2020-12-31-accounts

Annual Report Narrative Portion

1 January 2020 - 31 December 2020

Submitted by

Rev. John Robinson, Chairman Board of Trustees

and

General Director

1

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC BENEFIT1:

The Charitable Aims of Linguæ Christi (hereafter, LC) are “The advancement of Christian faith in such ways as the Charity Trustees may from time to time decide.”

LC believe that the Christian Faith is inherently of public benefit, both to the individual in spiritual and emotional development and to the community at large, when the teachings of Jesus related to loving and serving one’s neighbours and the world are applied in earnest, through the process of personal discipleship and corporate worship, service, and missions.

Toward the fulfilment both of our charitable aims and public benefit, LC has a distinctly missionary character, exhibited in the propagation of the Christian Gospel message to those who have not accessed or received it, the nurturing of new believers in Christ through discipleship and community, and the encouragement and strengthening of existing believers through cooperation and mutual assistance.

LC seek to manifest this missionary mandate through focus on ethnolinguistic people groups within the greater European context , namely those communities who speak one of the minority, indigenous (autochthonous) languages. This focus affects the work of LC within the UK in two ways: (1) a direct approach to evangelism among such people groups within the UK itself, which would include but not be limited to Welsh speakers, Scottish Gaelic speakers, Cornish speakers, Scots speakers, Irish Gaelic speakers, Ulster Scots speakers, and Manx Gaelic speakers; and (2) mobilise believers from the UK, particularly those from the language groups mentioned above, to participate in LC’s mission efforts, coordinated from our headquarters in North Wales, among similar autochthonous language groups in other parts of Europe/Eurasia. A more thorough understanding of the vision and missiology of LC in this regard is available in our introductory paper, which is available upon request.

The details of LC’s activities to these ends are included in the following information, regarding the charity’s activities during this specific reporting period, namely 1 January - 31 December 2020.

PREFACE: EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

As with everyone else in both Wales and the world, the COVID-19 Pandemic brought about extensive disruption to pretty much all of our plans and activities for the vast majority of the time during this reporting year (2020). Consequently, the report will be shorter than previous reports, and the COVID-19 Pandemic will hereafter be referred to simply as “the Pandemic.”

1 This introductory segment is static, remaining the same from year to year.

2

ACTIVITIES DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD:

The following is a bullet-point description of some of the most important activities of LC during this reporting period. These items will be organised into three primary categories: (1) Trustee Matters; (2) Networking, Partnership, and Training; (3) Specific Projects and Direct Involvement, and (4) Future Plans and Initiatives.

• (1) Trustee Matters. * During this reporting period, the Trustees met a total of four times on the

• following dates:

• 20 January

• 4 June

• 26 October

• 18 December

All meetings were conducted via video conferencing due to the Pandemic restrictions and distance between Trustees (for 20 January meeting).

• (2) Networking, Partnership, and Training.

• We continue to develop our social media and on-line presence2.

• Regarding the work of developing relationships and ministry partnerships with national believers from these language groups, due to the Pandemic the General Director (GD) was not able to take many site visits to various areas in Europe for ongoing discussions, related to the possibility of mobilisation and partnership on-field with various missions initiatives, even though several such projects were planned prior to the Pandemic. The following are some of the locations visited or intended to visit (though later cancelled due to the Pandemic) and the languages or language groups specifically covered in those discussions:

• Luxembourg. Prior to 2020, we were contacted by some Christians in Luxembourg regarding the possibility of knowing more about our mission focus on speakers of indigenous minority languages. They were involved extensively with the new translation of the New Testament into modern Luxembourgish. The GD was able to arrange a visit with these Luxembourgish contacts in early January 2020 and in conjunction with another training meeting in Germany. This initial time of conversation was very productive, and it was decided that ongoing contact should be maintained toward the development of more partnership opportunities for mission through Luxembourgish. These discussions were then on hold for the rest of this reporting period due to issues related to the Pandemic.

• Estonia/Finland/Russia. In October 2020, a trip was planned to meet with partners and potential partners in Estonia and Finland regarding mission work among speakers of Uralic languages both in those areas but more particularly in Russia. Unfortunately, this meeting was cancelled due to the Pandemic. Some ongoing communication continued via electronic means.

2 This item is the same as in the 2019 report, as this activity is long-term and ongoing.

3

• Spain. The GD was invited to attend and speak to a Conference of Baptist pastors in Catalunya in Spring 2020, regarding Catalan-language evangelism and Church planting. This meeting was cancelled due to the Pandemic. A yearly trip (November 2020) was planned to meet with partners and potential partners in Galicia (Galician language), the Basque Country (Basque language), and Catalunya (Catalan language). This meeting was cancelled due to the Pandemic.

• Italy. During July-September 2020, there was a window of opportunity afforded by a loosening of travel restrictions to the Continent. During this time (late August to early September), the GD was able to visit with previously established contacts in the area of South Tirol in Northern Italy, which is the primary location of speakers of Dolomitic Ladin. This visit was a continuation of previous conversations and meetings from a visit to the area in 2018. The discussions were very productive resulting in a decision to develop a mission/Church-planting strategy for Dolomitic Ladin speakers, as a partnership initiative. Unfortunately, many of these plans have been on hold through the remainder of 2020, due to ongoing restrictions related to the Pandemic, which resumed and intensified from Autumn 2020 on.

• We have continued, enhanced and deepened more partnership relationships, particularly with Greater Europe Mission (GEM) and Go Send Me Global (GSMG) for processing personnel and other points of cooperation with Christians in North America. These developments have been ongoing and continue from the previous year3. The GD was able to participate in a training programme sponsored by GEM for those working with their summer internship programme. The training programme was held in Frankfurt in one of the offices of GEM.

• In terms of mobilising potential volunteers, medium-term and long-term personnel in all areas of our ministry, many of the usual paths open to us in this regard were not available to us due to restrictions related to the Pandemic. We were able to develop in partnership with an American Church a virtual, one-hour Missions Conference, which explained more about our vision and mission for potential, international partners.

• The GD was able to attend a training event sponsored by the European Leadership Foundation, which was available via ZOOM during 23-27 May 2020.

(3) Specific Projects and Direct Involvement. * During the first quarter of 2020, individual associates and personnel with LC are involved in innumerable ministry activities as members of local Welsh-speaking congregations, as well as evangelism interactions on a daily basis4. However, from March 2020 until the end of the reporting period many of these live (in-person) opportunities were not possible. In those cases, personnel use virtual means available to them.

• During the first quarter 2020, LC representatives serve numerous local, Welshspeaking Chapels with pulpit supply in scheduled and emergency situations5. Some of

3 This item is the same as in the 2019 report, as this activity is long-term and ongoing.

4 This item is the same as in the 2019 report, as this activity is long-term and ongoing.

5 This item is the same as in the 2019 report, as this activity is long-term and ongoing.

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these opportunities continued after the initial lockdown, but not in-person but through ZOOM and pre-recording sermons on video.

• LC personnel had started and run a local children’s club in the Dyffryn Nantlle area during the school term time6. This programme continued until the initial lockdown in March. When it was no longer able to meet in person, some attempt at a virtual club was attempted but did not proceed.

• Unfortunately, due to the restrictions resulting from the Pandemic, we were unable to proceed with our usual projects during the summer months both in Wales and other locations across Europe.

• During this year, LC created a special relationship with one of our missionary families serving in the Basque Country, Daniel and Martu Scott, to assist their ministry among Basque speakers through our partnership with Kale Argia in two primary ways: (1) processing donations for the family’s missionary support through contract work, and (2) providing occasional grants for printed materials and other resources in order to assist them with the work of evangelisation and Church planting. Please, refer to the financial section of this report for more information.

(4) Future Plans and Initiatives. For 2021 and beyond, LC would like to move forward with plans and initiatives in the following broad categories7.

(A) Local Ministry8. The Associates with LC are committed to ongoing efforts and activities related to local ministries, particularly in Northwest Wales, which would include but not be confined to the areas of evangelism, encouraging local believers, discipleship, ministry, and Church planting.

(B) Recruitment9. LC remain committed to numerical growth of serving Associates in local missions service as well as contributing expertise to broader organisational needs. In terms of Affinity groups, this would of course include the Celtic Languages Affinity Group, where LC currently have personnel, serving with Welsh speakers in North Wales. However, it is LC’s intention to enlist and place personnel in more Linguistic Affinity Groups.

(i) Students10. One area of emphasis for short-term and medium-term projects is in utilising University students, who are Christians, in specific projects. These short-term and medium-term projects often produce longer-term personnel (see below). To this end, we are moving forward with three specific initiatives:

(1) Attending Conferences, Events, and Missions Emphases to recruit actively for new students.

6 This item is the same as in the 2019 report, as this activity is long-term and ongoing.

7 This entire final section (Section 4) is the same as that for 2019, as all items are long-term projects and initiatives with ongoing engagement and development.

8 Due to the long-term nature of this goal and the disruptions caused by the Pandemic during 2020, this goal will be carried over into 2021.

9 Due to the long-term nature of this goal and the disruptions caused by the Pandemic during 2020, this goal will be carried over into 2021.

10 Due to the long-term nature of this goal and the disruptions caused by the Pandemic during 2020, this goal will be carried over into 2021.

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(2) Doing more recruiting in new areas, particularly in the UK and Europe and more specifically with Christian students already from one of these minority linguistic communities.

(3) Diversifying project opportunities into more Linguistic Affinity

Group Areas.

(C) Partnership/Networking11. LC have made some good initial contacts in expanding our presence in Linguistic Affinity Groups outside of the Celtic languages. The following are possibilities for ongoing conversation and networking toward the goal of partnership and cooperation.

(i) Ibero-Romance Languages12. LC have had some good initial conversations with believers in the Basque and Galician languages communities in Spain and to a lesser extent, Catalan speakers. LC would like to continue and augment these discussions and make more active and new connections in the Catalan-speaking community.

(ii) Uralic Languages13. Some good initial connections were made with believers involved with Uralic minority languages, particularly in Russia. LC would like to move these conversations forward to more formal partnership relationships and jointprojects.

(iii) Other Languages14. LC would like to move forward with new inroads to at least 2 or 3 other Linguistic Affinity Groups. Some initial contacts have already been made with speakers within the Italo-Romance Languages Affinity Group, which have good promise to be advanced. LC would like to make some initial contacts in other Affinity Groups.

(D) Research and Training15. LC remain committed to careful research on these languages and communities, assimilating this information and knowledge into our missions and ministry plans and objectives. This would include taking advantage of both Christian and secular conferences and training events with a focus on these languages and communities, and innovative methods for propagation of the Christian Gospel among them.

SPECIAL ADDENDUM RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS 2021

Although this report covers the period of 1 January - 31 December 2020, it is prepared and submitted in 2021 with hindsight afforded by the reality of the

11 Due to the long-term nature of this goal and the disruptions caused by the Pandemic during 2020, this goal will be carried over into 2021.

12 Due to the long-term nature of this goal and the disruptions caused by the Pandemic during 2020, this goal will be carried over into 2021.

13 Due to the long-term nature of this goal and the disruptions caused by the Pandemic during 2020, this goal will be carried over into 2021.

14 Due to the long-term nature of this goal and the disruptions caused by the Pandemic during 2020, this goal will be carried over into 2021.

15 Due to the long-term nature of this goal and the disruptions caused by the Pandemic during 2020, this goal will be carried over into 2021.

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Coronavirus Pandemic, which endured for most of 2020 but continues into 2021 in many areas and domains.

The realities of the Pandemic in 2020-2021 have, in fact, altered profoundly the proposals, plans, and initiatives which we formulated and articulated in 2020 for the following, namely this year (2021). The Report for 2021, which will be prepared and submitted in 2022, will outline in more detail the ongoing effects of the Pandemic on implementation of strategy, initiatives and the Charity’s activities, which greatly differed and diverged from the plans the Charity made in 2020 for 2021. Furthermore, the 2020 Report will be prepared with benefit of the full perspective from the completed period of time between 1 January and 31 December 2020.

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31 Dec 2020

Balance Sheet

Linguæ Christi As at 31 December 2020

Assets

Assets	31 Dec 2020
Bank
Linguae Christi	25,214
Petty Cash - Euro	473 1
Transferwise US Dollar Account	4,979 1
Total Bank	30,667
Current Assets
Accounts Receivable	2,278 1
Reversed Payments	(22)
Total Current Assets	2,256
Total Assets	32,922

Liabilities

Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable	889
Historical Adjustment	-
Rounding	-
VAT	(203)
Total Current Liabilities	687
Total Liabilities	687
Net Assets	32,236
Equity
Current Year Earnings	9,568
Restricted Assets	495
Retained Earnings	21,407
Unrestricted Assets	766
Total Equity	32,236

Notes

1

Figures converted into British Pound using the following rates:

• 1.12022 EUR Euro per GBP. Rate provided by XE.com on 31 Dec 2020.

• 1.36638 USD United States Dollar per GBP. Rate provided by XE.com on 31 Dec 2020.

Balance Sheet | Linguæ Christi | 19 October 2021

Page 1 of 1

Profit and Loss

Linguæ Christi

For the year ended 31 December 2020

Profit and Loss Linguæ Christi For the year ended 31 December 2020
	2020
Turnover
Donation Income - Restricted	23,078.38
Donation Income - Unrestricted	8,280.53
Total Turnover	31,358.91
Cost of Sales
Direct Expenses	12,000.00
Total Cost of Sales	12,000.00
Gross Profit	19,358.91
Administrative Costs
Advertising & Marketing	45.41
Audit & Accountancy fees	324.00
Bank Fees	103.62
Bank Revaluations	(107.41)
Conferences	20.00
Gifts/Honorariums	1,206.78
Housing	2,980.47
IT Software and Consumables	866.72
Meals/Food	85.50
Office Supplies	41.00
Postage, Freight & Courier	1,365.12
Printing & Stationery	596.65
Realised Currency Gains	27.00
Subscriptions	279.00
Supplies	195.61
Travel	1,744.97
Unrealised Currency Gains	16.72
Total Administrative Costs	9,791.16
Operating Profit	9,567.75
Profit on Ordinary Activities Before Taxation	9,567.75
Profit after Taxation	9,567.75

Profit and Loss

Linguæ Christi

Rev. Dr. Rhys Lwd Maen Gwn - Flordd Fictoria - Caemarfon- Gwynadd - LLSS 2RH 07834 556202 . [kn¥&@G￿ To ￿Orn it may concorn: Independent examiner's report for Ihe 2020 Annual Report of the Charity known as 'Linguae Christi,. Havlng revIe￿d the accounts and sean that their gross income 1$ rmre than £25,CW. but not re Ihan £1 million l am happy that a full audit is not fequired and that an independént èxaminer's raport will sufficiently be abie to l¢)ok ov9r the Charity's ac￿Unt and operations. I confirm that l am a suitable person to provide this independent report b&causg of my expeiience as an officer of similar charities working In the 5arrE sector. Mainly.. My role in tho preparation of the annual report for the Charity known as Ca¢rsalem Church Caernarfon (Charty number.. 502317) for several years. My ro16 on the nwnagement board of the d)arty known as Y Coleg Gwyn (Charity number.. 525779). My role as superintendent of Cymanfa Bedyddwr Arfon, ￿lch is not a charity but Church Organizat￿)n managing an investment portfolio of ovèr £250k to invest in Christian rrinistry. This being my third yoar seNing as their independent exa￿￿ner I have gained a botter understanding of Linguae Chri5ti's operation. Because of ry involvement in thè three organvzations named above which work in the sa field as Linguae Christi l am well placgd to examine thè account and judge rf the operations of thg Gharity are in line wth it's said aims. I havo also read and understood the Charty cOn￿ls510n,S Directions and guidance. Having reviewed the accounts of Linguae Christl, rèad their written statgment of activities durrng the accounting period and conveised wlh their officers about varSous nRtters, includlng howtho ongoing Pandemic is and ￿11 effoct their work. nothing that raises any concern has ￿me to my attenllon. They have shown good practise that is in accijrdance with the Charities Act 2011. Yours, R¢v. Dr. Rhys Llwd DATE: