## **Trustees’ Annual Report – 2026** ## **1. Introduction and Post-Year End Review** As we reflect on the transition from 2025 into 2026, Zion remains a steadfast spiritual home for our fellowship. Following the challenges of previous years, we have seen a renewed sense of stability in our congregational life. While we navigate the physical and financial implications of our building's maintenance, the spiritual "living stones" of the church remain vibrant and committed. ## **2. Ministry, Leadership, and Governance** - **Ministerial Success:** We formally record that **Simon Black successfully concluded his ministerial training** at Spurgeon’s College in 2025 and has been **appointed as the Minister of Smarden Baptist Church** . - **Outreach Transitions:** With Simon’s move, he has retained his **football ministry** , which has transitioned to his new pastorate. While this is a loss to Zion's local outreach, we celebrate the work's continuation in the wider region. - **Church Governance: The Leaders meet regularly every month** to manage the business aspects of the Church. While the **Elders have not met as regularly as in previous years** , Rev. Freddy Farias Palacios continues to provide steady leadership. - **Consistency of Worship: Apart from the Reflection Weekend, the Church remained open every Sunday throughout the year** . Within our public worship, the **Communion of the Lord’s Supper continues to be observed at least twice a month** , typically on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. ## **3. Spiritual Life: Growth, Prayer, and Vision** - **Nurture through Home Groups:** Our **House Groups continue to meet regularly** , and the **number of groups is increasing** , with a **new Home Group being led by our Pastor in 2026** . - **Corporate Prayer:** We continue to prioritize our prayer life through **Bi-weekly and monthly prayer meetings** . - **Refining our Vision:** We again enjoyed our **Reflection Weekend at High Leigh** . A **further weekend is already planned for September 2026** . ## **4. Milestones: New Life and Remembrance** - **Celebrating New Life:** In 2025, we were delighted to **welcome the news of new life in the form of several grandchildren** born into our church family. - **Baptismal Hope:** While the church did not conduct any baptisms in 2025, a highlight for the coming year is the **scheduled Baptism on Easter Sunday 2026** . - **In Memoriam:** During 2025, we conducted **four funerals, three of which were for long-standing members of the Zion fellowship** . They are sadly missed, but we take comfort that they have been called to be with our Lord. ## **5. Worship and Technical Enhancements** - **The Music Group:** Despite the departure of Rachel, we are greatly encouraged to have **gained two new members** for the music group. To support this growth and ensure a high standard of worship, **weekly practice has officially started** . - **Technical Improvements:** We have further enhanced our sanctuary technology by **installing a new monitor specifically for the benefit of our musicians and speakers** . This allows for clearer communication and visual cues during services. - **Digital Strategy:** To ensure the stability of our Zoom outreach (which **regularly supports 3–4 logins** ), the Trustees have authorized **replacing the two current laptops in 2026** to match our enhanced equipment capabilities. ## **6. Building, Fabric, and Environmental Appeal** - **Technical Oversight:** We are **awaiting formal results and recommendations from our professional surveyors** regarding the 2023 subsidence. We remain reliant on external consultants for this remedial process. - **Premises Development:** We record that the **purchase of the driveway is still pending** . This remains a focus for the Trustees as we seek to clarify and secure our access and boundaries. - **Community Appeal:** A **select band of volunteers has been tasked to discuss how the front of the Church can be improved** to make it more appealing and welcoming to the wider community. ## **7. Mission, Outreach, and Ecumenical Partnership** - **Churches Together in Tenterden:** In summer 2025, we participated in the **Spirit of Tenterden festival** . We also participate in **monthly joint evening services** across local churches, with collections donated to local charities. - **The Christmas Tree Festival:** This remains a major outreach success. Last year, we welcomed **approximately 1,600 people** and performances from local choirs. Donations were shared between two local charities. - **Community Breakfasts:** We continue to host a **Community Breakfast twice a year (March and September)** . - **Weekly Groups:** Our **Thursday coffee mornings** , **Rainbow Tots** , and the **Brownies** all continue to thrive as vital points of contact. - **Global Links:** We maintain our commitment to the **BMS, MAF, and Cry in the Dark** . ## **8. Financial Review and Future Outlook** Zion remains in a stable financial position. As we look ahead to the Easter Baptism, the securing of our driveway, and our return to High Leigh, our priority remains the preservation of our building and the continued growth of our discipleship. Report for Charity Commission for England & Wales Zion Baptist Church (Tenterden} For the year ended 31 December 2025 Cash Basis Charity No: 1149069 Account 2025 Unwpstri¢ted X125 Re8tricted Total funth Last year Turnovor Income- Donations Gifts_ Not Grft Gift Tax Rebatefr(xn Grft A¥J Intèrest Inc(The Rents fer rooms Olher Reven Totsl In¢ome 21.*5 £ 6,942 £ 53,297 £ 16.￿9 £ 2,803 £ 4,525 E 1.470 £ 2.731 11.823 £ 3,580 £ 23.435 £ 569 9,673 £ 16.320 65,120 £ 70,595 20.489 £ 19,987 2,803 £ 3,954 4.525 £ 3.460 2.071 £ 128.117 £ 117.469 2.071 £ .675 £ 10W2 £ Gross Profft 106A42 £ 21.615 £ 1¥117 £ 117,469 Operatin Expenses Ernployment Adrninistratk)n Giving to Othef Cause5 Mission Prernises Totsl Optr*in9 Expe￿8 38.412 £ 10,IfA) £ 3.377 E 15.842 £ 54.255 £ 60,687 10,793 £ 11, 3.377 £ 3.187 15.140 £ 10.319 41.1%0 £ 28,071 124.624 £ 114.229 14,353 £ 720 £ 31￿ £ 40,340 £ 93.076 £ Asset and Invesbnent purchases Fixed Asset Expense. Tethno&)gy Asset Eypense. Ftsmiture FiKed Asset Expense. Premise5. Manse OThvApy Total Asset and inv88tsneni purGha5¢5 315 £ 315 £ 4.379 £ 4379 4.379 £ 4.894 £ 315 £ 1,169 Oporating Profit 8.986 1.202 £ Z071 Transfer4 belween funds 3.101 3,101 Cash funds last year 98.1￿ £ 13.208 £ 109.398 £107.327 Cash fund$ thls y•ar •nd 81 £ 108 196 £ 109 398 Statement of assets and Ilabilities at end of the period Zion Baptist Church (Tenterden) As at 31 December 2025 Cash Basis Unrtstrfctsd fund5tone8rest£ Re$￿cted funds to neare¥t£ Account 310ec 2025 Current Assets C88h at bank and In hand Bapb$t Together 3 month not. BMM Acceunt- Tenterden BA Petty Cash trorn offering5 and eve¢)t¥ RaiAbowTois Petty Cash TENTERDEN BA CurrentAccount TENTERDEN Daposft BA#OOI Total Cash al bonk #MI In hand Unbanked ¢*eque 63,￿)] 35.957 -£ 817 63,501 35,377 817 580 £ 62 £ 7,529 373 £ 7.529 810 108,096 100 108,196 437 t 108 177 4 81 £ Flxed Assets Tanglble Assels Conttnts ind Fumiture Ilnsur8nce value) Equiprnent hekl by Church lown usel Total Tanylwo Assets 90.015 5,309 95,324 Cr•dltors: amounts fallln Garden Totsl creditors: amounts falllng du• withln ono y•Nr due withln on* 115 115 S￿3￿ed by one orlwo trustees on bthaff of 811th8 trustees Signature prtnt NamB Dote lain Bottrill Iq.i.X• Freddy Faria5 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent ExaMine￿S Report R8port to tho trustoes Charrty N¥Tre Zion Baptist Church (Tenterden On accounts for the year ended 3181 December 202£ Charity no {if any) 1149069 Set out on pages Iremwts lo Ir￿de the pagt rsLwbws ofaL*Jibonal sheelsl I rewrt to the trustees on rny e￿InatIOn of the a￿nts of Ihe above d￿rity (Ihe Trusf} for the year ended 3111212025 Respon$ibilili08 and basis of report As the chantys trustees. you are r85w)n5ible for the preparation of the accounts in acLxYdanL* with the requirements of the charit￿ Act 2011 I report in respect of my examination r)f the Tnjst's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I 1¥gve foNowed all the applicable Directbons given by the Charity Commission uTrJer sectton 145(SXb) of the ACL Independent I have compleled my examination. l (anfim that no material matters have examlnerfs statement come to my attention in connection with the examinatton which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. the accounting records ￿re kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Charities ACL. or thg acwunts did not aixxxd wllh the accounting records" or accounts did not comply with the applitsble requirements concerning the fomi and rJ)ntent of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Rewrts} Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accolmts give a Irue an(1 fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an indèpendent examinatton. I hwrfe rKI conc£ms and have come a￿0$5 no other matters in cormeclion with the examinats.on to whiGh attention should be drawn in this report in order to enabl8 a proper ur¥JerstsrKling of the a¢￿Unts to be reached. Signed: Date: Nam•: Relevant professlonal qualifieation(s} or body (If any): IER Oct 2018 Section B Disclosure Onty ￿)mplete if tr* examiner needs to highlight material matterB of concern (see CC32, Indep￿dent examirnti￿ of tharrty accounts: direGtions and gUidaT￿ for examiners). Gfve here brfef detslls of any items that the examlner wlshes to di$clos•. IER OGt 2018