IB NETWORKS TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 The twstees present thelr Annual Dlrectors, Report and independently examined financial stskments for the year ending 31st July 2024. This complies with the requiremènts for a Dir8ctors' Report and Accounts under the Companies Act 20(X3. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 2008, the Companies Act 2006 and the company's Articles of Association. They comply wlth the Accountlng and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practi¢8 (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Stsndard FRS 102 applicable In the United Kingdom and Republlc of Ireland. OUR STRUCYURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGeMENT Irlsh Baptist Network8 (now most often referred to a81 B N) operate8 under the legal 8tructure of a Charitable Company reglstered Wbth HMRC as l B N8kS Trust Ltd (Company Number XT16937). It is 8180 registered wlth the Char]ty Commlsslon for Nothem Ireland (Charfty Reglstration Number NIC100323). The Company was set up by a number of Baptl8ts from Ireland who accept the legal accountablllty for the Company as Members of the Company. The Members appoint a Board of Dlrectors to manage l B Networks Trust. The Dlr8Ctors' names are as Ilsted. 2. The appointment of Members and Directors of l B Nthorks Trust Ltd. Is covered by the Article8 of the Company. 3. The Dire¢torn held Iho Annual Meeling of l B Nelwoths Trufjt for 2023r24 on 131h March 2025. l B N Manag•m•nt Arrnngom•nts l B N Is managed through a Steerlng Group comprising l B Netsvork8 Trust Ltd. Director8 and Others (888 point 3 below). 2. The Steerlng Group of IBN and new MemberFI Dlrectors of l B Networks Trust Ltd are appolntod from those persons who have identlfied their commitment to l B N, 3. Per8on8 8erving on the Steering Group who are not Directors of l B NeOrkS Trust Ltd are appolnt•d or reappolnted at an annual l B N meetlng. 4. The Steerlng Group may from tlThi to time propose names of new Dlrectors for the Company. 5. The Steering Group met In person 3 tlmes over the budget year 202314, wlth Zoom arrangements facilltating tho8e not able to bo presenL OUR Aipas AND OBJECTIVES The Trust is estsbllshed to advance Christian faith and practice for the public benefft through the encouragement of fellowship wlth, and understandlng of, the Baptist famlly around the world. In planning our activities, we keep under ongolng review both our Aims and Objectives and our stated public benefit as approved in our Nl Charities Commission registration. l B N is now the public profile under which the Trust operates. l B N exists to promote the building of meaningful relationships primarily, but not exclusively, with other Baptist believers globally. This is done ty encouraging and facilitatlng wider fellowship and relationships between Baptists across the Island of Ireland and the global community. l B N Is a small volurteer organisation which seeks to be a volce to B8Ptlsts in Ireland ft)r the klngdom ministfles of a wkler family of Baptist bellevers. l B N also shares information and perspectlv85 from
IB NETWORKS TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 Ireland with tha wider Baptlst trdmily. In its actNilies IBN works in partnership with other like-minded groups of believers who share a gospel commitment Dr TONO Pilli, an Estonian Baptist leader, has described Baptists as those who should be'...networking under the Lordship of Christ.. We are seeking to do thisl Our actNities normally include arranging conferenw consultations and other event8 which pronK)ta theological reflection and focus on responding to people in need. primarily internationally. We now have well-established Intematlonal Ilnks as an Affiliated Neiwork of the European Baptist Federation (EBFI, www.ebf.or which expresses Baptist witness across E.urope, the Mthle East, North Africa. and central Asia. l B N sends delegates to the Annual Council meeting of the EBF. In September 2023, the EBF Council meetlng was held during the SENT 23 EBF Conference In Stavanger, Norway. The EBF is one of six regions of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), www.bwa.or , which operates globalty and of which l B N is an Associate member. l B N is also a participant organisation of the Fellowship of Baptists in Britain and Ireland (FBBI), whlch brings together representatives from th& Baptist Unlons of Wales, Scotland and Great Elritsln and their mission agency - BMS W0d Mission. Through the88 Ilnk8 we engage with, leam about, and contribute to the shared life of the wider Baptist famlly. THE TRU8f8 ACTIVITIE8 AND ACHIEVEMENTS We seek to network wlth local churches by providlng them with opportunities to engage wlth rolwant issues. We are always glad to welcome vlsttlng sp8akern. had a Ilmlted programme of on-llne events, and we enjoyed an In-person Annual meeting. One of the few posStlve8 to emerge frorn the Covld pandemlc has been a greater ablllty to use dlgltal means to enable global ftlends and partnern to partlcipate in events. Thls is proving to be Invaluable. Since March 2024 we have been having quarterly prayer and informatlon tlmes wlth our frkends in Thimar, Lebanon, as thlngs have got progre58ively worse in their county. Yet God Is uslng the churches a8 a means of hope in a range of mlnistries and relief programme8. The l B N Steering Group has bean encouraged by the Interest shown In, and 8UPPOrt for, the min18trie8 and 8Ctlvltles enabled through IBN. We continue to operat8 88 volunteer8 and ware grateful for all the support given to the Directors and Steerlng Group members. During the year we benefitted from a more active websrte, www, ibnetorks.or this Is regulaty updataj with reports and news and our website has been refreshed using our new corporate logo and colours. Desplte fewer regular events, support for some of our key partnets was a major focus of our 2023124 activities. At our annual meetlng, which was held in Finaghy Baptist Church in Belfrdst, we welcomed Revd. Alan Donaldson, EBF General Secretary. He spoke on the current challenges faclng brothers and sisters across Europe and the Middle East, and he thanked IBN for the generous support for a range of emergency relief appeals. In July 2022 Stephen Adams represented l B N at the European Baptlst Federatlon (EBF) Councll meeting which was held during the EBF SENT 23 Conference In Stavanger, Nopway. Christine Fleming and Stephen Adams jolned on-llno meetings of th8 Fellowship of Baptists In Brltaln and Ireland {FBBI) in December 2023 and March 2024. Stephen also partlcipated in several on-llne meetings of the F8BI Misslon Community, l B N continue to support a new 'church plantef worklng in Chernihiv, Ukralne. He18ads a new Church plant reaching out to their local communlty and providing humanitarlan rellef. In May 2024 we arrdnged a "Virtual Wisif to meet ILYA VYSOTSKIY and hear at first hand of the challenges they face in their ministry. Daniel Trusiewicz, Mlssion Co-ordinator from EBF and Roman Wecherkowsky, Secretary of Mission in Ukraine 8apts.st Union both also shared in this virtual visit.
IB NETWORKS TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 PRACTICAL SUPPORT In 2023-24 UKRAINE CHERNIHIV CHURCH PLANTING PROJECT: Since January 2023 have supported a Chernihiv church planting project, led by Ilya Vysotskiy, as mentioned at)ove. We are committed to raising £330 a month. This church plant is engaging with younger people. l B N works through EBF Mission Partners {MP) who are overseeing the support ol Ilya in CoperatiOn w5th the All-ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian Baptist Churches. We recerve 6-monthly reports, and post them on our website: see htt s..1w.1bnelwOrks.or ro ects Our in year MP expendire was £3960 UKRAINE RELIEF: Our support for Ukraine has been rnaintalned since the war started Sn February 2022. We are so gratefvl for churches and individuals who have supported the l 8 N appeal during this financial year. We sent £8,700 to support the Winter War Appeal by EBF. MIDDLE EAST War Rèll8t. After October attack by Hama8 leading to 8 full-scale war betsveen Israel and Hamas, with devastlng consequences on the population in Gaza, IBN launched an Appeal, and glfts of £8,000 (both church Ift8 and personal gifts) were sent to EBF to support the relief effort. LEBANON: We continued our support for THIMAR (formerly LSESD) In Lebanon wlth £8,560 belng sent to THIMAR for support in thelr holistic ministrles, as they continue to face a range of serlous challenges. l B N thanks all those who have practically supported the wlder Baptlst family In Euro and the Mlddle East, who are going through th8 most testing of times. CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT... HOPE SPRING8 ETERNAL Alexander Pope coined this phrase some 300 hundred years ago but untll very recently I could not have compl8ted the quotation. Could you ? °Hope springs etemal in the human breast man never Is but 8Iw8ys wlll be blessed.. 8t was on Alexander Pope's mlnd when he penned these words? Could he have rnasoned that whlle the ¢ur8e of the fall prevalled the ultlmate blessing is withheld? bfr*lb the Lord Jesus Christ has bmken the GU thmugh hls d88th and resurrvdion the lull d8llvery of his victory Is still to come. Tho whole Greatson stlll gmans 8waiting its deliverance out of bondage and we still awalt the day when every knee will bow 8nd every tongu8 conf8SS that Jesus Christ is Lord. Scripture cle8rty antlGIP8tes th8s6 mind-blowing blessings but m8ny fall into Pope s category of wll be" rather than "not Is.. Nevertheless we Can Ilke the ancientpatrlarch, Job, relish promised blessings with faith building certainty as he did when he wrote. I know that my redeèmer Ilves and one day wlll Stand upon the earth and though womis destroy thls body yet In my flesh shall l see God, l and not Let °Hope sprfng etemal" In our breasts as we delight in the great blessings already enjoyed and look forward wlth joyful certainty to those sÈlll to come, We trust our humble efforts in practlcal support and prayer have been a temporal and e temal blesslng to those we h8ve supported over thi8 and recent Hadden Wllson
IB NETWORKS TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 For more Infornmtion and reports, visit the Irish Baptst Networks website:www.ibnetworks.or ¢(ct the Hon. Secretary: ste hen.adams ibnetworks.or ,or REFERENCE AND ADMINI8TrATIVE DEfAILS Mrs Heather Browne joined us as a Steering Group member and has agreed to become an IB Networks Trust Director from December 2024. We thank each Dlrector for thelr valuable servlce, and especially Davld and l)orothy Mcmlllan who step down as Dlrectors in December 2024. Approved by the Board and slgned on its behalf by: Il.g, SWA Mr S Ad•m• Tru•t Dat•: 131h March 2025