ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING 2024 LIVING GOD GOSPEL CHURCH REGISTERED CHARIry NUMBER: 1191093.
Table of Contents
Living God Gospel Church Annual Report 2024........................................................................2 Reference and Administration...................................................................................................2 Objectives and Activities...........................................................................................................2 Achievements and Performance...............................................................................................3 Financial Review.......................................................................................................................4 Brief Statement of the Charities Policy on Reserves..........................................................4 Investment Reserve Policy................................................................................................. 5 Structure Governance and Management..................................................................................5 Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 5 Financial Statements.................................................................................................................... 6 Statement of Financial Activities...............................................................................................6 Balance Sheet as of December 31st, 2024.............................................................................. 6 Statement of Assets and Liabilities...........................................................................................7 Analysis of Income....................................................................................................................7 Analysis of Expenditure............................................................................................................ 7 Notes to the Financial Statements.............................................................................................. 8
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Living God Gospel Church Annual Report 2024
The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
Reference and Administration
The Living God Gospel Church is a Registered Charity (no. 1191093) situated in Unit 5 Brabazon Office Park, Golf Course Lane, Filton, Bristol BS34 7PZ. The public register may be accessed via the Charity Commission website and includes the Trustees’ Annual Reports.
The members of the church workers committee and board of trustees from 1 January 2020 until the date of this report were:
| the date of this report were: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Incumbent | Pastor Michael Nwaki (Chair) | |
| Church Worker Committee | Mrs. Evelyn Egbirhemhon (Treasurer) Mr Martin Ritchings (Assistant Treasurer) Evangelist Andrew Benson Egbirhemhon Mrs. Eunice Nwaki |
|
| Church Board of Trustee | Pastor Michael Nwaki Evangelist Andrew Benson Egbirhemhon Mrs. Jacqueline Fensome Mrs. Eunice Nwaki (Secretary) |
|
| Banker | Lloyds Bank PLC, Bristol, United Kingdom | |
| Correspondence Address | 14 Fourth Avenue, Filton Bristol, South Gloucestershire BS7 0RW |
Objectives and Activities
The primary objective of Living God Gospel Church is established in the advancement of the Christian Faith, in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs in the Constitution, for the benefit of the public in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
To fulfil this objective at the basic level, regular prayer meetings are held throughout the year where Living God Gospel Church members and others interested can worship, pray, receive teaching, and participate in discussions of the faith. In addition to this, various other activities and events were also held throughout the year. These activities are listed in the Achievements and Performance section.
All activities and events are available to Christians and non-Christians, regardless of whether they are members or not, everyone is welcome.
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Achievements and Performance
There have been notable achievements throughout the past, below shows how each one was achieved in line with our objectives as a Charity:
Advance education based on Christian principles
We were well on our way to fulfilling our last year's targets, but due to financial constraints, we could no longer afford the rent at our previous address, so we had to postpone certain events. However, we were still able to hold our Christmas Carol service successfully, and this time, it was held in a bigger venue. Free online tickets were at their highest, and the event was actually sold out.
We stopped holding Wednesday Bible Study services in November, as attendance was low, and the congregation preferred to incorporate this element into the Sunday Morning Service. However, our Friday Prayer Services and Sunday Worship Services continued regularly. Currently, we are hiring Active Nation Filton for these gatherings while maintaining a great relationship with Filton Community Centre, using their facilities sporadically.
Various meetings and conferences were organised during the year to promote the Christian Faith, including Women’s Day Service, Easter Conference, Prayer Conference, Thanksgiving Service, Christmas Day Service, and Watch Night “Crossover” Service. The Evangelism team continued their outreach efforts, preaching the Gospel in various locations, including streets and shopping centres, and distributing literature to enlighten others about Christianity. Progress is still being made towards producing our very own literature on the Christian faith.
In 2025, we aim to run a Youth and Young Adults Conference to further engage and encourage spiritual growth among young people.
Bringing Hope to the Community
We were also able to hold our Family Day BBQ this year, which was an exciting opportunity for fellowship and community bonding. The event was opened to the public free of charge, held in a public park, and offered free food to all who were interested. We also played games, including a dance-off and football, which helped promote community bonding and exercise participation.
In December, we took steps to strengthen pastoral support by ordaining two new ministers from our congregation who had grown spiritually, allowing us to share the pastoral workload more effectively and continue providing spiritual guidance. Additionally, we are exploring discipleship programmes to further develop our teams.
Women’s and Men’s Breakfast sessions were also successfully held this year, although with a slight reduction in frequency due to financial constraints. Instead of the previous format of one Women’s Breakfast and three Men’s Breakfasts, we held two of each. While the Church typically sponsors these events, this year, attendees were asked to cover their own breakfast costs due to the financial situation.
The prevention or relief of poverty through organised effective courses:
We ran a free software testing programme for church members who were interested, lasting several weeks, as well as a 2-3 week welding course to teach job seekers how to weld. These initiatives were possible due to the pastor’s expertise in these fields, but in the future, we aim to hire external professionals to reduce the load on the pastor and ensure sustainability.
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Additionally, we hope to introduce CV writing workshops and other career development sessions to further equip individuals for employment opportunities.
Due to financial difficulties, we had to postpone our youth programming bootcamp, which was initially planned to continue. Nevertheless, we remain committed to reintroducing such initiatives when financially viable.
Our pastoral care remains a key focus, ensuring that we provide physical, spiritual, and emotional support to our congregation and beyond. Through our Sunday Services and prayer meetings, we continue to witness breakthroughs in areas such as health, finances, and family issues, reaffirming our commitment to supporting those in need.
As we look ahead, we pray for financial stability, growth, and the ability to expand our initiatives, continuing to make a meaningful impact within the Church and the wider community.
In 2025, as we focus on stabilising our financial position and gradually repaying debts, we are prioritising upskilling and preparing those interested, with a particular emphasis on the youth and young adults. In line with this, we plan to run a six-week GCSE Maths programme once a week in Spring, aimed at preparing students who are currently failing their exams, positioning them to pass successfully. While this initiative primarily benefits those attending the Church, we will also open it up to the public free of charge and actively advertise it as such. We also intend to apply for funding to ensure the continuity of this programme.
Financial Review
The church is entirely financed through freewill giving, tithes, and offerings from the church members. Overall, the tithes, offerings, and donations from the members of the church by 31st of December 2024, stood at a total of £21 , 507.26 (twenty-one thousand, five-hundred and seven pounds and twenty-six pence only). In the same year, the total expenses of the church amounted to a total of £21,382.41 (twenty-one thousand, three-hundred and eighty-two pounds and forty-one pence only). Overall, this year, we had a total net profit of £124.85 (one hundred and twenty-four pounds and eighty-five pence only).
As of 31st December 2024, the church’s financial position showed total funds of £845.74. However, the church currently has liabilities amounting to £12,011.37, primarily consisting of outstanding rent, estate management charges, and service fees from the old building, as well as a remaining balance on previously unrecognised council tax arrears. The church has been making regular repayments of £300 per month since October 2024, reducing its outstanding debts by £900 so far. The trustees are committed to continuing these repayments and increasing contributions where possible to fully settle the remaining liabilities over time.
Brief Statement of the Charities Policy on Reserves
The Trustee may have care of several types of funds.
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General – those available by any means and accessible to be used for the general purposes of the church. As of 31st December 2024, general funds available for use amounted to £845.74.
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Designated – none.
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Restricted – none.
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Endowment – none (2024: £Nil).
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Investment Reserve Policy
Our reserves are kept in the bank, however there are several needs for financial funding of programs that would benefit the body of Jesus Christ and the UK populace at large. Many of these activities are severely underfunded, and future plans include expanding access to this programming bootcamp to further provide skills, preparing youth for the working environment.
Structure Governance and Management
The Board of Trustee is a corporate body of the church. It operates under the charity commission rules, regulations and powers to oversee and regulate the overall church activities.
The Board of Trustee appoints several volunteers on the committee. As required by law, there is a Standing Committee with power to look at the overall church activities. There are five other Committees, namely (i) Finance and treasury, (ii) Bible study, (iii) Pastoral, (iv) Worship, and (v) media development. The reports of each committee are considered by the trustee.
Conclusion
A final note is added to thank all who have contributed to the well-being of the life of the church by giving of time and expertise, often at considerable personal cost, as part of unspoken mission giving. This often has unrecognised significant financial benefits but is much concerned with our sense of community, affirming faith, and exercising the mission and ministry of the whole people of God.
Signed on Behalf of Charity Trustees
Name: ______ Position: ___
Signed: _____ Date: ______
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Financial Statements
Statement of Financial Activities
| Unrestricted Funds (£) |
Restricted Funds (£) |
Endowment Funds (£) |
Total Funds (£) |
Prior Year Total Funds (£) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | |||||
| Donations, Tithe and Offering |
21,507.26 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 21,507.26 | 16,201.57 |
| Charitable Activities |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Investments | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Other Income | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 12,242.00 |
| Total Income | 21,507.26 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 21,507.26 | 28,443.57 |
| Expenditure | |||||
| Rentage (OldVenue) |
12,387.41 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 12,387.41 | 22,000.18 |
| Service Charge | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6,250.00 |
Hall Hire (New Venues) |
2,842.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,842.00 | 0.00 |
Charitable Activities |
2,983.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,983.00 | 6,062.79 |
| Others (Baillif & Council Tax) |
3,170.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,170.00 | 0.00 |
Total Expenditure |
21,382.41 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 21,382.41 | 34,312.97 |
| Gains/Losses on Investment Assets | |||||
| Gross transfer between funds (in) |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Gross transfer between funds (out) |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Other recognised gains/losses |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Net Movement in Funds |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 124.85 | -5,869.40 |
| Total Funds Brought Forward |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 720.89 | 6,590.29 |
Total Funds Carried Forward |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 845.74 | 720.89 |
Balance Sheet as of December 31[st] , 2024
| Total Funds (£) | Prior Year Funds (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Assets (Investments) | 0.00 |
0.00 |
| Current Asset (Cash at Bank or in-hand) |
845.74 | 720.89 |
Liabilities: Creditors (Amount falling due in one-year) |
(12,011.37) | 0.00 |
| Net Current Assets less current Liabilities | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Funds of Church | 845.74 | 720.89 |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
|---|---|---|
| INVESTMENTS THIS YEAR (£) |
LAST YEAR (£) | |
| GENERAL FUNDS (UNRESTRICTED) | 0.00 |
0.00 |
| **DEVELOPMENT FUND (DESIGNATED) ** | 0.00 | 0.00 |
**CHURCH HOUSE CHARITY NO. (RESTRICTED) ** |
0.00 | 0.00 |
| TOTAL | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Anal sis of Income y
| Unrestricted Funds (£) |
Restricted Funds (£) |
Endowment Funds (£) |
Total Funds (£) |
Prior Year Total Funds (£) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Stall Sales | 0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Church Lettings | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Donations, Tithe and Offering |
21,507.26 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 21,507.26 | 16,201.57 |
| Food Bank Sales |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Funding | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Gift Aid | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 12,242.00 |
| Grant (HMRC) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Investments |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Tax Recovered | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Other | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Total | 21,507.26 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 21,507.26 | 28,443.57 |
Anal sis of Ex enditure y p
| Unrestricted Funds (£) |
Restricted Funds (£) |
Endowment Funds (£) |
Total Funds (£) |
Prior Year Total Funds (£) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hire / Rentage | 15,229.41 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 15,229.41 | 22,000.18 |
Service Charge |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6,250.00 |
Others |
3,170.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,170.00 | 0.00 |
| Charitable Activities | |||||
| Christmas Carol | 1,150.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,150.00 | 1,833.67 |
| Conferences & Ministry |
909.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 909.00 | 2,962.63 |
| Donations | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 |
| Evangelism / Family Day BBQ |
300.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 300.00 | 56.24 |
Men’s/Women’s Fellowship |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 150.68 |
| Programming Bootcamp |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 175.81 |
| Publicity and Marketing |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 365.71 |
| Sunday Service Refreshments |
624.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 624.00 | 468.05 |
| Total | 21,382.41 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 21,382.41 | 41,757.19 |
The Financial Statements were approved by the Trustees on _______.
Signed: ___ Name: __ Position: __ Signed: ___ Name: __ Position: __
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Notes to the Financial Statements
The Living God Gospel Church, to the financial statements 31 December 2024.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
General Information and Basis of Preparation
The Living God Gospel Church, Bristol, is a registered charity in England within the United Kingdom. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are that of a corporate body established by the Church of England.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 (as updated through Update Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling (£), which is the functional currency of the charity, and rounded to the nearest pound.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.
Funds
Unrestricted Funds – Available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and not designated for other purposes.
Designated Funds – Comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes.
Restricted Funds – These funds must be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or fundraising campaigns.
Endowment Funds – These assets must be held permanently by the charity, with income generated available for unrestricted or restricted purposes as defined.
The accounts include all transactions, assets, and liabilities for which the Board of Trustees is responsible. The financial statements do not include accounts of church groups affiliated with external bodies or funds that belong to individual members.
Income Recognition
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably, and it is probable that the income will be received.
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For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained, then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity, and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102). Further detail is given in the Trustees’ Annual Report.
For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. At this point income is recognised. On occasion legacies will be notified to the charity however it is not possible to measure the amount expected to be distributed. On these occasions, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed.
Income from trading activities includes income earned from fundraising events and trading activities to raise funds for the charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.
Investment income is earned through holding assets for investment purposes such as shares.
It includes dividends and interest. Where it is not practicable to identify investment management costs incurred within a scheme with reasonable accuracy the investment income is reported net of these costs. It is included when the amount can be measured reliably. Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method and dividend and rent income is recognised as the charity’s right to receive payment is established.
Other income includes the conversion of endowment funds into income which arises when capital funds are released to an income fund from expendable endowments or when a charity has authority to adopt a total return approach to its permanent endowment fund.
Expenditure Recognition
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:
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Costs of raising funds;
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Expenditure on charitable activities; and
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Other expenditure represents those items not falling into the categories above.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.
Grants payable to third parties are within the charitable objectives. Where unconditional grants are offered, this is accrued as soon as the recipient is notified of the grant, as this gives rise to a reasonable expectation that the recipient will receive the grants. Where grants are conditional relating to performance then the grant is only accrued when any unfulfilled conditions are outside of the control of the charity.
Investments
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The church does not currently hold investment assets. Should any arise, they will be measured at fair value where possible, or at cost if fair value cannot be determined.
Debtors and Creditors (Receivable/Payable Within One Year)
Debtors and creditors are recorded at transaction price unless stated otherwise. Any impairment losses are recognised in expenditure.
Liabilities and Debt Management
As of 31 December 2024, the church has total liabilities amounting to £12,011.37. This is primarily due to outstanding debts from a previous church building, including unpaid rent, estate management charges, and bailiff fees for repossession. A breakdown of the liabilities is as follows:
| follows: | |
|---|---|
| Description | Amount (£) |
Rent & Estate Management Charges (Up to 25 July 2024) |
6,124.85 |
| Service Charges (Up to 25 July 2024) | 4,437.86 |
Bailif’s Fees for Repossession (25 July 2024) |
1,048.66 |
| Total Outstanding Liabilities | 11,611.37 |
Additionally, the church was previously unaware of council tax arrears, which led to enforcement action by bailiffs. Initially, the amount owed to the bailiffs was £4,470, but the church has made substantial payments, reducing the outstanding amount to £1,300.
The trustees have committed to gradually settling these debts and have been making monthly payments of £300 since October 2024. This has already reduced the liabilities by £900, and there are plans to increase repayment contributions where possible to clear the outstanding balances over time.
The financial strategy includes careful cash flow management, continued negotiations with creditors, and increased fundraising efforts to accelerate debt clearance while maintaining church operations and outreach programs.
Designated, Restricted, and Endowment Funds
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Development Fund – No designated funds exist for development at present, but this may be considered in the future.
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Reordering Fund – No restricted reordering funds are currently allocated.
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Donations for External Causes – No collections were made for external causes during the reporting year.
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Endowment Funds – None currently exist.
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