## **Diss Baptist Church Trustees Report 2020**
_The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV Bible)_
As 2019 drew to a close, there were not many who might have anticipated what God would have in store for Diss Baptist Church (DBC), and indeed the world as a whole, for 2020. But we knew that whatever would happen, God is in control.
We are grateful to God for all his many provisions during the year, spiritual and practical. He also taught us many lessons during this time.
In common with so many others, the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid 19) presented so many challenges and the need for significant adjustments. It also gave us the opportunity to support one another and the community at large during a time when we all felt the strain, stress and in some cases, anxiety! This was a situation that we had never faced before.
## The work of the church and adjusting to a Covid 19 Environment
Lockdown meant that church had to be accessible in very different ways – worship, hearing the Word of God read and preached on, prayer, and even meeting together. _Zoom_ meetings became the new way for us to meet and pray together – not the same, but opening up new opportunities as well as enabling us to work as a New Testament church. Live streaming of services is now the norm, with a range of new skills being developed by the tech team. There have also been new and innovative approaches being developed for provision of music for worship, including video recording by our singers and musicians in the church.
Prayer meetings shifted online and since that began numbers attending are now significantly higher than previously. House groups meeting on Zoom have also carried on throughout the year and they provided teaching, fellowship, support and encouragement during this challenging period.
A key part of the work of the church during 2020 has been the support of church members, members of the congregation and of the local community.
Following the March lockdown, the vast majority of the activities in church went on hold – including Sunday School & Bible Class, Parent & Toddler group, Jam (5– 10-year-olds), Jam + (10-14), Oasis (14+), Seniors’ Lunches, Coffee Stop (drop in), Friends & Neighbours. A few activities have had some online provision.
Events at the Taylor Road Community Room also had to be curtailed, but we are very hopeful that this element of the work will be able to continue soon.
In all, there are around 40 volunteers from DBC who contribute to the very varied work at the church. Alongside them are so many who support the work with their prayers and encouragement. This is very much a team effort which relies entirely upon God to work in and through us all.
Once it was possible to open up again to _in person_ services, we then faced the challenge of making the church environment Covid secure – a major task that was refined as time went on. Thank you to all who were involved in enabling this to happen.
Members of the congregation responded to appeals from the Waveney Food Bank, as regular Covid secure collections took place during the year to help those in the community in great need.
## A new initiative
At the end of 2019 DBC took a very significant step in extending the gospel outreach work of the church. A pastor for Community and Families was to be appointed, initially on a two-year contract. The post was to be partially funded by Grace Baptist Partnership, as the role would also involve leading on church planting development in South Norfolk. God was leading us in an exciting new way. The focus of the new pastor (who began work in June 2020) is on a particular area of Diss and work has begun in building upon existing connections, but also developing new ones. Innovative ways have been used to show the people in this area that God loves them and that we are here to support them. We are looking forward to seeing what God is going to be doing in the coming year.
## Organisation and fnance
Twenty-twenty saw the culmination of the work of consolidation of the charities associated with the church into the Diss Baptist Church Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Following an extensive period of preparation, the amalgamation of the three church charities has taken place and all assets have been transferred to the church CIO.
Financial provision – we have been very thankful to God for his provision during the year, as church income from collections and online giving (excluding gift aid and legacies) increased by 43%. We are very grateful for the generosity of the congregation. This has come at time when the church has taken on the additional pastoral worker – this has been assisted by grant funding from Grace Baptist Partnership. As we move forward church expenditure is budgeted to increase further as we seek to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
## Challenges for the future
1. Outreach to the local communities that the church is part of with the ongoing work of the church and new initiatives in carrying out the work that God has given Diss Baptist Church.
2. Seeking a new location and facilities that provide a base for assisting the church in serving God and our communities in the 21[st] century.
3. Resetting the work after the end of lockdown.
_Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,[21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen._
_Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV Bible)_
_The Trustees, Diss Baptist Church, October 2021_
## **Diss Baptist Church Income and Expenses January - December 2020**
|**Income**
**Cash/Cheques/Standing Orders**
**Gift Aid**
**GASD Tax Reclaimed**
**Gift Aid Tax Reclaimed**
**Total Gift Aid**
**Interest Rcd**
**Sundry Income**
**Jam Money**
**Mission Donations For**
**Waveney Food Bank**
**London City Mission**
**Barnabas Fund**
**Total Mission Donations For**
**Restricted for**
**Welfare**
**Sizewell Weekend**
**JDF**
**Alterations/Additions Etc**
**Total Restricted for**
**Total Income**
**Expenses**
**Salary & Expenses**
**Salary Tax NI**
**Pension Cont**
**Mileage & Expenses**
**Conference Fees**
**Guest Preachers**
**Total Salary & Expenses**
**Manse**
**Repairs & Maintenance**
**Council Tax / Water Etc.**
**Insurance - Building**
**Total Manse**
**Church**
**Repairs & Maintenance**
**Visual/Audio**
**Cleaning**
**Gas & Electricity**
**Water Rates**
**Fixtures & Fittings**
**Insurance**
**Total Church**|**Total**|
|---|---|
||66,891.18
1,250.00
7,280.86|
||**£ 8,530.86**
215.56
2,002.64
257.80
250.00
175.00
160.00|
||**£ 585.00**
1,000.00
0.00
7,160.00
200.00|
||**£ 8,360.00**|
||**£ 86,843.04**|
||38,875.35
3,271.44
1,975.01
180.00
600.00|
||**£ 44,901.80**
248.00
2,615.45
355.15|
||**£ 3,218.60**
593.24
2,432.81
753.51
4,076.40
115.15
38.95
1,458.81|
||**£ 9,468.87**|
|**Administration**
**Accountancy Fees**
**Books & Literature**
**General Catering**
**Health & Safety**
**Pastoral Care**
**Professional Fees**
**Publicity**
**Stationery & Office Supplies**
**Subscriptions**
**Telephone & Broadband**
**Training**
**Website/Internet**
**Total Administration**
**Activity Expenses**
**Outreach**
**Ladies Bible Study**
**Online Outereach**
**Taylor Road**
**Various Outreach**
**Residentials**
**Total Outreach**
**Youth**
**Basement**
**Jam**
**Jam+**
**Sunday School**
**Total Youth**
**Total Activity Expenses**
**Mission - Donations To**
**Asia Link**
**Grace Baptist P/Ship**
**Waveney Food Bank**
**London City Mission**
**Barnabas Fund**
**Total Mission - Donations To**
**Restricted to**
**Welfare**
**Sizewell**
**JDF**
**Total Restricted to**
**Total Expenses**
**Net Income**|635.00
249.52
92.12
278.35
248.72
2,800.40
67.20
691.11
827.27
385.79
510.00
33.11|
|---|---|
||**£ 6,818.59**
90.40
3,455.76
756.14
300.00
0.00|
||**£ 4,602.30**
88.14
258.33
338.70
59.02|
||**£ 744.19**|
||**£ 5,346.49**
550.00
1,636.00
250.00
725.00
160.00|
||**£ 3,321.00**
1,000.00
0.00
190.00|
||**£ 1,190.00**|
||**£ 74,265.35**|
|||
||**£ 12,577.69**|
Saturday, Jun 12, 2021 02:21:07 pm GMT+1 - Cash Basis
## **Diss Baptist Church Statement of Assets & Liabilities As of December 31, 2020**
|**Fixed Assets**
Church & Pemises
Manse
Fixtures / Furniture / Equipment
**Total Fixed Assets**
**Current Assets**
Current Account
Savings Account
Business Prem: Account
Cash in Hand
**Total Current Assets**
**Total Assets**
**Less Current Liabilities**
Deposits held for Sizewell
**Total**
**Funds**
Unrestricted Fund
Restricted Fund
Capital Fund
**Total Funds**|400,000
350,000
20,000
**770,000** *Resale Value
10,973
36,024
20,001
**66,998**
**836,998**
-1,025
**835,973**
65,673
300
770,000
**835,973**|
|---|---|
## **Notes**
These accounts have been prepared under the "Receipts & Payments basis.
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Diss Baptist Church**
## **Charity No. 1181369**
## **Year Ended 31[st] December 2020**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Diss Baptist ('the charity') for the year ended 31[st] December 2020.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.
I report in respect of my examination of the 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 145(5)(b) of the Act
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Signed: Date:** 28[th] April 2021
**Name:** Johanne Thomas, FICB PM.Dip
**Relevant profession qualifications or body (if any):** Institute of Certified Bookkeepers 122-126 Tooley Street London, SE1 2TU
Proprietor: Johanne Thomas FICB PM.Dip 8 Robin Close, Stowmarket, IP14 5NG T: 01449 490010 E: jo@boaservices.co.uk
_Licensed and regulated by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) and supervised under Money Laundering Regulations 2007_