• • • • • • •
Counties, 30 Haynes Road, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3HD
Connecting communities through the love of Jesus
Counties (formerly Counties Evangelistic Work) is a Registered Charity No. 264278 and a Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 01041761
IMPACT REPORT 2O19-2O20
Call us on 01373 823013
Facebook @counties
Email office@countiesuk.org
Instagram @thisiscounties
Visit countiesuk.org
Twitter @countiesceo
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube Sign up for our free magazine Ignite Receive our monthly enews Join us in daily prayers through our Praise & Prayer Diary Share our work with your church Support evangelism through a gift Leave a legacy
Ways you can continue to help support Counties:
Your partnership in giving and praying has made a real difference to communities across the UK.
Thank you for all the support you have given to Counties over the past year. Making Jesus known across the UK
Welcome
God is faithful and we are delighted to share some highlights with you from the last year of how the Lord has continued to use and bless the work of Counties across the United Kingdom. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. Like everyone else across the globe, Counties has faced the challenges of living with Covid-19. The first half of our year (October to March) saw growing numbers attend our schools resources, new teams trained on our Neighbourhood Chaplains programme, and new opportunities arise for preaching the Gospel and planting new churches. However, Covid-19 has brought both challenges and opportunities.
Highlights team have met the needs head on, with online and internet ministry growing and having a great impact, and evangelists and Neighbourhood Chaplains finding creative and innovative ways to make Jesus known. For example, 34,000 people have been reached via our Counties Connect online programmes, which did not exist in March! Thousands have been reached with the Good News, but the needs are still many. Can I encourage you to continue to ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9v38 In Him
able to support “It’s great to be I remind them seafarers again. for them and that I am here
ly, so is God!”
more important
Steve Loader, Counties Bristol evangelist and Sea Chaplain Counties Planting Network trained
64
Church Planters in
10
teams
220
people joined together at the Connect Conference – which focused on church planting in February 2020
Martin Erwin, Counties CEO
ng of bringing
100
Over trained volunteers are now reaching out to their communities through Neighbourhood Chaplains schemes across the country
17
4
new trainee evangelists joined Counties
Our network of evangelists gave more than
be really “We continue to all that’s going encouraged with y opportunities on and the man
that we are seei
people to faith.”
30,000
2
hours of outreach in their communities
students completed the TEAM training programme for young people
Counties reached over
34,000
people through its new Life and Church Connect video shows on Facebook and YouTube
For example, schools resources not able to visit schools and churches, preaching opportunities restricted and cancelled and training programmes postponed.
Ours schools resources (before lockdown) welcomed
20,337
However, that has created opportunities, and the Counties
children and adults to learn about Jesus’ teachings
Richard Canham, Chair of Trustees
IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020
IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020
• • • • • • •
IMPACT REPORT 2O19-2O20
Counties (formerly Counties Evangelistic Work) is a Registered Charity No. 264278 and a Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 01041761
Connecting communities through the love of Jesus
Counties, 30 Haynes Road, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3HD Twitter @countiesceo
Visit countiesuk.org
Instagram @thisiscounties
Email office@countiesuk.org
Facebook @counties
Call us on 01373 823013
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube Sign up for our free magazine Ignite Receive our monthly enews Join us in daily prayers through our Praise & Prayer Diary Share our work with your church Support evangelism through a gift Leave a legacy
Ways you can continue to help support Counties:
Your partnership in giving and praying has made a real difference to communities across the UK.
Thank you for all the support you have given to Counties over the past year. Making Jesus known across the UK
Welcome
God is faithful and we are delighted to share some highlights with you from the last year of how the Lord has continued to use and bless the work of Counties across the United Kingdom. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. Like everyone else across the globe, Counties has faced the challenges of living with Covid-19. The first half of our year (October to March) saw growing numbers attend our schools resources, new teams trained on our Neighbourhood Chaplains programme, and new opportunities arise for preaching the Gospel and planting new churches. However, Covid-19 has brought both challenges and opportunities.
Highlights team have met the needs head on, with online and internet ministry growing and having a great impact, and evangelists and Neighbourhood Chaplains finding creative and innovative ways to make Jesus known. For example, 34,000 people have been reached via our Counties Connect online programmes, which did not exist in March! Thousands have been reached with the Good News, but the needs are still many. Can I encourage you to continue to ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9v38 In Him
IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020
Steve Loader, Counties Bristol evangelist and Sea Chaplain Counties Planting Network trained
64
Church Planters in
10
220
Our network of evangelists gave more than
be really “We continue to all that’s going encouraged with y opportunities on and the man ng of bringing that we are seei people to faith.”
teams
people joined together at the Connect Conference – which focused on church planting in February 2020
Martin Erwin, Counties CEO
30,000
hours of outreach in their communities Counties reached over
34,000
people through its new Life and Church Connect video shows on Facebook and YouTube
For example, schools resources not able to visit schools and churches, preaching opportunities restricted and cancelled and training programmes postponed. However, that has created opportunities, and the Counties
able to support “It’s great to be I remind them seafarers again. for them and that I am here ly, so is God!” more important
100
Over trained volunteers are now reaching out to their communities through Neighbourhood Chaplains schemes across the country
17
4
new trainee evangelists joined Counties
2
students completed the TEAM training programme for young people
Ours schools resources (before lockdown) welcomed
20,337 Richard Canham, Chair of Trustees
children and adults to learn about Jesus’ teachings IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020
• • • • • • •
IMPACT REPORT 2O19-2O20
Counties (formerly Counties Evangelistic Work) is a Registered Charity No. 264278 and a Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 01041761
Connecting communities through the love of Jesus
Counties, 30 Haynes Road, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3HD Twitter @countiesceo
Visit countiesuk.org
Instagram @thisiscounties
Email office@countiesuk.org
Facebook @counties
Call us on 01373 823013
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube Sign up for our free magazine Ignite Receive our monthly enews Join us in daily prayers through our Praise & Prayer Diary Share our work with your church Support evangelism through a gift Leave a legacy
Ways you can continue to help support Counties:
Your partnership in giving and praying has made a real difference to communities across the UK.
Thank you for all the support you have given to Counties over the past year. Making Jesus known across the UK
Welcome
God is faithful and we are delighted to share some highlights with you from the last year of how the Lord has continued to use and bless the work of Counties across the United Kingdom. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. Like everyone else across the globe, Counties has faced the challenges of living with Covid-19. The first half of our year (October to March) saw growing numbers attend our schools resources, new teams trained on our Neighbourhood Chaplains programme, and new opportunities arise for preaching the Gospel and planting new churches. However, Covid-19 has brought both challenges and opportunities.
Highlights team have met the needs head on, with online and internet ministry growing and having a great impact, and evangelists and Neighbourhood Chaplains finding creative and innovative ways to make Jesus known. For example, 34,000 people have been reached via our Counties Connect online programmes, which did not exist in March! Thousands have been reached with the Good News, but the needs are still many. Can I encourage you to continue to ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9v38 In Him
IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020
Steve Loader, Counties Bristol evangelist and Sea Chaplain Counties Planting Network trained
64
Church Planters in
10
220
Our network of evangelists gave more than
be really “We continue to all that’s going encouraged with y opportunities on and the man ng of bringing that we are seei people to faith.”
teams
people joined together at the Connect Conference – which focused on church planting in February 2020
Martin Erwin, Counties CEO
30,000
hours of outreach in their communities Counties reached over
34,000
people through its new Life and Church Connect video shows on Facebook and YouTube
For example, schools resources not able to visit schools and churches, preaching opportunities restricted and cancelled and training programmes postponed. However, that has created opportunities, and the Counties
able to support “It’s great to be I remind them seafarers again. for them and that I am here ly, so is God!” more important
100
Over trained volunteers are now reaching out to their communities through Neighbourhood Chaplains schemes across the country
17
4
new trainee evangelists joined Counties
2
students completed the TEAM training programme for young people
Ours schools resources (before lockdown) welcomed
20,337 Richard Canham, Chair of Trustees
children and adults to learn about Jesus’ teachings IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020
Making connections across the UK 75,599
Equipping evangelists Counties continues to follow the teaching of Ephesians 4:11,12 to pray for, train and appoint trainees, students and evangelists to join us into the harvest field and model, train and equip others to reach a generation for Christ. This year we welcomed four new Counties trainees - Jackson Turner (Leeds), Aaron Shah (North Shields), Liz David (Cardiff) and Jonny Gios (Kendal). We also welcomed our TEAM students Zac Whitehouse (Swansea) and Ruth Chisholm (North Devon). Evangelists Jacquie Bodman (Camborne) and Lee Marsland (Oldham) completed their training, along with Mark Bingham, Shaun Almond and Jamie Broadey. Congratulations to TEAM students Tom Binding and Lizzie Bell who completed the gap year TEAM training programme.
God transforms sailor ’s life Seafarer Dustin has a lot to be thankful for – he met and married his wife Melissa, and earlier this year the couple celebrated the birth of their baby son Elijah. But only a few years ago, Dustin’s life had reached such a low point because of dire working conditions on-board the ship he was on. Thanks to the prayers from his family, his life reached a turning point when he met Counties evangelist and sea chaplain Steve Loader at Bristol docks, who with the help of others, helped Dustin get his life back on track. Dustin said: “The Lord has moved mountains in my life, I wouldn’t be here today without Him. I thought I had lost everything and could see no way forward, but my life has now changed so much!” Counties evangelist Steve Loader said: “When I first met Dustin he had not been paid for many months and his working conditions were awful. With the help of others, I got him off his ship and he was paid all wages that were owed to him. I remained in touch and was delighted to attend his wedding. It’s wonderful to see that Dustin is born again and his life has drastically changed for the better! I told Dustin that God has been good to him, which he replied: ‘Yes he certainly has!’”
Dying church gets new lease of life A small village chapel, close to a well-known centre for the occult, was in danger of closing its doors earlier this year but thanks to an intervention from Counties Planting Network it is now welcoming new people from the community. Meare Community Church, which sits three miles north of Glastonbury in Somerset, was on the brink of closure earlier this year after the trustees decided to close it. That’s when Counties’ Somerset evangelist Mike Strange stepped in, with the support of Counties Planting Network. Mike said: “We are pleased to say that every week brings fresh encouragements as new folk arrive (before lockdown) and as the Holy Spirit blesses and moves in our services. Our online services continue to attract more people from our community.”
Volunteers from Counties Neighbourhood Chaplains scheme have been rallying local groups to support the most vulnerable people in their communities.
online chats about the Christian faith
1,228
talks were given at local churches by Counties evangelists and associates
86,822
pupils listened to stories of Jesus presented by Counties evangelists
The scheme, which aims to support the lonely through friendship, prayers and practical support, has adapted its methods in light of the lockdown and the current pandemic.
1,682 indications of salvation
551
schools were visited by Counties evangelists
*based on figures from October 2019 – August 2020
Helping school children to learn who Jesus is Over the last year our amazing schools resources reached children and young people with the Christian message, until lockdown forced the units and exhibitions to be temporarily closed. From September 2019 to March 2020: • Key to Life visited 9 towns and cities and 24 primary schools, with 3,009 pupils exploring how the story of Jesus is key to Christianity. • The Life exhibition went to 7 venues, with around 800 people visiting each venue from 40 primary schools. • GSUS Live went to 24 secondary schools with 11,845 pupils who were helped to learn more about the Christian faith. oman via the ith a young w w ly nt ce re ed s “I chatt the Coronaviru nxious about a s a w e Sh . s website r grandparent ed out that he rn tu it nd a n o situatio she used to g ten years ago nd a ch ur ch go to . Sunday School with them to s been thinking began, she ha n ow d ck lo “Since and wanted rd back then a he e sh t ha about w s now about it, she ha ne eo m so ith w to chat has started to eetJ’ app and ‘m r ou ed d downloa on it.” sus each day Je t ou b a e or learn m
Matt Rich, Counties Cumbrian evangelist and founder of Chatnow.org and CoronavirusSupport.uk websites.
Local teams across the country have joined forces with other groups in their areas to provide help with grocery shopping, helplines, bereavement support and prayer. Over 100 people are now trained as Neighbourhood Chaplains in 17 established schemes across the country.
The Counties AGM in April saw over 30 connect online to review Counties work. The evangelists were recognised again for another year, which is a key part of each AGM meeting. Updates were also given on the financial situation and new training and other developments. Almost 100 people joined together over Zoom in June for Counties Day, with Stephen McQuoid, preaching on the challenges facing churches in the UK during Covid 19. The programme included teaching, prayer, news and training updates, and then moved to breakout rooms for the evangelists to spend time in their regional Cluster groups.
Thousands engage with new video
channel
A new video channel with daily devotional videos and a magazine show was launched by Counties. Reaching thousands of people via social media each week, Life Connect features Counties evangelists, staff and guests presenting video devotionals. Church Connect digs deeper into the Bible, evangelism and explores topical issues for church leaders.
A gazebo-style outdoor church was launched in a Wiltshire village after requests from neighbours, all done whilst still observing social distancing regulations. Evangelist Jonathan Brain explains: “We’re all getting used to this brand new, old-fashioned, early church, Acts 2 way of doing things! God’s plans are always consistently much better and easier than my finest plan. I need to just wait on God and be ever ready to do only what He says. He has a plan where He wants to take this. “This has been a most extraordinarily unexpected blessing, like a surfer catching a wonderfully, memorable wave immortalised in a photo. May God have all the glory. May there be far more of Him and far less of me.”
• • • • • • •
Counties, 30 Haynes Road, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3HD
Connecting communities through the love of Jesus
Counties (formerly Counties Evangelistic Work) is a Registered Charity No. 264278 and a Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 01041761
IMPACT REPORT 2O19-2O20
Call us on 01373 823013
Facebook @counties
Email office@countiesuk.org
Instagram @thisiscounties
Visit countiesuk.org
Twitter @countiesceo
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube Sign up for our free magazine Ignite Receive our monthly enews Join us in daily prayers through our Praise & Prayer Diary Share our work with your church Support evangelism through a gift Leave a legacy
Ways you can continue to help support Counties:
Your partnership in giving and praying has made a real difference to communities across the UK.
Thank you for all the support you have given to Counties over the past year. Making Jesus known across the UK
Welcome
God is faithful and we are delighted to share some highlights with you from the last year of how the Lord has continued to use and bless the work of Counties across the United Kingdom. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. Like everyone else across the globe, Counties has faced the challenges of living with Covid-19. The first half of our year (October to March) saw growing numbers attend our schools resources, new teams trained on our Neighbourhood Chaplains programme, and new opportunities arise for preaching the Gospel and planting new churches. However, Covid-19 has brought both challenges and opportunities.
Highlights team have met the needs head on, with online and internet ministry growing and having a great impact, and evangelists and Neighbourhood Chaplains finding creative and innovative ways to make Jesus known. For example, 34,000 people have been reached via our Counties Connect online programmes, which did not exist in March! Thousands have been reached with the Good News, but the needs are still many. Can I encourage you to continue to ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9v38 In Him
ng of bringing
able to support “It’s great to be I remind them seafarers again. for them and that I am here
ly, so is God!”
more important
Steve Loader, Counties Bristol evangelist and Sea Chaplain Counties Planting Network trained
64
Church Planters in
10
teams
220
people joined together at the Connect Conference – which focused on church planting in February 2020
Martin Erwin, Counties CEO
100
Over trained volunteers are now reaching out to their communities through Neighbourhood Chaplains schemes across the country
17
4
new trainee evangelists joined Counties
Our network of evangelists gave more than
be really “We continue to all that’s going encouraged with y opportunities on and the man
that we are seei
people to faith.”
30,000
2
hours of outreach in their communities
students completed the TEAM training programme for young people
Counties reached over
34,000
people through its new Life and Church Connect video shows on Facebook and YouTube
For example, schools resources not able to visit schools and churches, preaching opportunities restricted and cancelled and training programmes postponed.
Ours schools resources (before lockdown) welcomed
20,337
However, that has created opportunities, and the Counties
children and adults to learn about Jesus’ teachings
Richard Canham, Chair of Trustees
IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020
IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020