## **Draft Trustees Annual Report**
## **Romanian Ministries**
## **Charity number 1159517**
## **1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024**
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 2024. Also, in the last two years, we have extended our assistance to include widows and parents of soldiers killed in the Ukrainian / Russian war.
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 lands of Romania and the Ukraine.
We view ourselves as a conspicuously Christian enterprise and see our work as the active expression 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|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 principally but not exclusively 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 principally but not exclusively 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 **£241,346** (2023 - £218,986). Of this, **£146,289** was in the form of specifically ringfenced donations (2023 - £124,547). Expenditure equalled **£286,138** (2023£238,108). This resulted in a deficit for the year of £44,792 (in 2023 deficit £19,122).
We thank our Lord Jesus Christ both for donations received and for outgoings made possible by accumulated funds. The annual deficit once again was attributable to one-off costs relating to the construction of our home for abandoned children. This premises is nearing completion at the time of writing (August 2025).
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, payments during the year amounting to £72,017 (2023 - £66,680). Although a little short of the total funds needed, the staff we sought to help 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. Of the 2024 donations, £15,000 was received from a Christian charitable trust towards a new hospice building currently under construction, for which we were deeply grateful.
- **Ukrainian Refugees –** following on from our previous year’s activities in the Ukraine, our focus in 2024 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 2024. In 2024 donations gratefully received permitted a significant expansion of the work so that it included 65 families and also monthly evangelistic suppers. Total giving for the year amounted to £32,211 (2023 - £18,012).
- **Village Evangelism** – we were grateful to help Viorel Rete in his work in two small villages north of Cluj. His ministry consisted of regular preaching, pastoral visiting and also a summer camp in these most rural locations. Expenditure in 2024 equalled £1,027 (2023 -£5,575).
- **Abandoned Children** – our primary focus in relation to this area of ministry remains the construction of a home for abandoned children near the city of Arad. Eventually, Lord-willing, this premises will welcome 12 abandoned children, as close to infancy as possible, in a distinctively Christian environment. Capital outlay costs have been significant, with expenditure in 2024 equalling £78,660 (2023 - £79,050). We anticipate the completion of the home in the latter months of 2025, the Local Authority having committed itself to funding running costs once complete.
- **Mission Outreach** continued in Scornicesti, the town where the communist ex-leader of Romania, Nicolai Ceausescu, was born and raised. Iosif Varan serves in a range of evangelistic activities and church work, our sponsorship of him in 2024 amounting to £4,955 (2023 – 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. We have discussed with Dani the possibility of extending this ministry to 3 disused tower blocks in Hunedoara, currently home to approximately 700 gypsy people.
- **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 parents’ excursions. Total gifts in 2024 equalled £7,000 (2023 - £5,600).
- **Cancer Patients, low price accommodation** – this is provided to patients undergoing treatment in the city of Cluj, as 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 2024 sought to favour assistance in the latter cases. The total given was £6,000 (2023 - £7,000).
- **Poor Pastors Sponsorship –** supplementing salaries which fall below subsistence level, most especially that of Pastor Sorin Sarbu in the village of Draut (£605 in 2024)
- **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 (£2,722 in 2023 - £2,535). Late in the year we broached the subject with Sammy of his receiving a part time sponsorship from Romanian Ministries to extend his work. This was agreed to, and commenced in January 2025.
- **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 (2024 - £7,210; in 2023 - £6,500).
- **Prison Ministry** – this joyfully continued during the year through Cosmin Ghirghiu and his team. Cosmin himself now has 30 years of experience in this ministry, and his work extends to 6 prisons. He and his team run Bible study courses, evangelistic meetings, vocational training and family days, all with a clear Christian emphasis. Our help was directed mainly towards part-sponsoring one of Cosmin’s staff and also family days at Cluj prison, at a cost of £6,000 (2023 - £5,000).
- **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 (2024 - £3,500; 2023 - £3,500).
- **Youth Camps** – we were so glad to be able to continue our involvement in this important annual outreach activity. We especially prioritised where possible the support of children who would otherwise not be able to attend. We helped four camps during the year at a total cost of £3,197.
- **Christian Literature –** we were approached during the year by preacher and youth worker Daniel Cojita with a request for funding for 700 copies of Rebecca Mcloughlin’s book _Confronting Christianity_ . This is an apologetics masterclass, answering 12 of the most difficult questions Christians are asked by the outside world. We were very glad to assist with £3,500 for this, the books seeing a wide distribution among Christian and non Christian youth and adults.
- **Bible College Students** – after a break of some years, with much joy we recommenced support in this area, helping three young men in their Bible College studies. Two of them came with especial recommendations from their professors, and yet were facing potential withdrawal from their studies due to financial difficulties. We were glad to help with £2,125 of sponsorship.
- **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 2024 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 Number 1159517**
## **Draft Receipts and Payment Account**
## **01.01.2024 – 31.12.2024**
|**Receipts**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**Total**
**Funds 2024**
**£**
**Total 2023**
Donations and Gifts
78,970
146,829
225,799
205,947
Gift Aid Reimbursements
5,392
10,155
15,547
13,039
Total Income for Year
84,362
156,984
241,346
218,986
**Payments**
Ministry Grants / Poverty Relief
115,155
161,892
277,047
227,570
Printing Postage and Stationery
6,291
0
6,291
6,253
Professional Fees
0
0
0
600
Petrol Reimbursements
875
0
875
878
Travel Costs
1,375
0
1375
1,989
Bank Transfer Costs
550
0
550
818
124,246
161,892
286,138
238,108
Excess of Income over expenditure
(39,884)
(4,908)
(44,792)
(19,122)
**Opening Funds 01.01.2021**
£123,389
**Closing Funds 31.12.2021**
£78,597
**Consisting of**:
Unrestricted Funds
£47,030
Restricted Funds
£31,567||**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**Total**
**Funds 2024**
**£**
**Total 2023**
78,970
146,829
225,799
205,947
5,392
10,155
15,547
13,039|
|---|---|---|
|||84,362
156,984
241,346
218,986
115,155
161,892
277,047
227,570
6,291
0
6,291
6,253
0
0
0
600
875
0
875
878
1,375
0
1375
1,989
550
0
550
818|
|||124,246
161,892
286,138
238,108|
Romanian Ministries
Charity No: 1159517
Independent Examiner's Report
31" December 2024
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examinerfs Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Romanian Ministries
On accounts for the year
ended
31$1 December 2024
Charity no
lif any)
1159517
Set out on pages
I report lo the trustees on my examinalion of the accounts of the above
chanty {"the Trust.) for the year ended 31112 12024.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the reqU1MentS of the Charities Act
2011 1.the Acl").
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 14515)(bl 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 lo believe that in, any material respect..
accounting records were not kept in accordance with sedion 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Independent
examiner's statement
I have no concerns and have wme across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable
proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached.
Signed:
Date:
28th October 2025
Name:
Scott Canning MMT
Relevant professional
qualificationls) or body
{if any):
Association of Accounting Technicians
Address:
10 Meadow Street. Avonmouth
Bristol
BS11 9AR
IER
October 2018
Romanian Ministries
Charity Number 1159517
Recelpts and Payment Account
01.01.2024- 31.112024
Re¢elpts
Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
Total Funds
2024
Total
2023
Donations and Gifts
78.979
147.329
10.155
225,808
15,547
205,947
13,039
Gift Reimbursements
Totsl Income for year
84.371
157,484
241,355
218,986
Payments
Ministy Grants I Poverty Relief
Prints'ng and Stationery
Professional Fees
116,255
8,140
160.030
276,285
6.140
227,570
6,253
Travel Costs
878
Advertising
Bank Transfer Charges
Total Payments
1.790
1.790
"1,989
818
126,204
160,030
286,234
238.108
Excess of Incorne over eXPrtUre
(42,333)
(2,546)
(44,879)
(19,122)
Openlng Funds 01.01.2024
Closing fvnds 31.112024
123.389
78.510
Comprising:
Bank and Cash Balances
Consisting of -
Unrestricted funds
Restrtcted funds
44,581
33.929
Romanian Ministries
Charity No: 1159517
Independent Examiner's Report
31" December 2024
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examinerfs Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Romanian Ministries
On accounts for the year
ended
31$1 December 2024
Charity no
lif any)
1159517
Set out on pages
I report lo the trustees on my examinalion of the accounts of the above
chanty {"the Trust.) for the year ended 31112 12024.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the reqU1MentS of the Charities Act
2011 1.the Acl").
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 14515)(bl 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 lo believe that in, any material respect..
accounting records were not kept in accordance with sedion 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Independent
examiner's statement
I have no concerns and have wme across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable
proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached.
Signed:
Date:
28th October 2025
Name:
Scott Canning MMT
Relevant professional
qualificationls) or body
{if any):
Association of Accounting Technicians
Address:
10 Meadow Street. Avonmouth
Bristol
BS11 9AR
IER
October 2018
Romanian Ministries
Charity Number 1159517
Recelpts and Payment Account
01.01.2024- 31.112024
Re¢elpts
Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
Total Funds
2024
Total
2023
Donations and Gifts
78.979
147.329
10.155
225,808
15,547
205,947
13,039
Gift Reimbursements
Totsl Income for year
84.371
157,484
241,355
218,986
Payments
Ministy Grants I Poverty Relief
Prints'ng and Stationery
Professional Fees
116,255
8,140
160.030
276,285
6.140
227,570
6,253
Travel Costs
878
Advertising
Bank Transfer Charges
Total Payments
1.790
1.790
"1,989
818
126,204
160,030
286,234
238.108
Excess of Incorne over eXPrtUre
(42,333)
(2,546)
(44,879)
(19,122)
Openlng Funds 01.01.2024
Closing fvnds 31.112024
123.389
78.510
Comprising:
Bank and Cash Balances
Consisting of -
Unrestricted funds
Restrtcted funds
44,581
33.929