ANNUAL CHARITY REPORT | GOSPEL LIGHT CITY CHURCH
## **ANNUAL CHARITY REPORT GOSPEL LIGHT CITY CHURCH**
_Gospel Light City Church | Charity No. 1205907 | 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025_
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## **Table of Contents**
_**REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY.......................2 BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT.............................................................................3 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES..................................................................................3 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE..................................................................3 STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT..........................................................................4 VOLUNTEERS AND DEPARTMENTS.......................................................................5 ACTIVITIES................................................................................................................5**_ **Sunday Services.................................................................................................................6 Teaching Services (Bible Study on Thursdays)..............................................................6 Volunteer Training Meetings.............................................................................................6 BBQ – Evangelistic Outreach (Annual Event).................................................................7 Community Picnic and Charity Football Match (Annual Event)....................................7 Optimise Youth Conference (Annual Event)....................................................................7** _**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025.........8**_ **Statement of Receipts and Payments..............................................................................9 Statement of Assets and Liabilities..................................................................................9 Notes to the Accounts.....................................................................................................10** _**FINANCIAL REVIEW................................................................................................11 TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES AND APPROVAL...............................................11 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT.................................................................13**_
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## REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY
## **Chair**
Mr. Joseph Obese-Amaning
## **Trustees**
Isimeme Omijie
Ogechukwu Stanley Ezeobi
Veronica Mensah
Haziel Jude Tettey Asare
Registered Office Moston Methodist Church 419 Moston Lane Manchester M40 9PA
Registered Charity Number
1205907
Bankers
Lloyds Bank
42–46 Market Street | Manchester | M1 1PW
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## BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT
The Trustees are pleased to present their report, together with the independently examined financial statements, for Gospel Light City Church (Charity Registration No. 1205907) for the year ended 30 September 2025.
This report provides an overview of our activities, achievements, and financial summary for the period, reflecting our continuing mission to impact lives through the Gospel of Christ, grow in community, and advance the Christian faith locally and beyond.
## PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
The primary purpose of Gospel Light City Church is to advance the Christian Faith in accordance with our Statement of Beliefs, as the trustees deem appropriate.
Gospel Light City Church is a church organisation that holds regular services comprising corporate prayer, praise and worship, and biblical teaching. These services aim to build attendees in the knowledge of the Christian faith, develop spiritual maturity, and support practical Christian living.
Additionally, the church conducts outreach, teaching programmes, and charitable support to meet spiritual and physical needs in our local and extended community.
## ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The organisation holds regular worship services every week on Sundays from 13:00 to 15:00 at the Moston Methodist Church (2nd auditorium, 419 Moston Lane). These services typically have an average attendance of 50-60 people each week. The church advertises its activities and meeting times on various social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, enabling the public to engage with its services. The organisation also maintains a presence on Spotify Podcasts, where recordings of sermons and teachings are uploaded so that the public can benefit from them at any time.
In addition to weekly services, the organisation holds special meetings and seminars focused on teaching biblical principles and spreading the Gospel for the benefit of the public. Church members actively share the Gospel in the local community (especially around Moston Lane) and invite interested individuals to attend our services and events. Some teachings and prayer meetings are conducted online (via Zoom) or
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streamed, allowing us to reach a wider audience beyond those who can attend in person.
The church’s activities provide significant public benefit by equipping and edifying those who attend. The meetings allow members of the public to be spiritually strengthened and emotionally refreshed. This can be seen through several outcomes:
- **Spiritual Growth and Learning:** Attendees profit from mutual teaching, inspiration, and even gentle correction in line with Christian principles. They gain knowledge and guidance that help shape their faith and daily living.
- **Community and Fellowship:** Attendees find joy, comfort, peace, love, and unity through fellowship with one another. The sense of community in our gatherings provides encouragement and support to all involved.
- **Character Development:** Attendees receive God-given opportunities to build character, humility, patience, and other virtues. They become more aware of ways to grow in kindness and forgiveness towards others.
- **Positive Impact Ethos:** Attendees are admonished and encouraged to positively impact the environments in which they find themselves – among their colleagues, friends, and families – thereby living out their faith in practical ways that benefit society.
- **Financial and Emotional Support:** Attendees facing financial challenges can receive modest financial help from the church after assessment. The testimonies of those who have been helped provide inspiration to others. The organisation also continually seeks ways to support individuals in need, offering extra encouragement and emotional support alongside spiritual guidance.
## STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT
The organisation’s activities are managed by the resident Pastor (Mr. Joseph ObeseAmaning) together with a leadership team composed of the trustees. The church is organised into various departments, each with designated leaders, who conduct their operations as delegated by the Chair and the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees, with support from the department leaders, is responsible for implementing policies and strategies in accordance with the objectives of the charity (and with Charity Commission guidance). Department leaders and the Pastor report to the trustees, including assessments of any risks and how those are managed. The effectiveness and success of the church’s activities are evaluated through regular leadership meetings. In these meetings, the Pastor and trustees discuss and plan how to continuously improve the church’s services and programmes for the benefit of all members and attendees.
Gospel Light City Church is an unincorporated charity, governed by its constitution and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 1205907. In practice, trustees are appointed by resolution of the existing Board of Trustees, drawn from members of the church who have demonstrated maturity of faith, commitment to the work of the charity and the skills needed to govern it well. New trustees are briefed on their duties and on Charity Commission guidance for trustees
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on appointment. The charity did not have written policies and procedures in place during the year under review. The trustees recognise this and are working to put key written policies in place, beginning with safeguarding, together with charity-obtained enhanced DBS checks for those serving with children and young people. There were no changes to the Board of Trustees during the year.
## VOLUNTEERS AND DEPARTMENTS
The organisation comprises several key departments, with roughly 20 volunteers actively serving across these departments. The dedication, teamwork, and skills of our volunteers form the mainstay of the church’s operations. The departments are as follows:
- **Music Department:** Leads worship through music and praise, coordinating musicians and singers for services.
- **Logistics Department:** Handles the setup of venues and equipment and ensures that meetings and events run smoothly from a practical standpoint.
- **Ushering Department:** Oversees hospitality and welcoming of attendees, including seating, ushering congregants, and maintaining order during services.
- • **Media Department:** Manages audio-visual needs, live streaming, sound, and recordings (including preparation of sermon recordings for podcast upload).
- **Sunday School Department:** Provides faith-based instruction and activities for children during services, helping to teach and engage the church’s younger members.
Our volunteers contribute countless hours to these departments. Their passion and commitment enable Gospel Light City Church to carry out its mission effectively.
## ACTIVITIES
Throughout the year, Gospel Light City Church schedules various events and services as the leadership deems suitable, based on the needs of the congregation and community. These activities are designed to develop the spiritual and personal capacity of members as well as to reach out to the broader community.
The key regular and special activities are as follows:
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## Sunday Services
Our Sunday Service is the main weekly gathering for worship and fellowship, held every Sunday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the church’s venue. Each service typically begins with an opening prayer (about 30 minutes) to invoke God’s presence and guidance. This is followed by approximately 30 minutes of praise and worship, where the congregation sings and offers worship to God, led by the Music Department. The core of the service is a sermon or teaching lasting around 1 hour, where the Pastor (or occasionally a guest minister) preaches and teaches from the Bible. Through these sermons, attendees receive inspiration, guidance, and empowerment to carry them through the week ahead. The service usually concludes with closing prayers, announcements, and a benediction. Sunday Services are the primary point of contact for most members and visitors, providing communal worship and sound biblical teaching each week.
## Teaching Services (Bible Study on Thursdays)
This is a weekly Teaching Service conducted every Thursday evening online via Zoom (typically 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM). In recent months we have been meeting in-person at our pastor’s residence in Blackley. These sessions are dedicated to in-depth teaching and learning to enhance spiritual growth and biblical understanding. The Pastor or a teaching leader shares detailed lessons on scripture, doctrinal topics, or practical Christian living. On average, about 25 people attend the Thursday online and/or inperson teachings each week. While the format is usually a lecture-style or presentation of the Word, there is occasional interactivity – some sessions may include a short Questions and Answers segment, open group discussions, or even a special guest teacher if the topic calls for it. This interactive study environment allows participants to delve deeper into the Bible, ask questions, and clarify their understanding of the faith. The convenience of Zoom means members can join from home, and it also opens the opportunity for people outside the immediate area to participate in our teachings.
## Volunteer Training Meetings
Volunteer training meetings are held monthly as dedicated sessions for all church volunteers. In these meetings (with an attendance of roughly 20 volunteers), those who serve in various departments come together for additional training, equipping, and spiritual development. The focus of these sessions is to help volunteers become more effective workers in the church and to grow as disciples of Christ.
Training may include practical workshops specific to each department (for example, sound system training for media volunteers or hospitality training for ushers) as well as general teachings on leadership, teamwork, and Christian character. Volunteers also use this time to share their experiences, challenges, and successes with one another. This open forum builds unity and encouragement among the team as they learn from each other’s insights. The volunteer meetings are primarily for equipping and do not involve any formal recognition ceremonies — rather, they are ongoing discipleship and skills-development opportunities. By investing in our volunteers in this way, the church ensures that each department can operate smoothly and that those serving are continually growing in their abilities and faith.
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## BBQ – Evangelistic Outreach (Annual Event)
Alongside the Optimise Youth Conference, the church holds an annual community barbecue as a deliberately low-barrier evangelistic outreach. It was held on 14 June 2025 and was open to the whole community free of charge. Where the Sunday service can feel like a large step for someone who has never been to church, a barbecue is an easy invitation to accept: members bring their families, neighbours, colleagues and friends, and everyone shares a meal together in an unhurried, informal setting.
The event combines food and hospitality with games and activities for children and young people, live music, personal testimonies and a short Gospel message. Approximately 60 people attended, of whom a significant proportion were visitors rather than regular members of the congregation. Attendance was recorded through an online sign-up, which allows the church to follow up with those who wish to hear more, to invite them to Sunday services and midweek teaching, and to offer prayer and practical support where it is needed.
The barbecue delivers clear public benefit beyond the congregation. It provides a free, welcoming and safe social occasion for local families, strengthens relationships between the church and its immediate neighbourhood around Moston Lane, and reduces isolation by bringing together people who might otherwise have little contact with one another. Volunteers from across the church’s departments plan and run the day, and the costs of food, catering and equipment are met by the charity and are included within Events and Programmes at note 1 to the accounts.
## Community Picnic and Charity Football Match (Annual Event)
On 12 July 2025 the church held a community picnic at the Manchester Communication Academy, which was attended by approximately 70 people. The day opened with a friendly charity football match, which drew in young men and women from the surrounding area who would not ordinarily attend a church event, and was followed by a shared meal, games and a short service at which the Gospel was preached.
Like the barbecue, the picnic is deliberately designed as an easy first point of contact with the church. Holding it away from the church premises, at a neutral venue in the wider city, lowers the barrier further still for those who are curious but not yet ready to walk into a Sunday service. Sport and a shared meal give people a natural reason to come and a natural way to talk to one another, and the short service that follows means no one leaves without having heard the Gospel clearly explained.
The event provided free recreation, food and fellowship for local families and young people, and strengthened the church’s relationships in the wider Manchester community beyond its immediate neighbourhood. It was planned and run by volunteers from across the church’s departments, and the associated costs of venue hire, food, catering and equipment are included within Events and Programmes at note 1 to the accounts.
## Optimise Youth Conference (Annual Event)
One of our key special events is the Optimise Youth Conference, a three-day annual gathering aimed at inspiring and empowering young people (and the young at heart) in their Christian faith. The conference is held once a year in August and is a highlight
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event for the church’s youth ministry. In the year under review it ran over three days from 15 to 17 August 2025, with 50 people attending on the Friday, 100 on the Saturday and 70 on the Sunday. Over the course of three days, attendees experience an immersive atmosphere of deep worship, passionate praise, and transformative teaching of the Word of God. The programme includes extended worship sessions led by our music team, powerful messages and sermons from the Pastor as well as guest speakers invited for their insight and expertise in ministering to youth. These guest ministers often bring fresh perspectives and encourage the youth to pursue a closer relationship with God.
In addition to sermons and worship, the conference featured interactive workshops, breakout discussion groups, and dedicated prayer sessions addressing the real-life challenges young Christians face (such as school or university life, career, relationships, and personal purpose). The conference creates a space for youth to encounter God’s presence in a profound way, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and connect with one another in fellowship. Many participants testify to life-changing encounters and renewed passion for God as a result of this event. By the end of the three days, the young people are not only uplifted spiritually, but also equipped with practical teachings and a supportive peer community to help them continue strong in their Christian journey. The Optimise Youth Conference encapsulates the church’s vision to “light the life of young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” building up the next generation of faithful, confident Christians. (Note: In some years, the name or theme of the youth conference may vary depending on the leading of the leadership team, but the core purpose remains to engage and develop youth in their faith.)
## FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
These accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis, which non-company charities with a gross income of £250,000 or less are permitted to use under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011. All amounts are stated in pounds sterling and have been rounded to the nearest pound. The charity held no restricted funds and no endowment funds during the year; all funds are unrestricted and freely applicable to the charity’s purposes.
_The comparative figures shown for 2024 are those included in the charity’s accounts for its first reporting period, which ran from November 2023 to 30 September 2024._
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## Statement of Receipts and Payments for the year ended 30 September 2025
|September 2025||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**Total**|**Total**|
||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Receipts**||||||
|Offerings, tithes and||||||
|donations|38,501|–|–|38,501|13,718|
|**Total receipts**|**38,501**|**–**|**–**|**38,501**|**13,718**|
|**Payments**||||||
|Church equipment|(5,980)|–|–|(5,980)|(750)|
|Events and programmes||||||
|(note 1)|(20,057)|–|–|(20,057)|(2,641)|
|Rent for church premises|(7,125)|–|–|(7,125)|(4,617)|
|Other expenses(note 2)|(1,954)|–|–|(1,954)|(580)|
|**Total payments**|**(35,116)**|**–**|**–**|**(35,116)**|**(8,589)**|
|**Net income for the**||||||
|**reporting period**|**3,385**|**–**|**–**|**3,385**|**5,129**|
|Net movement in funds|3,385|–|–|3,385|5,129|
|Total funds brought||||||
|forward|5,129|–|–|5,129|–|
|**Total funds carried**||||||
|**forward at the end of**||||||
|**theperiod**|**8,514**|**–**|**–**|**8,514**|**5,129**|
## Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 30 September 2025
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|**Assets**|||
|Cash at bank and in hand|8,514|5,129|
|**Total assets**|**8,514**|**5,129**|
|**Liabilities**|||
|Creditors and accruals|–|–|
|**Total liabilities**|**–**|**–**|
|**Total funds**|||
|Unrestricted funds|8,514|5,129|
|**Total funds**|**8,514**|**5,129**|
_The charity holds no fixed assets, no investments and no monetary assets other than the bank and cash balances shown above._
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## Notes to the Accounts
## **1. Events and programmes**
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Accommodation|867|–|
|Conference and events|2,356|2,001|
|Equipment and supplies|1,685|–|
|Food and catering|3,715|–|
|Printing and marketing|3,280|–|
|Travel and transportation|2,358|–|
|Volunteer reimbursements|1,232|–|
|Honorarium|3,325|640|
|Other|1,239|–|
|**Total events andprogrammes**|**20,057**|**2,641**|
## **2. Other expenses**
|**2. Other expenses**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Donations made|950|–|
|Subscriptions|752|–|
|Training and development|150|–|
|Bank charges|102|–|
|Priorperiod expenses not further analysed|–|580|
|**Total other expenses**|**1,954**|**580**|
_The 2024 comparative of £580 was not analysed by category in the accounts for the prior period and is therefore shown unanalysed above. Total payments for 2024 shown on the face of the accounts differ by £1 from the sum of the categories, owing to rounding._
## **3. Trustee remuneration, benefits and related party transactions**
No trustee received any remuneration, benefit or expenses from the charity during the year (2024: none), and there were no related party transactions requiring disclosure. The honoraria of £3,325 disclosed at note 1 were paid to visiting ministers and guest speakers who ministered at the charity’s services and conference. None of them is a trustee of the charity or a person connected with a trustee.
## **4. Volunteers**
Approximately 20 volunteers gave their time freely to the work of the charity during the year. In line with the applicable accounting requirements, no monetary value is placed on this donated time in these accounts.
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## FINANCIAL REVIEW
Total receipts for the year were £38,501 (2024: £13,718) and total payments were £35,116 (2024: £8,589), giving a surplus of £3,385 (2024: £5,129). The increase in receipts reflects the growth of the congregation over the year, with average Sunday attendance rising from 40–50 to 50–60 people, together with a corresponding increase in regular giving. All of the charity’s income continues to come from the freewill offerings, tithes and donations of members and supporters. The charity received no grants, no legacies and no investment income during the year, and did not claim Gift Aid.
The increase in payments is principally attributable to a fuller programme of events and outreach than in the charity’s short first period, including the Optimise Youth Conference, the annual evangelistic barbecue and the community picnic, and to a full twelve months of rent for the church premises rather than a part period. Investment was also made in church equipment to support both in-person worship and the charity’s online and podcast ministry.
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees define reserves as those unrestricted funds that are freely available to spend on any of the charity’s purposes. As the charity holds no restricted or endowment funds and no funds tied up in fixed assets, the whole of the funds carried forward, £8,514 (2024: £5,129), represents free reserves.
The trustees have adopted a policy of holding free reserves equivalent to approximately three months of ordinary running costs. This is judged to be the level needed to allow the charity to continue to meet its commitments — principally the rent of the church premises and its regular programme of services — in the event of a shortterm fall in giving, and to give the trustees room to plan events with confidence. On the basis of payments for the year of £35,116, three months of running costs is approximately £8,779. The reserves held at the year end of £8,514 are therefore marginally below the target level, and the trustees intend to build reserves towards the target through continued careful management of event budgets. This policy has been adopted by the trustees for the first time in connection with this report, and they intend to review it annually from now on.
No fund was in deficit at the year end. The trustees have considered the charity’s financial position and are satisfied that it has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future.
## TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES AND APPROVAL
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the requirements applicable to charities preparing accounts on the receipts and payments basis. They are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable
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accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity, for safeguarding its assets and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its future activities.
This report and the accompanying accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees on 25 July 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
SIGN
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...........................................
## **Mr Joseph Obese-Amaning**
Chair of Trustees
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## INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees of Gospel Light City Church**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Gospel Light City Church (the Trust) for the year ended 30 September 2025, which are set out on pages 8 to 10.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act").
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all 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 which gives me cause to believe that, in any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept as required by section 130 of the Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
...........................................
## **Mawunyo Gbeglo, ICAG**
47 Francis Road WD18 0QE
25 July 2026
_Prepared by the Board of Trustees, Gospel Light City Church – Annual Report 2025_
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