Contents
- Foreword
- About William Carey Missions
- WCM Workers
- Looking Back at 2023
- Looking Ahead to 2024
- Financial
Foreword
Before you lies the second annual report of the William Carey Missions Foundation, covering the year 2023. With great gratitude we present this report to you. As a board, we look back on a blessed year in which we noticed that the work made progress, that the “De Olijfberg” project continued to grow, and that people came to faith. We hope that dependence on the Lord may continue to mark us, and we pray that in this report you may above all see the work of the Lord, which He in His goodness does through us and through all who are involved in the work of WCM. On behalf of the board, we wish you God’s blessing.
About William Carey Missions
The William Carey Missions Foundation was established in 2021 by a group of committed people from various church denominations, with the shared goal of making the message of the Gospel known both in proclamation and in deed. The idea behind William Carey Missions is to actively engage in mission work according to the great commission that the Christian church received from the Lord Jesus Himself: Go therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19, HSV).
A number of elements can be found in this commission. First of all, the command to go to all parts of the earth, to teach there and to proclaim the message of the Gospel. In addition, there is the element of teaching all nations. Literally: making disciples which is linked to baptizing and learning to walk in God’s ways. And then teaching them to do all that I have commanded you, says Jesus. That is an extensive commission. One of those commands is to proclaim the gospel not only in words, but also in deed. That means: doing good to the people around us. To model for people throughout the whole world obedience to the two great commandments: to serve God above all else and (which is like the first) to love our neighbour as ourselves. So it is about proclaiming the gospel and, at the same time, in loving our neighbour, living out that message in everyday practice.
William Carey Missions regards making disciples and teaching them to give shape in practice to being a disciple as its most important task. In the full awareness and knowledge that it is God Himself who ultimately makes people willing to follow Him. The most powerful means to that end is to follow the Lord ourselves as a disciple in the practice of everyday life. That is what we try to do in the Netherlands and in Ecuador.
The name William Carey Missions was chosen in memory of a British missionary who worked in the northeast of present-day India. William Carey Missions does not have the same field of work, but wishes to stand in the same ideology and theology as this missionary, who is regarded as the founder of faith missions on a Reformed basis. His commitment to, among other things, Bible translation work, motivating mission within existing churches, founding institutes for training, sending out local missionaries, and his commitment to the social issues within the missionary context, inspire our foundation.
William Carey Missions is not directly affiliated with any church institution or denomination. It can therefore be regarded as a “faith mission” movement.
WCM Workers
During the period of 2023, the following workers were able to contribute to the work of the William Carey Missions Foundation:
Peter and Marije Fris have lived in Quevedo, Ecuador since 2017 and have been formally affiliated with the work of WCM since October 1, 2021. Peter and Marije lead the “Monte de los Olívos” (De Olijfberg) project in Quevedo. Peter and Marije have six children, Juda, Anna, Josia, Naema, Ruchama and Abigaïl.
Nick and Nynke den Heijer lived in 2023 with their children Luca, Sela and Nehemia in Benthuizen and have been admitted to WCM’s training programme since 2022, with the aim of being sent out to Ecuador at the beginning of 2024.
Looking Back at 2023
With great gratitude, as a foundation we look back on the establishment and start of the work in Quevedo. A great deal has been done and has happened. Much of it cannot be captured in figures. The most important thing is that our workers in the field, together with the many local workers and volunteers of “De Olijfberg”, may regularly bear witness to God’s work in people’s hearts and may be used to lead people to Christ.
Furlough
The Fris family enjoyed a furlough of about 2.5 months in the Netherlands, during which various presentations were given at churches, schools and organisations. They stayed in Moerkapelle.
Security
The security situation in Quevedo deteriorated significantly, especially towards the end of 2023. The government entered into a harsh confrontation with the criminal organisations, which generated an explosion of violence. At the same time, we may note that the protecting hand of the Lord has been over the workers. Nothing happened to them, although they have witnessed violence and have been closely involved in robberies and shootings. There was an attempted break-in at De Olijfberg. As a result, night-time security was put in place and cameras were installed.
Appointment and Training
In 2022, Nick and Nynke den Heijer were admitted to the training programme, for which a track of just over a year was deliberately chosen. This track covers many elements, such as an extensive psychological assessment, mission training, Bible school, foreign internships and theological equipping. Various experienced organisations are used for this, such as IntoMissions, Bijbelschool Gospel Missions, InTransit and others. The training programme is supervised by Peter and Marije Fris in consultation with the board. By the end of 2023, the training programme was as good as completed. Due to the birth of a child, the moment of being sent out was postponed to January 2024.
De Olijfberg – Purchase, (Re)construction and Development
Following the purchase and initial construction of the project site in 2021, the development of the facilities continued, thanks to the support received!
In 2023, various construction activities were initiated:
- A large canopy of about 275 m2 was placed on the upper floor of the main building, creating a multifunctional activity space that is used for Bible studies, children’s club and other activities;
- The part of the main building that was not yet in use was converted into a computer room that can be used as a study centre, office space, storage and workshop;
- A TinyHouse was developed, which can be used for 24-hour care.
De Olijfberg – Activities
In 2023 the following activities were set up/continued at the “De Olijfberg” project site:
- Bible studies, weekly on Thursday evenings;
- Youth gatherings, every two weeks on Sunday afternoons;
- Vacation Bible weeks (annually, 1 week);
- Women’s conference (annually);
- Women’s gatherings, monthly;
- Children’s club, every two weeks;
- Christian counselling for families and couples;
- Sports activities;
- Church services (as of June 2024);
- Homework guidance in the afternoons;
- Courses and equipping;
- Toddler playgroup, two mornings a week.
In 2023, 13 people were baptized, of whom 10 in the congregation that meets at the “De Olijfberg” site.
Support for Churches
The local Ecuadorian congregation “El Divino Salvador” received support from the foundation through May 2023. After that, the support was ended and leadership was transferred. The gatherings were moved to the “De Olijfberg” site.
Evangelism Activities
WCM continually seeks to support evangelism activities in Quevedo. On several occasions, campaigns were held, with door-to-door evangelism, flyering in the city centre, and above all a great deal of relational evangelism, aimed at building lasting contact and using that as a means of sharing the Gospel.
Looking Ahead to 2024
In all the plans that are made, we confess that we are dependent on the Lord, Who must give us the possibilities and the guidance for and towards them.
Training
The training and preparation for sending out the den Heijer family will be continued. The focus for the sending out is January 2024.
De Olijfberg – Activities
Most of the activities set up in previous years will be continued. In addition, new activities will be set up. These include:
- Shelter and guidance for former addicts.
De Olijfberg – Construction Activities
The plans for the further development of the buildings on the “De Olijfberg” site are:
- Building a playground;
- Further developing the upper hall, such as finishing the restroom area, stage, electrical wiring, office spaces;
- Installation of solar panels;
- Installation of a water source.
Financial
In the year 2023, the total income (revenue) of WCM amounted to € 128.904. This amount comes from donations and fundraising activities. Taking into account that the 2021/2022 financial year was a combined financial year of 18 months in total, this represents growth of 78% in income.
Expenses over these years amounted to € 105.102, of which € 101.650 was spent on the objective (96,7 %) and € 3.452 on general necessary costs for the foundation.
The balance of the foundation’s capital as of December 31, 2023 was € 36.464. This amount is designated capital for future expected expenditures.
Income
| Description | 2023 | 2022 |
| Donations in support of workers | € 70.945 | € 49.415 |
| Donations for support of the “De Olijfberg” project | € 27.285 | € 26.254 |
| Income from fundraising activities | € 16.589 | € 17.760 |
| Other general donations | € 14.085 | € 16.431 |
| Total income | € 128.904 | € 109.860 |
Expenses
| Description | 2023 | 2022 |
| Training and education of workers | € 8.907 | € 10.970 |
| Travel and accommodation costs of workers | € 20.623 | – |
| Insurance and healthcare costs | € 5.733 | € 5.733 |
| Living allowances for workers (2 families) | € 41.792 | € 28.276 |
| Support for “De Olijfberg” project | € 21.384 | € 38.500 |
| Various other expenses for the objective | € 3.211 | € 7.725 |
| General foundation costs | € 3.452 | € 5.105 |
| Total expenses | € 105.102 | € 96.309 |
Download the standard form for the publication requirement for fundraising organisations for the mandatory ANBI information on the annual figures.
2024 Budget – Income
| Description | Annual Budget |
| Expected income from fundraising activities and donations | € 170.000 |
2024 Budget – Expenses
| Description | Annual Budget |
| Living allowance for workers, sent out and in training | € 80.000 |
| Education and training | € 10.000 |
| Furlough and travel costs | € 13.000 |
| Insurance costs | € 12.000 |
| Support for Fundación William Carey projects | € 50.000 |
| Repayments and interest on loans for the purchase of the “De Olijfberg” site | € 2.500 |
| Office costs and support | € 2.500 |
| Total | € 170.000 |