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2023-12-31-annual-report

BANGOR WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY CONVENTION

Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] December 2023

Charity no: NIC101371

Contents

General Information

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.

Strategic Priorities for the year

Worldwide Missionary Convention 2023- main activities Honorary Secretary’s Report

Honorary Secretary’s Report

The 87[th] Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention took place between Friday 18[th] August to Saturday 26[th] August 2023 in Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church. Our theme was Arise Shine from Isaiah 60.

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 Dick Brogden, Live Dead Movement, brought a “Word of Encouragement”.

After last year’s very successful 20’s & 30’s Equip event we ran it again this year on Friday night and Saturday. On Friday night Steve Auld, Great Victoria Street Baptist, spoke and on Saturday Dick Brogden.

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 the NI Premier of “If Prison Walls could speak”. A one man multi media performance by the Artless Theatre Company. It tells the true story of the imprisonment of a believer in a Sudanese jail. About 400 people attended. We sponsored Artless Theatre Company for the week and it took the show to Dollingstown on Sunday evening, Magherafelt on Thursday evening and Dublin on Friday evening.

Following on from the success of our Supporter churches we had a United Sunday night Celebration in Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church. It was well attended and several ministers in the town took part in hosting the meeting, and praying. The emphasis throughout the evening was the Bible from the days of John Wycliffe up to the present day featuring Ricky Ferguson of Wycliffe Bible translators, Dick Brogden, Live Dead and Lisa Flach Africa Inland Mission.

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.

The morning Bible studies with Chris Wright were inspirational. He spoke from Isaiah.

Continuing on from last year we ran a crèche led by Liz and her team of willing helpers.

And one of our new initiatives this year was the children's Holiday Club led by CEF, which also ran during the morning Bible studies.

Another new initiative this year was forming a partnership with the Faith Mission Gospel truck, a 40ft articulated lorry. It was parked at the Marina from Monday – Friday and members of the public could visit for a cup of coffee, view the literature and chat to the team. Andrew Maybin, the team leader was very encouraged by the interest with hundreds of books and bibles given away throughout the week, many people receiving prayer, many people sign posted to a local church

On Monday evening our theme was Africa and Veena O’Sullivan, Tearfund and Dr Harvey Kwiyani, Global Connections were our speakers. Chris Wright brought a closing challenge on Monday and Tuesday evening.

Europe was the theme on Tuesday evening with Glenn Bowden of Acre and Kostya Bakanov of ECMI.

Our treasurer, Cecil McWilliams also shared an up-to-date report on Worldwide finances.

Dick Brogden was our speaker on Wednesday evening where our theme was the Middle East.

We also had an interview with a group who went on a prayer trip to the Middle East. Dai Hankey brought the closing challenge on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Our Thursday afternoon’s Ladies event was held again in the beautiful surroundings of Bangor Parish church again with refreshments to start. We heard from Kate Namate, ShineHisLight – Street Family Org, Kenya and from Naomi Dudgeon who works with the Faith Mission in West Belfast.

Thursday evening had a focus on mission within in Ireland and the UK. We heard from Eddie Floyd of Fireblade Ministries and Ronnie McCracken from Escol Ministries.

Members of the New Irish Choir and orchestra led our praise on Friday night and Dai Hankey spoke. It really was a very uplifting and challenging occasion After last year's breakthrough, we were delighted to see the Youth and Young Adults events well supported again. Dai Hankey, was the speaker.

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, Rev Jim Cheshire. Colin Dickson, Keith McIlwaine, and Jason Brodie from the committee also chaired an evening.

Mark Johnston of Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church band, Neil Stewart and Greyabbey Presbyterian Band, Roger Irvine and Trinity Band led the praise, over the week. New Irish led our praise on the closing evenings and Ruth Manning led us in praise at the morning Bible studies and her daughters at the ladies event. Ruth and Ivan Millen prayed with the praise band before the evening meetings and they really appreciated that again this year.

We are grateful to Lorraine Moore for the creativity and inspiration of the new look Global Village. There was a real buzz about the Global Village each night with a coffee hub served by several of the mission agencies throughout the week, a prayer area, Oscar and a Living Library where people could chat to a missionary. The committee met six times over the year – February, April, June, September, October, December, 2023 was another great Convention. We are grateful to God for His many rich blessings during Convention week.

Financial Review

The Convention’s Financial Year runs from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

As indicated in our accounts, the Convention was able to pass on £84,065 to charitable work carried out by other Mission Agencies. When our expenses in organising the annual Convention of £43,159 are taken into account our Income exceeded our Expenditure by £142,699. As a result the Convention’s balance at the end of the financial year was £107,108 The Convention has no debts nor any other reserves.

Future Strategic Plans

In the forthcoming year to December 2024, as well as continuing the regular work of promoting global mission, Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention plans to strategically develop in the following areas

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf:

Lesley Stewart Secretary