2023-12-31-accounts - Romanian Ministries

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Trustees Annual Report

Romanian Ministries

Charity number 1159517

1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023

Romanian Ministries was founded as a charity on 8 December 2014. It helps Romanian Christians in ministry and provides assistance to the Romanian poor, continuing in this throughout the 12 months of 2022.

All of those involved are grateful to God for the opportunity of Christian service and vastly benefitted by fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the land of Romania.

We view ourselves as a conspicuously Christian enterprise and see our work as the active outworking of our commitment to God through Jesus Christ, with all being done for His glory. We hope to continue operations in accordance with divine guidance as we look to the future.

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity’s Principal Address: 6 Cedar Row Park Hill Bristol BS110UJ Charity Trustees: Howard Bilton Adrian Carey-Jones Peter Cox Rachel Jones James Martin Cornel Pelea

All of the above individuals served as trustees for the full length of the period being reported on.

Structure Governance and Management

Romanian Ministries has a constitution which was submitted formally to the Charities Commission and accepted prior to the commencement of the charity on 8 December 2014.

The structure of the charity is that of a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO).

Trustees are appointed for a fixed period, varying according to each trustee, and subject to reappointment following the expiry of each term. Re-appointment must be by the existing trustees.

Objectives and Activities

The objects of the charity are the promotion of the Christian religion in Romania and among Romanian speaking people by the provision of financial or material aid, or by whatever form of support the trustees deem fit, and the relief of poverty in Romania and among Romanian speaking people by the provision of financial or material aid, or by whatever form of support the trustees deem fit.

Achievements and Performance

The year in question saw the continuation of funding partnerships with various churches and Christian charitable trusts. Donations were also received from individuals aware of our work for the Lord. We were, and continue to be, most grateful for all generosity and support received.

Giving during the year equalled £218,986 (2022 - £207,545). Of this, £124,547 was in the form of specifically ringfenced donations (2022 £121,572). Expenditure equalled £238,108 (2022 £156,269). This resulted in a deficit for the year of £19,122 (in 2021 surplus £51,276).

We thank our Lord Jesus Christ both for donations received and for outgoings made possible by accumulated funds. The annual deficit was attributable to one-off costs relating to the construction of our home for abandoned children. It is hoped that this premises, called Casa Ovidiu, will be ready by the end of 2024.

Our main projects during the year were as follows:

Christian Hospice Care – it was a privilege and blessing to continue sponsorship of 4 members of staff at Emanuel Hospice in full, payments during the year amounting to £66,680 (2022 - £57,150). The staff we supported were Beni Paul (doctor), Paula Popovici (nurse), Adriana Bidilean (psychologist) and Cristi Tap (physiotherapist). The work of Emanuel Hospice continues to inspire all visitors with its selfless resolve and evangelistic impetus despite immense challenges.
Ukrainian Refugees – following on from our previous year’s activities in the Ukraine, our focus in 2023 was on assisting the widows and parents of soldiers who had died in the conflict. This aid program has been administered by Pastor Valerii Shevchuk and his wife Natalia near the city of Cerniti. It was a joy to visit them and others in the Ukraine in May 2023. Total giving for the year amounted to £12,135 (2022 - £18,012).
Village Evangelism – we were grateful to help Viorel Rete in his work in two small villages north of Cluj. His work consisted of regular preaching, pastoral visiting and also a summer camp in these most rural locations. Expenditure in 2023 equalled £5,575 (2022 - £13,336).
Abandoned Children – we continued our support of Project Romanian Rescue near Constanta in its work with abandoned children, assisting with general expenses and the running of the home. We continued construction of a home for 12 abandoned or neglected children in Arad, called Casa Ovidiu. Expenditure in 2023 equalled £4,000

for Project Romania Rescue (also £4,000 in 2022) and £79,050 for Casa Ovidiu (2022 - £13,425).

Mission Outreach in Scornicesti, the town where the communist ex-leader of Romania, Nicolai Ceausescu, was born and raised. Iosif Varan continued his range of evangelistic activities and church work, our sponsorship in 2023 amounting to £5,000 (2022 – also £5,000).
Roma Children’s Outreach – a weekly club for Roma children has been continued in the town of Hunedoara under the leadership of Dani Hritac. This takes place on Saturday afternoons with up to 40 children in attendance. We also assisted Dani in his summer camp, paying for disadvantaged children to participate. Such a ministry has been a joy to engage in and expenditure for the year equalled £2,810.
Youth Drug Addiction – we were pleased to continue supporting the Preventis group in the city of Cluj, which visits schools, runs a mentoring scheme for vulnerable youngsters and also provides a counselling service for addicts. Our sponsorship is of Andrei Nedelcu, a Christian psychologist, with some additional funds for a staff away day. Total gifts in 2023 equalled £5,600 (2022 - £7,100).
Cancer Patients, low price accommodation – this is provided to patients undergoing treatment in the city of Cluj. People from many miles away sometimes need to board in Cluj for the duration of their treatment. Casa Filip is run by Christians and provides accommodation for such individuals at half the price of other establishments, or at no cost at all to those unable to afford anything. Our support in 2023 was for assistance in the latter cases. The total given was £7,000 (2022 - £3,000).
Poor Pastors Assistance – supplementing salaries which fall below subsistence level, most especially that of Pastor Sorin Sarbu in the village of Draut
Deaf Community Outreach and Aid in the town of Arad and its surrounding area. This was continued by Sammy Gorgan, with us assisting especially with practical needs in the community and the costs of their summer camp with a total cost of £2,535 (in 2022 - £2,005).
Football Chaplaincy through Daniel Zafiris, an ex-professional footballer who now engages in evangelistic outreach and chaplaincy roles among the top tier of Romanian football clubs (2023 – £6,500; in 2022 - £6,700).
Prison Ministry – after an interval of several years, this recommenced in the maximum security facility in Aiud through our assistance of Cosmin Ghiurghiu and his team. They run evangelistic meetings, vocation training and family days, all with a clear Christian emphasis. Our help was directed mainly towards part-sponsoring one of Cosmin’s staff (£5,000) although we hope in future to assist with family days at Cluj Prison.
Anti-abortion Counselling – through the Project Iochebed centre in Suceava, where our assistance covered rent payments on their premises and also practical necessities for the first twelve months following birth (£3,500)
Youth Camps – especially the summer camp for children and teenagers in the village of Draut
Romanian Families in Bristol – as well as excursions during the summer holidays, our help focused on arranging much needed visits to the dentist for a number of Roma children. The nearest dentist we could find was in Bradford on Avon, and the visits have provided us with helpful outreach opportunities.
Poverty Relief - gifts were made to poor families through Casa Grace in Oradea, a Christian Social work agency, focusing especially on very poor families affected by the pandemic

Grants are normally made following contact with relevant individuals in Romania and word of mouth recommendations from other known and trusted sources.

We give heartfelt thanks to the Lord for His blessing of the work in 2023 and ascribe all credit and whatever measure of success to His interventions of grace.

It seems fitting to cite at this juncture the well-known verse of God’s pre-eminence in all things from Psalm 115 vs 1 “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory.”

Our aim in Romanian Ministries is to remain as work of God’s grace, guided and led by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to the glory of God in every particular.

Financial Review

The receipts and payments account for the period in question is attached on the following page and has been independently examined by a suitably experienced and independent individual and duly approved.

The independent examiners certification is found on the page after the receipts and payments account.

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature:

Full Name:

Position:

Date:

Romanian Ministries Charity No: 1159517 Indepcndent Examiner's Report 3 1st December 2023

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Romanian Ministries On accounts for the year ended 31" December 2023 Charity no lif any) 1159517 Set out on pages I report lo the Irustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charily {"the Trust.) for the year ended 31112 12023. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trusl. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report. of the accounts in accordance with Ihe requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (llhe Acl"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)Ibl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe Ihat in, any malerial respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no ConCeS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 25. October 2024 Name: Scott Canning MAAT Relevant professional qualificationls) or body (if any): Association of Accounting Technicians Address: 10 Meadow Street. AvonmoLrth Bristol BS119AR IER October 2018

Romanian Ministrie8 Charlty Number 1159517 Recelpts and Payment Account 01.01.2023- 31.12.2023 Racelpts Unrestrlcted Funds Rèstrlctod Funds Total Funds 2023 Total 2022 Donations and Gifts 88,007 6,432 117,940 6,607 205,947 13,039 195,067 12,478 Gift Ald Reimbursements Total Income for year 94,439 124,547 218,986 207,545 Paymants Ministry Grants I Poverty Relief Printing and Stationery Professional Fee8 85,635 6,253 141,935 227.570 6,253 800 146,443 5,964 300 560 Travel Cost8 878 878 Advertl8ing Bank Transfer Charges Total Payments 1,989 818 1,989 818 2,157 96,173 141,935 238,108 156,269 Exce88 of Income over expenditure (1.734) (17.388) (19,122) 51,276 Openlng Fund• 01.01.2023 Closlng funds 31.12.2023 142,511 123,389 Comprlslng: Bank and Cash Balances Conslstlng of - Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 86,914 36,475

Romanian Ministries Charity No: 1159517 Indepcndent Examiner's Report 3 1st December 2023