## Stonepark Baptist Church (107603) ## **Trustees’ Report for Year Ending 31[st] December 2022** ## **Objectives and activities** Stonepark Baptist Church (“the Church”) acknowledges the headship of Jesus Christ over his Church and exists to glorify the triune God by maintaining and promoting his worship both individually and corporately. The principal charitable object of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the teaching of scripture, understood in its historical and evangelical sense, the Doctrinal Statement and Baptist principles. Its members devote themselves to the teaching of scripture, to fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer and evangelism. The activities carried out by the Church include: - holding regular services for public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching for all age groups; - providing pastoral care to the members of the church through visitation and prayer; - organizing meetings and events that promote our charitable purpose; - participating in the life of the local community; - supporting other Christian organizations and charities through volunteering, financial gifts and prayer. The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the church should undertake. ## **Achievements and performance** The Church meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of the Christian faith. 2022 was another eventful year for the church that meets at Stonepark. For the past few years, church members have been praying earnestly that we would see folk being baptised and added to the church. It was a thrill to see those prayers answered when two adherents obeyed their Lord and were baptised and, with their husbands, were received into membership of the church. During the course of the year, the church made an historic decision. The church members unanimously agreed to increase the percentage of our offerings designated for missions from 10% to 20% with a large proportion of this to be used for the support of Colin Gervais. Colin has begun work with Baptist Missions, engaging in evangelism and church planting in the border areas of Fermanagh. Outlined below is a summary of the many church activities during 2022. ## **Sunday Services** Weekly Sunday morning and evening services were held in the church building. Both morning and evening services continue to be streamed live to Facebook and YouTube. ## **Sunday School and Bible Class** Three Sunday school classes of primary school age children and one class of post-primary teenagers met each Sunday morning at 10.00am, where they were instructed in God’s word. ## **Junior BYF** The Junior Youth Fellowship involves around 15-20 children of primary school age from the Church family as well as other children from the local community. It meets from 7.00-8.00pm each Friday evening, during term time. Each week the children sing choruses, learn a Bible verse, listen to a Bible story and compete in a quiz. After the Summer break the Autumn program commenced in September with some new members. ## **Senior BYF** About 20 children of secondary school age, from the Church and the local community, attend the Senior Youth Fellowship, which meets each Friday evening from 8.00-9.30pm. The meeting begins with praise hymns before a Bible study, usually from a guest speaker, is delivered, which is followed by snacks and games. This year, with COVID restrictions lifted, the young people and leaders enjoyed a residential weekend at Sheep Island View, on the North Coast. ## **Baptist Women** The ladies organised three very successful Walk and Talk outreach evenings in May. About 50 women attended each evening and, following the scenic walk and healthy snacks, listened attentively to a gospel message. The Walk and Talk program finished with a Saturday morning ladies’ breakfast and gospel message, attended by a record number of 45 women. ## **Children’s Outreach** During May, June and July, 5-day clubs met in the local towns and villages. To the usual list of Brookeborough, Maguiresbridge, Fivemiletown, Tempo and Clabby, two additional meetings were held in Newtownbutler and Donagh. In August a very successful week-long Epic Explorers outreach program, for primary and post-primary children, was held each evening in Fivemiletown College. This was very well supported by the local community with over 80 primary and 30-40 post-primary children attending each meeting. The children heard a clear gospel message during this week of outreach. ## **Enniskillen Outreach** On the first Saturday of each month Pastor Dowds conducted an Open-Air meeting in Enniskillen town centre, where the gospel was preached and tracts were distributed. ## **School Assemblies** Pastor Dowds has continued taking assemblies in the local Primary Schools. ## **Nursing Homes** During 2022, monthly outreach meetings continued in Colorado, Northwick House, St. Macartans and Gilbrooke Nursing Homes. ## **Calendars** In December over 1,000 calendars were delivered to homes in Rosslea, Donagh, Newtownbutler, Derrylin, and Lisnaskea. ## **Missionary Committee** There were 13 visiting speakers during 2022 with representatives from Asia Link, SGA and Reachacross speaking at the annual Missionary Focus Weekend. Colin & Debbie Gervais are joining Baptist Missions with a view to establishing a new church plant in the border area of Co Fermanagh. As a Church family we have committed to provide financial support for them as well as supporting Missionary work at similar levels to previous years. Reflecting on 2022 we realise that we have many reasons to praise the Lord. Truly we can say with the Psalmist, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23).