## **ANNUAL REPORT FOR MILLTOWN BAPTIST – 2022** 

## **TRUSTEES REPORT** 

This was a very different year for the church at Milltown Baptist as we underwent a major refurbishment and our Pastor took a well-deserved sabbatical.  We want to take this opportunity to thank all the members for their patience and good will during the period with no kitchen, heating or sports hall.  However we ended the year with a life group dinner prepared in our new kitchen, with a new heating system and the promise of a soon to be completed sports hall and our Pastor back from his sabbatical. 

Despite the refurbishment our ministry and work continued and at the end of his student placement we employed a part time community pastor to help maintain our community contact during the Pastors sabbatical. 

We also wish to thank Newtownbreda Baptist for supplying speakers during the sabbatical period. 

Our membership numbers have remained stable and while we had considerable expense with the refurbishment we had set aside funds to cover this.  We also would like to thank everyone who gave very generously to the new kitchen and this helped offset the costs.  We would also wish to thank our facilities key leader and everyone else who helped during the refurbishment and enabled the refurbishment to be completed. 

Financially we remain in stable position and thanks to the members and friends who so faithfully support the work of the church financially, prayerful and in ministry. 

## **CHURCH ACTIVITIES** 

## **Children & Youth** 

We have a number of activities for our children and youth, with most resuming after lockdown. 

**Kids club KFC** – met during the year with approximately 15 children attending.  KFC provides a community for children to enjoy games, hear stories from the bible, singing songs and having quizzes.  The children sung at the carol service and many of the families attended. 

**Rock Solid** – Sunday morning activity for primary school children during the sermon.  Activities vary and include games, memory verse, bible story, quiz, craft, worksheets and songs.  Rock Solid normally runs 3 times a month during term time. 

**Parents and Tots** – we were not able to offer this in 2022 due to shortage or leaders and the sports hall not being available.  However we plan to re-start this in the new year when the sports hall becomes available again. 

## **Adult** 

- House groups met every alternative week 

- Prayer meeting is on alternative Wednesdays 

- Sunday morning worship continued all year.  We have continued the online ministry as this is popular with those unable to attend the service in person. 



- We introduced a new 1[st] Wednesday prayer meeting in the morning for those who are unable to attend an evening prayer meeting. 

## **Pastoral** 

Our pastoral care continued throughout the year with our community Pastor being involved during our Pastor’s sabbatical.  Pastoral care continues with in person and by phone. 

## **Senior’s** 

This ministry continued throughout the year with some activities moving into the main church.  The leaders had to be adaptable as for part of the year no kitchen was available.  In December all the Seniors met for a Christmas special. 

**Beta Group** – We normally meet twice a month and our attendance remains steady with 12-14 regularly attending. 

**Fellowship Hour** - The group meet once a month for tea/coffee, followed by exercise time, singing followed by a guest speaker.  We meet 10 times during 2022 with an average attendance of 15-20. 

**Time for Men** – a group of senior men who meet every Wednesday to play games, chat, have some tea and toast and listen to a short thought from the bible. 

**The 3 CCC’s** – the ladies enjoy various craft activities and a chat on alternative Wednesday mornings. 

## **Community** 

We have a good relationship with many in our local community and our Pastor has been involved in weddings, funerals, child dedication and visiting those in need. 

Dreamscheme (youth outreach) was unable to use our premises due to the refurbishment but have been able to borrow facilities with another local church.  We have been discussing their resumption in the spring when the work on the sports hall is complete. 

## **Mission** 

We have been supporting Made for More, a local charity working with young people supporting their mental health.  We continue to support a missions worker with the local Chinese community. 

Approved and adopted by a meeting of the Trustees on September 18[th ] 2023 and signed on their behalf, 

## Roger Lindsay Trustee