IMPACT REPORT ANNUAL REVIEW 2014-15 From the general director Each year the summer months come around and I have the happy task of writing the year’s Impact Report – a chance to give you a taste of some of the Alliance’s wonderful achievements over the last year and to thank you for your support. Yet I often don’t feel I have the words within me to express how vitally important your part is in this work, nor to capture my deep and sincere gratitude to you for making this work possible with your prayers, gifts and support in numerous other ways. It is no exaggeration to say that all of this simply wouldn’t have been possible without you. So thank you. It’s been an astonishing year, I’m sure you’ll agree. Scotland’s independence referendum and the general election have kept us on the edge of our seats. The Alliance has been at the forefront of these key moments and many more, ensuring a united and Christcentred Christian presence and voice. I’d like to highlight just a few stories here to encourage and excite you about the work in which you play a crucial part. I have always had a particular passion for united mission within the Church, and feel privileged to tell you of a strategic gathering of key denomination and network leaders in March, brought together to consider the recent findings of research into the UK public’s perception of Jesus. You can read more about this inside and on the final page you can read a bit about our plans for responding to the challenges this research has posed. With an ever-growing staff team, the Gather network went from strength to strength last year, holding a key conference in Salford – Gather North – to envision and equip unity movements across the north of England to unite to transform their cities and towns.
“It is no exaggeration to say that all of this simply wouldn’t have been possible without you.”
We had an amazing year for media engagement, with 888 media appearances across the UK, no doubt thanks in part to our partnership with Christians in Politics for the Show Up campaign ahead of the general election. In Northern Ireland, the Alliance’s media profile has grown exponentially, with 2,500 people now receiving weekly video blogs from director Peter Lynas offering a biblical perspective on current affairs and big issues in the news. Evangelical Alliance Scotland produced and distributed a fantastic resource – What Kind of Scotland? – collating and communicating the Church’s priorities during the independence referendum discussions and beyond, which they then presented to a number of MSPs at hustings across Scotland. And Evangelical Alliance Wales continued to speak out with a united voice in a coalition of eight national organisations called ‘Gweini’ which represents the Christian voluntary sector in the nation. One of the most exciting parts of my role at the Alliance is the opportunity to walk alongside some wonderful, gifted men and women of God. It has been fantastic to welcome Chine Mbubaegbu and Gavin Calver to our leadership team. They are already making an enormous impact on our work. The work of the One People Commission, with Yemi Adedeji as its director, also continues to be a key influence upon the work of the Alliance as we recognise we are part of a united Church which includes an amazing diversity of backgrounds and cultures. So please do read on and join with me in praising God for all that He’s made possible. It’s been a fantastic year, and I can’t thank you enough. This is truly a partnership effort.
Steve Clifford General Director