# **BANGOR WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY CONVENTION** Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] December 2022 Charity no: NIC101371 ## **Contents** ## **General Information** - Structure - Purpose - Aims & Objectives - Vision & Values ## **Public Benefit** **Strategic priorities for the year, 2022** **Worldwide 2022– Review of main activities** ## **Financial Review** **Future Strategic plans** ## **General Information** **Name of organisation** Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention Other name Bangor Worldwide **Charity no.** NIC101371 **Registered office address** 63 Clifton Road Bangor County Down, BT20 5HY **Contact Details** Website: www.worldwidemission.org Email: chairman@worldwidemission.org secretary@worldwidemission.org treasurer@worldwidemission.org Tel: 028 9145 9354 **Names of trustees** Mr Tom Clarke – Chairman Mr Cecil McWilliams - Treasurer Mrs Lesley Stewart - Secretary Mrs Tania Baker Mr Norman Campbell Mr Eddie Currie Mr Richard Donnan Mrs Ruth Manning Mr William Mateer **Legal status** Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention was set up in 1937. In 1994 a separate trust was set up to continue the work under a Trust Deed dated 3[rd] June 1994. The Trust has a Constitution and Rules of Procedure. Its registered charity no. is NIC101371 **Bankers** Danske Bank, Bloomfield Shopping Centre South Circular Road Bangor Co Down BT20 5AP **Independent Examiner** G McG Belfast 19 Alfred Street Belfast BT2 8EQ **Solicitor** Hewitt & Gilpin Solicitors Thomas House, 14-16 James Street South Belfast, BT2 7GA ## **Structure** Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention Committee is a group of volunteers from various churches in the greater Bangor area. This reflects the interdenominational nature of the objects of the Trust. The Committee work together to organise a week long Missionary Convention each August. There are 15 people on the Committee. There were nine Trustees at the end of the year. The office bearers comprise a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. The committee met six times over the year to organise the programme for the Convention. The Convention is a non-profit making organization and all those involved work as volunteers ## **Purpose** The purpose of Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention is the advancement of religion. ## **Aims & Objectives** To promote and further the Christian Faith and its practice and Global mission among men and women and young people both at home and abroad in accordance with the teachings of the Bible which is the word of God. ## **Vision and values** For a growing number of people to go out from these shores to share the Gospel around the world. For a growing base of supporters at home who financially and prayerfully get behind the work The Convention is open to all. ## **Public Benefit** The trustees have considered the guidance on public benefit of the Charity Commission for NI and have ensured that our aims, objectives and activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries. - A The direct benefits which flow from the Convention’s purpose include:- - Some of those who attend the Convention have subsequently participated in Christian Missionary work and secular development work around the world. - Most who attend the Convention contribute gifts which are used to support Christian Missionary work around the world - Those who attend the Convention get information which helps them to actively support Christian Missionary work around the world - B These benefits are demonstrated through - The personal reports from individuals who have become Christian Missionaries as a result of attending the Convention - The Convention’s annual financial reports which show the extent of giving for the support of Christian Missionary work - Reports from Christian Missions which are represented at the Convention regarding the enrolment of supporters as a result of their attendance at the Convention - C The purpose of our charity causes no harm to any individuals - D The charity’s beneficiaries are the general public throughout the world - E There is no private benefit flowing from the Convention’s purpose ## **Strategic Priorities for the year** - 1 Promotion of Bangor Worldwide in Belfast, Dollingstown, Drumreagh and Magherafelt. - 2 Enhance our connections with young people and young adults - 3 Make progress on the upgrade of our computer based financial processes ## **Worldwide Missionary Convention 2022- main activities** ## **Honorary Secretary’s Report** After the past two years of restrictions our 86[th] Convention felt like it was “re Launched” – good attendance, great teaching, praise, reports, and new look global village. The dates this year were Friday 19[th] August to Sunday 28[7h] August. Our theme was “Compelled” based on the verse in Corinthians. We started again with a reception for missionaries, members of the Monday morning prayer meeting, some of our speakers and committee members. Most joined us for the opening prayer meeting where David Eastwood of OMF brought a “Word of Encouragement”. A first this year was a Friday night/Saturday morning event for the 20’s & 30’s. On Friday night Rick Hill, PCI and Steve Mac, cross cultural worker N Africa, were the speakers with Jude Frame leading praise. Saturday’s event was called “Equip” and David Garrison joined Steve Mac for this. It was encouraging to see this so well attended, partly due to providing a creche on Saturday morning, led by CEF. Our thanks to Jason who organised the youth & 20’s & 30’s events. Our opening event was back in the Spires Conference Centre in Belfast. David, Ivan and Lorraine produced a very creative programme, Around the World in 90 Minutes. Two airline pilots led us to Taiwan, Egypt, Nigeria and Belfast to hear what God is doing from David Eastwood, OMF, David Garrison, writer of “A wind in the house of Islam”, Hassan John from the diocese of Joss. New Irish led the praise. About 400 people attended. The speaker on Sunday evening 22[nd] August was Hassan John who spoke very movingly about the threats to Christians in Nigeria from radical Muslim groups. Jason Brodie interviewed Andrew Boyd about his plans for taking a year out with OM on their ship. Zack Eswine outlined his schedule for leading the morning Bible Studies through the book of John – God won’t quit on you. Average attendance at the morning prayer meetings was about 30. It was led each morning by a committee member and one of the speakers form the night before shared a Word of Encouragement and their prayer points to help us in our prayers. On Monday morning we had our Children’s Event in partnership with Child Evangelism Fellowship. Numbers were very low at 6. We also ran a crèche this year, very professionally led by Liz and her team of willing helpers. The aim of Monday afternoon’s seminar – Compelled to serve – was to encourage the church about the local response to asylum seekers in NI and to share practical opportunities to help. Mark Johnston, St Andrews, Sara Kennedy, HRPC, Peter Johnston, Kings, and Karen McConnell of the Parish church all shared about how their churches were getting involved in practical and sociable ways to help the refugees staying in the town and Toni from the International Meeting Point, Shirley McGonigle and Kerry Welcome Churches also shared. In the evening Robin Scott, Prison Fellowship shared about serving the prison community and their families over the past 40 years. John McLernon, Crosslinks spoke about their work in Italy Each evening Monday – Friday Zack brought us a closing challenge from Matthew 28. On Tuesday evening our theme was students and books. Geoff McIlrath of Castlereagh shared about his literature ministry to many parts of the world and David Montgomery, CU Ireland shared about his work with students. We also had two interviews with two young couples who are hoping to go overseas. These couples took part in the Living Library later on in the evening at the Global village. Cecil also shared an up-to-date report on Worldwide finances. David Eastwood, OMF and Joanne Briggs, Leprosy mission, were the speakers on Wednesday evening where our theme was Asia. This year we had our Thursday afternoon’s Ladies event in the beautiful surroundings of Bangor Parish church again with refreshments to start. Suzanne Potter, Latin Link spoke of the work of some of her colleagues in S America and Michele McIlrath chaired a table conversation with Sonia Garrison, Joanne Briggs and Marjorie Dickinson about ‘juggling’ ministry with family life. Suzanne Potter also spoke in the evening and we had a great interview with a Cuban pastor by his son who have both relocated to NI. We had our second seminar on Friday afternoon led by the Bible Society, Daring to Hope Our last evening was Friday night. New Irish Choir and orchestra led our praise and David Garrison spoke and Zac concluded with a closing challenge. We had our Youth evening with David Eastwood on the second Friday evening. It was good to have the satellite meetings again this year. The first one was on Sunday evening at St Saviour’s Church Dollingston where John McLeron spoke and Simon Genoe interviewed David Garrison. On Thursday evening Magherafelt again hosted a satellite event with Hassan John and David Garrison. The week concluded with Sunday night at Drumreagh Presbyterian Church where Hassan John spoke. This year’s viewing figures were higher than last year. The Downloads in August were 1873 from 63 countries. The top 5 were UK, USA, Australia, Singapore, Ireland. Videos on Vimeo had 858 views. Videos on Youtube 4,007 views. Instagram reach was 717 accounts with 149 engaged and 574 followers. Facebook had a reach of 27,446 with 3,000 page visits. We took out a paid campaign which reached 7,928. Photos have attracted lots of views too. Our thanks to Jonny Sanlon for all his work in this area. We had a different chairman each night, mainly ministers from local churches – Rev Christoph Ebbinghaus, Geoff McIlrath, Rev Jim Cheshire. Keith McIlwaine, David Johnston, and Jason Brodie from the committee also chaired an evening. Mark Johnston of Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church band, Neil Stewart and Greyabbey Presbyterian Band, Jude Frame, and Roger Irvine and Trinity Band led the praise, over the week. New Irish led our praise on the opening and closing evenings and Ruth Manning led us in praise at the morning Bible studies and ladies event. Ruth and I and Ivan Millen had a couple of meetings with the praise leaders this year about the praise to chat about the use of older and newer songs etc and we feel it really paid off. Several people commented on the great praise this year. Absence of face masks also helped. The praise leaders asked if a member of the committee could pray with the praise band before the evening meetings and they really appreciated that too. We are grateful to Lorraine Moore for the creativity and inspiration of the new look Global Village back this year with a coffee hub served by Adopt a child, a prayer area, Oscar and a Living Library where people could chat to a missionary. The committee met six times over the year – February, May, June, September, October, December, 2022 was a great Convention and we are thankful to God for His blessing on all that took place. ## **Financial Review** The Convention’s Financial Year runs from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. As indicated in our accounts, the Convention was able to pass on £125,606 to charitable work carried out by other Mission Agencies. When our expenses in organising the annual Convention of £55,903 are taken into account our Income exceeded our Expenditure by £1,299. As a result the Convention’s balance at the end of the financial year was £11,684. The Convention has no debts nor any other reserves. ## **Future Strategic Plans** In the forthcoming year to December 2023, as well as continuing the regular work of promoting global mission, Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention plans to strategically develop in the following areas - 1 Enhance our connections with local clergy - 2 Enhance our connections with young people and young adults - 3 Expand our social media activity - 4 Complete the work on the upgrade of our computer-based financial processes. Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf: Lesley Stewart Secretary