Association of Evangelists
54 Henry Doulton Drive, London, SW17 6DB. Charity Number: 266005 Website: aofe.org.uk
Annual Report – 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Objectives and Activities
The Objectives as defined in the original Trust document, and listed on the Charity Commission of England & Wales website are:
The furtherance of the gospel in Great Britain or elsewhere in accordance with the doctrines set out in the schedule of the deed particularly in the North of England and for the advancement of Christian religion in any way which the trustees shall in their absolute discretion deem fit and in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing (1) to engage in evangelism by tent campaigns church crusade united church rallies mass meetings or personal evangelism (2) to publish Christian books magazines literature records tapes and films and (3) to provide sell or give away bibles testaments tracts Christian books magazines literature records and tapes
The ‘Charity Overview’ on the Charity Commission Website lists the activities of the charity as:
To support evangelists who proclaim the Christian gospel to adults and children in the UK and abroad and provides support to Christian pastors in India and sponsors children in an orphanage in South India. All funds are committed as above, therefore no unsolicited requests for money are accepted or responded to.
Trustees
Frank Brearley (resigned 27/01/25) David Donegani (chair), Derek Guest, Paul Hinton (appointed 27/01/25) Carl Venn
Finances
The trustees are once again grateful for donations received for the work during the year, enabling the charity to continue in its work as spelt out in the Objectives and Activities above. All funds are processed and used in accordance with the requirements as laid down in the UK government guidelines and charity law, and in the governance policy of the Association of Evangelists. The accounts are available in a separate report.
Report 2024-2025
During the year, Frank Brearly stepped down as a trustee of the Association of Evangelists. He has served faithfully for many years. With the many responsibilities he has in other Christian works, along with additional family responsibilities it has become more difficult to effectively fulfil his role as a trustee within the AofE in recent years. We will miss his wisdom, and passion for the work. At the same time, we welcomed Paul Hinton as a trustee. Paul has previously been involved as an evangelist linked to the A of E
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and brings with him much experience which is a direct and good fit to the work. He also brings years of experience and wisdom in Christian leadership.
The ongoing work of the Association of Evangelists has continued in a similar pattern as previous years. It has continued to provide support for the 11 associate and affiliate evangelists based in the UK, and also the work of The Metropolitan Mission, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India (see separate report).
Our major event each year is the annual ‘Conference for Evangelists’ held in January. We moved to a new venue back in 2022 with the intention of growing the conference over the following years to provide a programme for others involved in similar works and charities. This year’s attendance was up again this year, with attendees from around the UK representing a wide range of similar works. Once again, the number of younger people attending increased. The feedback from the conference was very encouraging. We anticipate a further increase at the next conference in January 2026
We also held our annual ‘Away Days’ in June 2024. This was attended by the Associates and Affiliates within the A of E; along with the trustees and others who fulfil our administrative responsibilities (as volunteers). This year we met in Lancashire, at the HQ of the Capernwray Bible School. The ‘Away Days’ for 2025 will be held in the Midlands.
We did not hold the ‘Annual Supporters Conference’ in 2024/5. We continue to provide a monthly online meeting for supporters to keep them up to date with the activities of the A of E, with reports from different associates and affiliates.
The evangelists and affiliates have worked mostly ‘in-person’, with occasional ‘on-line’ training and events. Thay have worked with churches and groups around the country taking the opportunities to share the Good News about Jesus Christ to all people of all generations around the UK. There have also been some overseas visits made to other Universities, churches, and Christian organisations.
The seven Associate Evangelists (Tony Brown, Roger Carswell, Gus Eyre, Joe Kirby, Michael Ots, Martin Povey, and Andy Peace) have continued to work in many different areas of the UK and beyond. Each of the evangelists ‘live by faith’ which means that they are not employed by the Association of Evangelists, or any other church or organisation. They depend on gifts from individuals to cover their living and ministry costs. Many of these gifts come via the Association of Evangelists and are recorded in the accounts. Other gifts come directly to them. Each of the evangelists are responsible for their own accounts and tax returns.
The four Affiliate Evangelists are Peter Barker, Vinny Commons, Andy Nash, Steve Neal. Their work is normally less ‘itinerant’, working more specifically with a church or other organisation. Some of the Affiliate Evangelists are employed by other churches or organisations and hence have ‘affiliate’ status.
We have continued to run ‘GO Days’ and similar events in towns or city centres. The evangelists meet up with others from local churches and then go out into the town or city either visiting homes, doing questionnaire work, manning book tables or directly preaching. These are good opportunities to work with and train other churches. It has been encouraging to see local Christians getting involved.
The associates and affiliates have continued with their diverse range of opportunities around the country, often working and serving with many different churches and other Christian organisations. Most of these opportunities are for those who have little or no contact with the church. They are an important part of the regular ministry of many Christian Fellowships throughout the UK, and it continues to be a privilege to facilitate and serve the wider church in the work they do.
One of the evangelists works mostly with churches around the UK. These opportunities normally include a full week of meetings with special guest interviews each evening which are good ‘hooks’ to raise the interest of those not regularly attending church. Another of the evangelists continues to head up the work of Yorkshire Camps (running camps for children and young people). Another of our evangelists works
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extensively to reach those who are caught up in new religious movements; and another has a YouTube channel with many subscribers and a wide reach around the world.
One of the evangelists, Gus (now in his 80’s!) continues an effective work with the homeless and drug addicts. Another is regularly out on the streets meeting people in great need. Many on the margins of society have been helped to face up to reality and consider the Good News of Jesus. In the coming year, Gus will be stepping down from his affiliation with the Association of Evangelists.
Two of the evangelists work regularly with universities, both here in the UK and in Europe, including several countries where the church has experienced restrictions.
The ‘Real Lives’ You Tube Channel has continued, with live Saturday night events on-line and a regular following on the YouTube Cannel.
In summarising the year, the evangelists have been regularly involved in many varied opportunities both inside and outside the church to share the Good News of Jesus. This includes schools (whole school assemblies, Christian Union meetings and RE classes); Colleges & Universities (by invitation to one off special events or a series of meetings); camps for children and young people (Yorkshire Camps); city centres (particularly in the Nort West); on the beach (with United Beach Missions, another Christian Charity) and other places too. They participate in many other meetings including coffee mornings, senior citizen clubs, Bible studies, breakfasts, special meetings in old people’s homes and sheltered accommodation.
Writing and the distribution of Christian literature continues to be an important part of the work. New resources have been written and published which can be used for Christian work more widely. These include new books, short Christian ‘tracts’, and other materials for teaching children.
The Association continues to support and encourage its partner mission, the Metropolitan Mission in Andhra Pradesh, South India. See the separate report.
David Donegani Chairman, Association of Evangelists
Report on the activity of the Metropolitan Mission for the period between April 1[st] 2024 and March 31[st] 2025
The Metropolitan Mission (MM) is an indigenous church organisation working in the city of Vijayawada and the surrounding districts, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, South India. It is currently active in NTR district, Krishna, Eluru, Khammam, Guntur, East and West Godavari districts. As well as organising Christian Worship in over 100 affiliated churches and worship centres, it is also engaged in reaching out to surrounding neighbourhoods with the gospel message that Jesus saves and with practical help to many struggling and disadvantaged groups The MM is committed to the orthodox Christian message that man is separated from God by sin and rebellion and that the only way this breach in relationship can be overcome is through individual faith in Jesus Christ, his death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave.
The Metropolitan Mission now has around 160 pastors and Bible women and social workers working with them. Around 80 are helped through a sponsorship scheme facilitated by the Association of Evangelists. Individuals and churches in the UK can donate money regularly to the scheme, which goes to their nominated worker and allows these individuals to support their families as they assist their churches and communities. As well as the normal duties of church workers, such as preaching and bible teaching, conducting weddings and funerals, and pastoral visiting these individuals provide a vital link between the social work activities of the MM and the poor communities they work amongst. No new worship centres were established during this period.
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There is a lot of maintenance and building work required in the different worship centres. During the period of this report a new church building was completed at Pulluru and work was started on the churches at Ammavarigudem and Mutylampadu. Due to damage during flooding the church in Prakash Nagar had to be renovated.
Another important aspect of the work of the MM is the Children’s Home. This is situated near to the village of MV Gudem. The Children’s Home reopened in 2021 and is now back in full swing. Numbers of children fluctuates according to need. The mission usually has many more applications for entry than it can fund. Children may join the home and settle well but then domestic circumstances can change, and they may be withdrawn. Also, a small number each year fail to settle so return to their families. Numbers of children therefore do vary throughout the year. During the period covered by this report, there were 102 children resident there, 56 boys and 46 girls. Some of these children, 72, are sponsored by churches and families in the UK. They send a regular donation to the mission, and the funds raised help support the entire work of the home, including the care of the unsponsored children. No distinction is made between sponsored and unsponsored children in the home. The families in the UK receive information on the progress of their sponsored children through their education so that they can pray for them as they grow. The home provides a safe environment for the children where they can be fed and sheltered and given space to do studies and attend school. If they progress well, they will have the opportunity of moving on into higher education and the MM supports them in courses where needed. During the time span covered by this report the MM was supporting 10 students at 10[th] standard level who took these important exams. Of this 10, 9 passed and are progressing in their education. 1 failed and will have to resist. The Mission also supports 27 students in further education. Of these college students, 12 graduated during the period covered by this report.
The Children’s home is located on a compound in the countryside which it shares with the MM primary schools. There are 2 schools on the compound. In one the education is conducted in Telegu, the language of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Most of the children attending the Telegu school live in the children’s home itself, though some do attend from local villages. There is a growing preference for English Medium Education, even amongst the poorest village people and so gradually the strength of the Telegu School is decreasing. Having said that, this year the school showed an increase in student numbers. There were 74 pupils in this school and teachers increased from 5 last year to 6 this year. The English Medium school remains popular as part of the MM ministry to the surrounding villages. There were now around 173 pupils in this school with 10 teachers. The mission 2 drivers to collect the students with the bus, and 4 ayas for the very small children. The home has 5 staff to look after the boys and 3 for the girls, 3 cooks, 2 security men and another who also tends the garden on site, plus 1 dhobi.
Finally, the mission seeks to help people in the surrounding villages who face particularly difficult circumstances. They provide some regular financial support to the 100 families of 100 handicapped children, and single mothers.
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ASSOCIaOn of E¥angellsts Charfty Number 266(X)S Income & Expendlture Ststement IstAprS12024- 31st Marth 2025 April 2024- March 2025 21489.71 April 2023. Mar¢h 2024 37567.21 Opénlni Balan Income Donation for work in India Glft Ald Ilndlal Gift Aid IEvanyJAss & Gen} Donations for Evan8eli5tslAffiliate5 Gift5 for Ministry Fund Gifts for other charities 80616.IJ) 90896.23 989).$0 7924.C I55.75 36817.50 220127.69 207418.44 557& 6187.06 AofE Conference FEW Conference Bank Interest Ilndial Bank Interest (Genl Income Total Incom¢ 13&16.69 24132.11 73.23 397.71, 352.49, 379392.20 15663.92 80.46 447.11 3817.91 418575.12 Expendlture Gifts to Indla Bank Charges for FOr•fi Payments Payments to Evangelists/Aff linc GIAidl G1ft5 to other Charltles Gifts to nominated bodles FEW Conference AofE Conf•ren¢e Away Days Meetln8 Expenses/CJterini WebsitelLicerKejzoom Travel costs Spèakers expenses Publicity Books Totsl expendlture Closln8 8ank 8•l•nc• 88441.81: 180.(X),: 101124.93 180.00 227168.44, 15CQ.(K)I 20. 251912.19 1400.00 27343.95 2249).36 11815.98 103.94 44.83 568.95 1075. 11.35 1785.00 459.23 348862.10 305. 397085.41 21489.71 Current a¢count 13415743 Gen ReseThe account 13520350 Gen Curret)t a¢count 13469428 India Reserve actount 13520369 India Cash Balance 0 31 March made up of..- To be sent to India To be sent to Evan8elists1As%)c Conference 0.00 33126.58 0.00 3994.31 4440.63 30530. 37567.21 3994.311 11817.50, 4440.63 12757.50 -1180.18 FEW Conference Reserve Fund Ministry Fund 534.71 2426.39 SCQ.CQ' 5C().00 13683.58, 18622.87 37567.21 30530.
ASSOaATION OF EVANGELISTS INDEPENDEiYf EXAMINER'S REPORT YeAr Ended 31. March 2025 Based upon my examinAtion of the ac¢ouDts for the AssociatioD of EvaDgeli8ty no matter has eome to nly attention whi¢h gives me reasonable cause to b¢lieve thaL in any material resprtL the 47c¢ounts do not compty with the requir¢m¢nts of the Charity Commi8sionerL No matter has come to my ttention ID CODDection with my ¢xmination wbere furtber inforniation is required to eDable * proper MDderJtaDding of the aeeounts lo be ruebed. D. G. Taylor Retired Aceountant 8 Tit¢hwell Rogd, London SW18 3LW DAted: 14" Juty 2025