Blakelaw Community Church Trustees’ report as presented at the Church AGM 17[th] March 2024
Zechariah 4:6 This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts .
Blakelaw Community Church continues to seek the will of God and endeavours to be led by the Holy Spirit.
Sunday attendance averages around 28 adults and some children. Midweek attendances continue to be poor.
Pastoral matters: the funeral of a member and visits and phone calls to incapacitated members.
We have commenced a Bible study in the building on the last Thursday of the month. On Sundays we have covered some themed areas in the preaching, including Matthew’s Gospel and Psalms.
Christmas Carols and the family service were both well attended.
Worship is led by singers and musicians.
Mission on Tuesdays in the city centre continues and must become a regular topic for prayer support.
In the summer we held an outreach barbecue at the church which was very well supported by the community.
We have had both entrance paths replaced and installed an upgrade to the sound system, which still needs work.
A great deal of time has been devoted by the Elders to the process of moving from CUA status to CIO.
The future is positive but we must encourage people to attend midweek meetings. We are also aware that it is two years since we have had a baptismal service.
Financial report
The accounts were presented. Cash offerings are up slightly. We are awaiting the opening of a new bank account before implementing the gift aid for offerings. Electricity bills are high because we are still paying off from the previous year. There have been legal fees. Other regular giving is continuing. Special offerings were made at Christmas. Rent from the Zimbabwean church has ceased.
Some expenditure made on safeguarding. The fellowship was encouraged to think about giving and using gift aid.
BLAKELAW COMMUNITY CHURCH 21 JUNE TO 31 DECEMBER 2023 ACCOUNTS
| BCC a/c | BEC a/c | Bus Bank Instant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INCOME: | INCOME: | INCOME: | |||
| Cash collectons | 3477.89 | Interest | 118.99 | ||
| Cheques | 856.40 | ||||
| On line Standing Orders | 600.00 | ||||
| On line Bank Transfers | 492.15 | ||||
| Rent | 710.00 | ||||
| Special Appeals | 139.88 | ||||
| Other | 100.00 | ||||
| TOTAL INCOME: | 6376.32 | TOTAL INCOME: | TOTAL INCOME: | 118.99 | |
| EXPENDITURE: | EXPENDITURE: | EXPENDITURE: | |||
| Missionary Giving | 1110.00 | Legal Fees (CIO) | 450.00 | Church: PA | 2986.91 |
| FIEC | 210.00 | ||||
| Church: Insurance | 593.34 | ||||
| Church: Telephone | 450.48 | ||||
| Church: Electricity | 2319.00 | ||||
| Church: Water | 160.54 | ||||
| Church: Housekeeping | 380.00 | ||||
| Church:PA | |||||
| Church: Photocopier | |||||
| Church: Repairs | 730.00 | ||||
| Fire Extnguisher | |||||
| Legal fees (CIO) | 2477.98 | ||||
| Licences CCLI | |||||
| Miscellaneous | 251.41 | ||||
| Pastoral Gif | |||||
| Preaching Fee | |||||
| Publicity | 24.00 | ||||
| Safeguarding | 157.25 | ||||
| Special Appeals | |||||
| Training | 61.50 | ||||
| Website | 25.12 | ||||
| Zoom | 86.34 | ||||
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE: | 9036.96 | TOTAL EXPENDITURE: | 450.00 | TOTAL EXPENDITURE: | 2986.91 |