VICT. pRAI￿SE COMMUNITY (￿]￿l[ VICTORY ' PRAISE ANNUAL REPORT 2023 ## **ANNUAL REPORT 2023** The committee of Victory Praise Community Church presents its Annual Report for the year 01.04.22 to 31.03.23 and confirms it complies with the requirements of The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. This report has been prepared in line with the objectives and constitution of the committee. ## **REGISTERED ADDRESS:** Victory Praise Community Church Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena BT42 3HB **CHARITY NUMBER: NIC100491** ## **COMMITTEE** - Chrissy Havelin - Pamela Johnston - Alison Havelin ## **COMMITTEE OFFICE BEARERS** **CHAIRPERSON** : Pamela Johnston **SECRETARY** : Chrissy Havelin **TREASURER** : Alison Havelin ## **PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS** **BANK** : **Danske Bank** 1-2, Broadway Ave, Ballymena BT43 7PE **INSURANCE** : **Ecclesiastical Insurance** c/o Marsh Ltd. 16-22 Bedford Street Belfast BT2 7DX **SUPPORT SERVICES** : **Pennybridge Accounting** Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena BT42 3HB **Family Spectrum** 142 Ballycastle Road Coleraine BT52 2DZ ## **OUR OBJECTIVES** Victory Praise Community Church is an unincorporated association governed by an adopted constitution and is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. The objects of the Association as set out in the current Constitution are to; - advance Christian beliefs in a practical manner and to empower each member of the church to build a deep and relevant relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. - empower children and young people to improve their life chances and encourage the relief of poverty. The Board is currently governed by an adopted constitution and is recognised as a charity by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. ## **MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR** After two very challenging years, due to COVID-19 restrictions and a number of long-term members moving on from Victory Praise, this past year was more like church-life we were used to, with the return of many inperson events and activities. As international travel restrictions eased, in May 2022 we saw the return of Brother Chanti Raju and his wife Lily, from Good News Ministries in India, who shared about their work during the past few years. Also returning after 3 years were Scott and Shirley Ballentine, from Adopt-a-Child, who gave us a detailed report of work in both Albania and Guatemala. The Halifax Community Grant, awarded in Nov 2021, enabled us to continue to hold a number of family and youth events. These included, Sunday lunches, a BBQ, a Saturday fry, where Rab Coleman shared his life story in a pre-recorded video interview with Joe Boyd. Also for the first time since restrictions lifted, our well-loved and always well-attended Christmas Party returned. The grant also enabled Reflector Youth to hold various monthly activities. These included trips to Prison Island, Laser Quest and Juliano’s. Outings to Currys Funpark in Portrush, and bowling at the Jet Centre in Coleraine were also enjoyed by all who attended. The Sunday morning service attendance remained stable, and we are much encouraged by the increase in numbers in our Kidz Club. We thank the team who remained faithful during the past years when only 1 or 2 children were in attendance. During the summer months, we began to re-engage with our local community. Activities included six Sunday afternoon prayer walks in the Ballee, Harryville, Toome Road and Pennybridge areas. These prayer walks were insightful as we began to see the needs of people in our locality and clearly sensed the Lord’s leading. We also responded to people who contacted the church for help with essential supplies and assistance with some gardening. In September, we also conducted a neighbourhood clean-up near Ballee Community Centre. In November, we were awarded a TNL Community Fund grant, which will enabled us to run 12 more youth and 6 family events. It also enabled us to purchase gardening equipment, refurbish the church kitchen and purchase some new kitchenware. During the year, the founding pastors of Victory Praise, Robert and Rosemary McAuley returned to join our Church family. With Rosemary’s passing to glory in January, in our grief, we realised how privileged we were to have sat under her ministry. In March, we conducted a water baptismal service, with eight believers going through the waters - our first in many years. In summary, the last 12 months, have been a more settled time. It has been a time to heal, clarify vision and direction and a time to dip our toe back into the water of reaching our community. Finally, we give thanks and praise to God for His faithfulness. Also, we thank all those who have served in many different ways. As we finished the year, we were encouraged by seeing some new people join the church. We know that with renewed vision and God’s empowering grace upon us, we are now better placed to reach our local community for Christ. ____________________ Pamela Johnston - Chairperson ## **REPORT ON ACTIVITIES** ## **CHURCH SERVICES/MEMBERSHIP** We were thankful, during the past year, to be able to conduct all our services without any COVID-19 restrictions. We continued, however, to live-stream all Sunday morning services on YouTube. This assists church members greatly who are unable to attend in person. Total church membership includes approximately 45 people with many attending on a weekly basis. We now serve a light breakfast from 10:30am prior to all Sunday morning services. ## **KIDZ CLUB** We are very much encouraged by the increase in numbers. Kidz Club is part of the Sunday service every week at 11am and includes some songs, crafts and short stories. During our Christmas Service, the kidz treated us to a pre-recorded telling of the Christmas Story. Many thanks to the team who support Linda Moore. ## **REFLECTOR YOUTH MINISTRIES** Reflector Youth continued under the leadership of Chrissy Havelin and Christina McWilliams and we are thankful for all their hard work. We were fortunate to be awarded the TNL Community Fund grant allowing us to continue to go on monthly outings with the young people who attend regularly. ## **MEN & LADIES MINISTRIES** WhatsApp group chats have continued to offer support to those who are signed up. ## **COMMUNITY OUTREACH** Community work this year included, prayer walks, garden tidy ups and a neighbourhood clean up in Ballee. We also responded to people who contacted the church for help with food, phone and electrical top ups, oil fills and emotional support. Regular home visitation work also resumed. ## **OTHER ACTIVITIES** The church building was used to host Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership, Ballee Community Childcare Centre, Ballymena School of Music and Victim Support NI for various meetings and support services throughout the year. Our Annual Christmas Hamper Appeal for Barnardo’s Leaving Care saw our best year yet for support. ## **MISSIONARY WORK** This year saw the completion of regular support to Philip and Tracey Johnston for their missionary work in the Philippines. We are privileged to have been able to support them financially for 20 years. On a regular basis we now financially support: - Adopt-a-Child - Sponsoring two children in Albania. - Exodus - Christian youth discipleship organisation, based in Northern Ireland, facilitating short term mission trips. - Helping Hands Healing Hearts Ministries in the Philippines. (Claire Goudy Henderson) - New Harvest Ministries International Inc. (Dale and Jeanne Scholten) - Good News Ministries in Andhra Pradesh, India. (Brother Chanti and Lily Raju Karini) ## **ONGOING PROJECTS** - **SUNDAY SERVICES** - **KIDZ CLUB** - **REFLECTOR YOUTH** - **PRAYER MEETING** - **MIGHTY MEN GROUP CHAT** - **VICTORY LADIES GROUP CHAT** - **VICTORY PRAISE FAMILY GROUP CHAT** - **PRAYER TEAM** - **COMMUNITY EVENTS VENUE** - **PRACTICAL COMMUNITY WORK** - **HOME AND HOSPITAL VISITATION** - **SPECIAL SEASONAL SERVICES** - **MISSIONARY SUPPORT** ## **FINANCIAL REPORT** ## **VICTORY PRAISE COMMUNITY CHURCH** Annual Accounts for the Year Ending 31st March 2023 ## **Income** ## **Expenditure** ||Bank Balance at 31st March 22
£
4,627.18
_Unrestricted Income_
Tithes and Offerings
£
48,667.44
Venue Hire
£
4,873.75
Bank Interest
£
3.87
Gift Aid
£ 6,077.50
_Love Gifts_
_£ 145.00_
_Sales of Assets_
_£_
_505.00_
Reimbursement
£ 90.00
_Close Youth Account_
£ 2.19
_Total Unrestricted Income_
£ 60,364.75
_Restricted Income_
TNL Community Grant
£
10,000.00
Road-Sign Love Gift
£
400.00
Leaving Care Gifts
£ 255.00
_Total Restricted Income_
£ 10,655.00
**Total Income**
**£**
**75,646.93**|Missions
£
3776.79
Salaries
£
24,811.93
Media and Advertising
£
1,970.55
Bank Fees
£
113.30
Phone and Broadband
£
1039.42
Energy Costs
£
4,598.39
Rent
£
15,360.00
HMRC
£ 6,375.25
Pension Contributions
£
2,592.00
Insurance
£
1,488.55
Community Work
£ 814.99
Kids and Youth Work
£ 634.68
Conference and Events
£
2581.17
Travel and Motor Costs
£
2261.67
Offce Costs
£
151.08
Housekeeping
£
3822.61
Worship
£
497.62
Love Gifts
£ 1290.37
Bank Balance at 31st March 23
£
1466.56| |---|---|---| |||**Total Expenditure**
**£ 75,646.93**| ## **The above accounts assessment has been prepared according to the ‘Cash & Receipts’ information provided by Victory Praise Community Church and examined by Pennybridge Accounting. Accounting Summary for year end Thursday 31st March 2023** |Total Actual Income|£|71,019.75| |---|---|---| |Total Actual Expenditure|£|74,180.37| |Closing Balance on 31st March 23|£|1,466.56| VICTORY ' PRAISE COMMUNITY EMPOWERED BY GOD'S GRACE Kd Ill VICTORY PRA VICT. ORY P. RAI￿SE COMMUNITY GaQfj&l£ VICTORY ' PRAISE EMPOWERED BY GOD'S GRACE