Together In One Accord
Registered Charity Number 1187052 Trustee Annual Report – Year end September 2023
Aim and Purposes
Together in One Accord is a partnership-based organisation, grown relationally through mutual objectives and activities aimed at proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and strengthening churches in their mission and ministry praxis while serving congregants and the wider communities of faith or not, through the love and power of God. We achieve this purpose through our five all-encompassing goals, namely; the work and networking efforts of the River International Christian Fellowship of churches (River-ICF), prayer forums, leadership development programmes, evangelism outreach and mission mobilisation through different interest groups and partnerships. Our ultimate aim is to see God’s Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, bringing salvation, blessing, healing, peace, justice and freedom to all nations.
Objectives, Activities and Performance
In planning the activities of the organisation, the Trustees were mindful of the CIO’s objects and had regard to the Charities Commission guidance on public benefit in the advancement of religion and the prevention or relief of poverty.
1. Handing over of the River Church Yate :
After assessing the development of the River Church as a church plant in Yate over a considered period of 5 years, the trustees concluded the apostolic foundations of the church had been adequately laid and the local congregation was sufficiently matured to go on with the local leaders that had been raised. The trustees thus decided it would be in the best interest of the local church to continue its work autonomously. The River Unincorporated Association as a new charitable structure, independent of Together in One Accord or the River-ICF network of churches was formed, under the lead elders Richard and Claire Wallis and the Apostolic covering of Ed Silvoso of the Ekklesia Network. On 14[th] of May 2023, the trustees resolved to donate all the functioning equipment, materials and supplies necessary to continue the work of the church, to a listed value of £4,564 (Four thousand, five hundred and sixty-four pounds). Included in this amount, £2,490 (Two thousand, four hundred and ninety pounds) are tangible assets given to the new UK charity, the River Unincorporated Association.
2. Yate Community Events
Revival meetings: During this reporting period, besides the Sunday morning worship and communion service offered in the Cranleigh Court Chapel in Yate, Encounter meetings from October 2022 – March 2023, on Sunday evenings the trustees ran a series of Holy Spirit Revival meetings for the wide church in Yate and Bristol.
Conferences : During this period, to promote church growth and increase community outreach the trustees opted to put on two major conferences: “The Holy Spirit my friend” in November 2022 with Ps Jim Reimer from Portugal and “Activate the Kingdom of God” in March 2023 with Ps Fred Kropp from the USA.
Pop-up nativity : The trustees, Women of Faith and other volunteers once again worked together to put on a memorable fun and craft-filled afternoon celebrating the birth of Jesus. The trustees were pleased the event blessed the community and were grateful for promoting the charity’s objectives.
River Bible Academy (RBA) : The Matthew 24, 40-hour course intended as group study offered to all the churches in Yate and Bristol was concluded in December 2022. On assessing their focussed efforts in the Bristol region over a period of 5 years, the trustees decided no further courses would be developed for the next period as the local church’s new vision was discipleship within homegroups.
Unlike previous periods, in this reporting period, the trustees allocated more of charity’s resources into community events at a sum of £898 for direct expenses, £567 in printed manuals and materials and £197 advertising. Extra equipment was also needed and improvements were done to the building and furnishings as the Cranleigh Court Chapel in Yate was used as the Conference venue.
3. Evangelism and poverty relief in Cambodia :
Bethel Mission Organization (BMO) in Cambodia was our lead partnering organization this period. They continue to target families living in the slums of Phnom Phen by planting churches among these impoverished communities and through the church they establish the support services necessary to raise the quality of life through education and training, to upskill these marginalised people, some of whom are second-generation slum-born, with no prospects. BMO understands the church is the place where a new generation of strong leaders can be developed. Thus, beyond the necessary spiritual formation and support, they offer children and youth language studies in Khmer and English, numeracy and IT literacy classes, along with soft lifeskills, job seeking skills and entrepreneurship courses. The trustees were pleased to contribute £1,730 towards sustaining the work of this most worthy cause.
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4. Other evangelistic and church planting efforts :
During this reporting period, the trustees contributed £427 towards worldwide evangelism through As You Go Ministries, USA.
Capacity building in Portugal in ministering to and encouraging the house churches, supporting evangelism, pastoring and supporting believers continued. A new relationship with Vida Sobrenatural in Aveiro is forming with great potential for the future. The trustees remain committed to further developing training and resources to equip foreign leaders in the Portuguese language.
Financial Review
In its fourth year of operation, Together in One Accord had a Gross Income of £14,452 for the year and effectively released a fully functioning and established local church in Yate, equipped with donated goods to the value of £4,564, to a new unincorporated charitable organisation, the River Association. As already mentioned, £2,490 of the £2,590 UK Charitable Contributions form part of the donated goods to the River Association. To enhance the presence of the church, two major conferences with overseas speakers were also held increasing expenditure substantially if compared to previous years when all preaching and teaching was done inhouse and by the trustees. Our total expenditure was £21,796 which surpasses our income by £7,345 but reserves were in place to cover this course of action, which the trustees decided was appropriate.
The grant funding policy remained unchanged and the trustees continue to practice sound governance and management measures to ensure the optimum impact to all our beneficiaries. For this reporting period, no further policies were deemed necessary, as activities remained unaltered and no further risks were identified.
Trustee Report Acceptance
The trustees have reviewed the Charitable and Financial Activities Reports and are satisfied it is a fair and true reflection of the Charity’s activities in meeting its objectives for the public benefit and are thus pleased to submit this report to the Charity Commission.
Signed in London, 27 July 2024
Rev. S.E. Catlin Chairperson
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Together in One Accord Financial Activities October 2022 - September 2023
| Income 500 S01 Donations and legacies 501 Cash Offerings 502 General online giving Total 500 S01 Donations and legacies Total Income Total Expenditures 640 S09 Charitable Contributions 641 Charitable Contributions UK 642 Charitable Contributions USA 643 Charitable Contributions Portugal 644 Charitable Contributions Cambodia 646 Charitable Contributions South Africa Total 640 S09 Charitable Contributions 700 Advertising/Promotional 720 Consumables & general supplies 721 Community Events 730 Computer & Internet Costs 735 Conference, membership, subscription fees 741 General Repairs & Equipment 750 Hire of hall, equipment & building maintenance 760 Insurances 765 Payroll Expenditures 768 Guest Speaker Honorariums 770 Printing, Postage and Stationery 771 Training Materials & Expenses 775 Telephone & Communications costs 780 Travel and Accommodation 781 Guest Speaker Travel & Expenses Total Expenditures Net Operating Income Net Income/(Expenditure) |
Total |
|---|---|
| £8,520 £4,300 £1,632 |
|
| £14,452 | |
| £14,452 | |
| £14,452 £2,590 £427 £767 £1,730 £215 |
|
| £5,729 £197 £524 £898 £415 £797 £761 £360 £521 £7,200 £1,055 £85 £567 £313 £2,050 £324 |
|
| £21,796 | |
| -£7,345 | |
| -£7,345 |
Saturday, Jul 27, 2024 03:55:50 pm GMT+1 - Cash Basis
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Together in One Accord Balance Sheet
As of September 30, 2023
| Fixed Asset Tangible assets 400 Office & Church Equipment Cost Total Tangible assets Total Fixed Asset Cash at bank and in hand 100 B09 Cash on hand 150 B09 Together in One Accord Natwest Total Cash at bank and in hand Net current assets Net current assets (liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Total net assets (liabilities) Charity funds 470 Retained Earnings Surplus/(Deficit) Total Charity funds |
Total |
|---|---|
| £3,095 | |
| £3,095 | |
| £3,095 £62 £3,877 |
|
| £3,939 | |
| £3,939 | |
| £3,939 | |
| £7,033 | |
| £7,033 £14,378 -£7,345 |
|
| £7,033 |
Saturday, Jul 27, 2024 03:58:58 pm GMT+1 - Cash Basis
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