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 N8￿kS 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 Ne￿OrkS 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 W0￿d
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 Co￿peratiOn w5th the All-ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian Baptist Churches. We
recerve 6-monthly reports, and post them on our website: see htt s..1￿w.1bnelwOrks.or
ro
ects
Our in year MP expendi￿re 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