2023 Charlty no 114 S•t out on p•9•• I report io the trustees on my exarntnation of the acu>unts of the abov• charity rthe Trust") for year ended 31.12.2023. As the thanvs trustees, you are rnsp¢xxible for the weparalion of t 8¢counts in ac¢tYdance wrth the requirements of the Chari Ad 2011 (Ihe Act'>. I report in respect of my examination of the Trusys accounts carried Lmrt under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out My examinatson, I have followed all the applicable Diredions grrfen by the Chanty Commiswi under section 145(5)(b) of the Ac Responslblllll?• and 81 ol report Independent I have c¢)mpleted my examination. I confim that no material matters have •xamlnerf8 8tatsm•nt come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives rne cause to believe that in. any material respe¢t.' the accg)unting records re not kept in acc4>rd8nee ¥th sedion 130 of the Chanties Act: or the accounts dKJ not acc¢rd wbth the accounting records; or the a¢UnIS did not wnply th the applicable requirements conceming the forrn aNJ content of accounts set out in the Charities {Accounts and Reports> Regulations 2008 other than any requirement thal the accounts gNe a and fairf which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connect with the examination to vthich attention should be drawn in this report in order to enab a woper understanding of the accounls to be readd. . Please delete the in th8 brnckets rfthey ¢) not apply. Slgnod: Dat•: QS-(Xl.aQ2 Name: fv4ISS HIA4LA A-rc£ Rolevant professlonal quallflcatlonls) or body lif any): Address: IER Oct 2018
Section B Dls¢losure Only complete Il the examiner needs lo h1ghlighi malerial mallers ol GOnrn (see CC32. Independent examination of charty accourts.. diredion$ arKI guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef detalls of any Items that the examiner wlshes to dlscloso. IER Oct 2018