ANNUAL REPORT FOR MILLTOWN BAPTIST – 2023
TRUSTEES REPORT 2023
We started the year on a posi/ve note with the major refurbishment in our hall and hea/ng system completed. This gave us the opportunity to restart our Tiny Tots morning and to make full use of the hall and kitchen.
Nathan Anderson our community pastor finished his /me with us in June 2023 and we thank him for his work in both the church and the local community during his /me with us.
We had 3 indoor picnics during the year, including one to celebrate the Corona/on. This was a great way of bringing all the church together for lunch aFer the Sunday Service.
Another new event was a church weekend, which was held in Bushmills. We were able to spend /me together in an informal seIng and enjoy some teaching from a local youth worker.
During the summer we celebrated the wedding of Mr & Mrs Hamilton and they held their recep/on in the church.
As a church we s/ll face challenges with the numbers of workers we have to run our ac/vi/es. We want to record our thanks to all the workers and leaders who work so hard to keep all our ac/vi/es running.
Financially we remain in stable posi/on 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 ac/vi/es for our children and youth,
Kids club KFC – KFC provides a community for children to enjoy games, craFs, hear stories from the bible, singing songs and having quizzes. At Christmas a special party night was organised and the families of some of the children came along.
Rock Solid – Sunday morning ac/vity for primary school children during the sermon. Ac/vi/es vary and include games, memory verse, bible story, quiz, craF, worksheets and songs. Rock Solid normally runs three /mes a month during term /me.
Parents and Tots – restarted in February with a new name “Tiny Tots” and a new team. We refurbished the toys that had been in storage during lockdown and replaced the tables and chairs. We have made a good contact with the local community and most of the adults and children aVending are from the local area.
In August a mission for the local kids was held and a Fun Day for the community which was very successful.
Adult
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House groups met every alterna/ve week
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Prayer mee/ng is on alterna/ve Wednesdays
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Sunday morning worship con/nued all year. We have con/nued the online ministry as this is popular with those unable to aVend the service in person.
Pastoral
Our pastoral care con/nued throughout the year. Pastoral care con/nues with in person and by phone.
Senior’s
This ministry con/nued throughout the year. Numbers aVending varied and unfortunately, a number of our regular aVenders and leaders are now too frail to come along.
During the summer a special lunch was held to celebrate the King’s Corona/on and in December all the Seniors came together for a lunch and a /me of carol singing to celebrate the Christmas season.
Beta Group : Normally meet twice a month and a group of seniors get together to have an informal bible study.
Fellowship Hour : The group meet once a month for tea/coffee, followed by exercise /me, singing followed by a guest speaker.
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 craF ac/vi/es and a chat on alterna/ve Wednesday mornings. In June a coffee morning and sale was held and collected over a £1000 for the work of Feed my Lambs in Cambodia.
Community
We have a good rela/onship with many in our local community and our Pastor has been involved in weddings, funerals, child dedica/ons and visi/ng those in need.
Dreamscheme returned to using our premises in September and they con/nue to support the local youth encouraging their personal growth.
Mission
We have been suppor/ng Made for More, a local charity working with young people suppor/ng their mental health. We con/nue to support a missions worker with the local Chinese community.
Approved and adopted by a mee/ng of the Trustees on Jun 4th 2024 and signed on their behalf,
Roger Lindsay Trustee