East Mountain UK Director’s Report May 2022-May 2023
The period of May of 2022 to May of 2023 saw a return to normal ministry life following easing of Covid 19 restrictions, the increase usage of the Shepherd’s Hut retreat space ministry and the launch of a new pilgrimage ministry for East Mountain UK. As a charity team, we began a new year with the King family and saw much growth and integration of these workers in Scotland. We give thanks to God for His goodness to us and for new horizons!
Spring and Summer 2022:
The East Mountain UK community opened the Shepherd’s Hut retreat space in the spring (March) of 2022. By later spring and into the summer, we began to see an increased interest and use for the space. A booking website was launched and Jessica King began managing the bookings and communications for the ministry. As word began to spread, we saw guests coming from as far away as Scotland’s west coast to spend time in the Hut.
The Shepherd’s Hut was also used for East Mountain discipleship and small group meetings. It became a space that community members could go for personal retreat as well as for leading coaching sessions, discipleship sessions and group meetings.
Autumn and Winter 2022:
The King family continued their integration into Scottish life. Jess took on more responsibility with the Shepherd’s Hut management and also contemplated starting a group in her town for mother’s with young children. Vinny worked to develop his business as a joiner/handyman and was engaged in numerous projects. Fiona Mclaughlin developed community liturgy and worship materials.
Kirsten Furr began a group for primary school-aged boys called “Bible time.” Working with classmates of Carlson Furr, she developed a discipleship curriculum to help introduce the Bible to children here who have no church background. We saw one young man, Nathan, give his life to the Lord during this time!
During September, the Furrs had a couple of supporters come to visit, Jim and Donna Gatling, who were interested in supporting the purchase of Whitekirk Church. They were introduced to some of the members of
the Whitekirk NewLife Trust and were excited by the prospect of this potential ministry centre. They decided to donate a very generous $30,000 to the Trust to help make this a reality! The Trust continued to work with the Church of Scotland to see the sale of the property happen. Chris was kept informed of the progress (or lack thereof!).
Winter and Spring 2023:
Through the winter and into the spring, the individual community members worked to develop their own “outflows” of ministry. The East Mountain UK is modelled on a rule of life in community (Eat, Read, Pray, Share, Go). This “Go” piece is the outflow of the life in community that we experience together each week as we meet on Thursdays. All of our “outflow ministries” have a certain flavour that we would name as typically East Mountain UK. This flavour involved ministry to the heart of the individual, soul care, deep discipleship and a ministry of presence. Every single community member evidenced this kind of outflow ministry!
In March, we celebrated the Shepherd’s Hut one year anniversary! As a community, we took time reading through the guest book from the hut. In this book guests write their prayers, thanks and experience in the space. We were moved to tears at how many times we heard how God had met people in powerful ways! The phrase, “this is a thin space!” was written time after time. We took time to thank God for His mercy and to reconsecrate the space for His purposes. We also began to wonder if it might be in our future to build a 2nd hut in another location to be able to host overnight guests.
Chris began official training to become a certified life coach in early 2023. This ongoing process will allow him to better engage pastors, ministers and leaders here in the UK and beyond. He also began a new phase of pilgrimage ministry in May by leading a 6 day walk on the St. Cuthbert Way (70 miles). This route from Melrose in the Scottish Borders to Holy Island in Northumberland offers an exciting ministry pathway of deep discipleship, soul development/care and spiritual formation. Chris tested this out with a young man from the US who was considering joining the EM UK team. They walked the entire St. Cuthbert Way and used a book Chris developed based on the “5 Encounters of Pilgrimage.” The pilgrimage was very successful and served as a template for future walks to come. Chris and Vinny King discussed how Vinny can also be trained to serve on these walks and how can integrate this as part of his own “outflow ministry.”
In conclusion, the year period of May 2022 to May 2023 was one of burgeoning new ministries and deepening development of the EM UK community. We saw God open up new avenues of engagement after the difficult period of the Pandemic and experienced our ministry outflow reach whole new subsets of people here in Scotland and beyond. We are so grateful for His mercy and blessings toward EM UK!
Chris Furr Director, East Mountain UK
24 April 2024
East Mountain UK Registered Charity number 1174595 Accounts 4 May 2022-3 May 2023
| Date: | Details: | In: | Out: | Bank Balance: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| beginning 2022 Balance in Bank | £153.00 | |||
| 4 May22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 9.83 | 162.83 | |
| 6 May22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 9.83 | 172.66 | |
| 24 May22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 29.49 | 202.15 | |
| 30 May22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 29.83 | 231.98 | |
| 7 Jun 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 10.00 | 241.98 | |
| 8 Jun 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 9.83 | 251.81 | |
| 16 Jun 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 10.00 | 261.81 | |
| 23 Jun 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 10.00 | 271.81 | |
| 4 Jul 22 | Direct Donor gift Shepherds Hut |
30.00 | 301.81 | |
| 5 Jul 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 10.00 | 311.81 | |
| 13 Jul 22 | Direct Donor gift Shepherds Hut |
20.00 | 331.81 | |
| 15 Jul 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 15.00 | 346.81 | |
| 8 Aug22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 9.83 | 356.64 | |
| 8 Aug22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 25.00 | 381.64 | |
| 15 Aug 22 | Direct Donor gift Shepherds Hut |
30.00 | 411.64 | |
| 7 Sept 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 10.00 | 421.64 | |
| 21 Sept 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 30.00 | 451.64 | |
| 22 Sept 22 | Direct Donor gift Shepherds Hut |
20.00 | 471.64 | |
| 26 Sept 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 20.00 | 491.64 | |
| 27 Sept 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 15.00 | 506.64 | |
| 7 Oct 22 | Direct Donor gift Shepherds Hut |
50.00 | 556.64 | |
| 18 Oct 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 20.00 | 576.64 | |
| 25 Oct 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 25.00 | 601.64 | |
| 1 Nov 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 5.00 | 606.64 | |
| 3 Nov 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 20.00 | 626.64 | |
| 11 Nov 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 5.00 | 631.64 | |
| 16 Nov 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 20.00 | 651.64 | |
| 29 Nov 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 10.00 | 661.64 | |
| 8 Dec 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 20.00 | 681.64 | |
| 19 Dec 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 26.00 | 707.64 | |
| 29 Dec 22 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 10.00 | 717.64 | |
| 30 Dec 22 | East Mtn Tithe to I Got Shoes | 100.00 | 617.64 | |
| 9 Jan 23 | Direct Donor gift Shepherds Hut |
250.00 | 867.64 | |
| 16 Jan 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 20.00 | 887.64 | |
| 17 Jan 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 10.00 | 897.64 | |
| 23 Jan 23 | Direct Donor gift Shepherds Hut |
30.00 | 927.64 | |
| 3 Feb 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 20.00 | 947.64 | |
| 14 Feb 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 30.00 | 977.64 |
East Mountain UK Registered Charity number 1174595 Accounts 4 May 2022-3 May 2023
| 27 Feb 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 4.92 | 982.56 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 15.00 | 997.56 | |
| 14 Mar 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 5.00 | 1002.56 | |
| 21 Mar 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 9.75 | 1012.31 | |
| 21 Mar 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 48.75 | 1061.06 | |
| 28 Mar 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 19.50 | 1080.56 | |
| 4 Apr 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 29.25 | 1109.81 | |
| 19 Apr 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 20.00 | 1129.81 | |
| 20 Apr 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 19.50 | 1149.31 | |
| 25 Apr 23 | Direct Donor gift Shepherds Hut |
50.00 | 1199.31 | |
| 27 Apr 23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 7.00 | 1206.31 | |
| 3 May23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 9.75 | 1216.06 | |
| 3 May23 | SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | 12.00 | 1228.06 | |
| SumUpPymt Shepherds Hut | ||||
| Totals | £1175.06 | £ 100.00 | £1228.06 |
£1175.06 Income/ Receipts + beginning balance = 1175.06 + 153.00= 1328.06
£100.00 Expenditure in fiscal year 2022-2023 year ending 4 May 2023
There are no loans, or outstanding bills due. Signed by Chair of Trustees
Trustees expenses- £ 0.00 Gift to I Got Shoes charity £ 100.00 UKVI Certificate of Sponsorship £ 0.00
Rev Gary B Seithel 23 April 2024