EEFC Chairman's Report - 2006

The normal practice in annual reports in commerce and industry is for the chairman to tell the world, or at least those who read the report, of financial turnover, profits before and after tax, production levels, trade/industry awards and so on.

My first duty is to acknowledge how God has continued to bless EEFC by enabling us to organise and run successful camps in 2005 in 3 Balkan countries, which were attended by over 250 young people aged 8 – 18, without any accidents or incidents and with a high level of harmony amongst our teams.

My second duty is to thank these teams, both British and Hungaria/Romanian/Ukranian for their valuable work in running the camps and to the host churches in these countries who welcomed us, gave us facilities, worshipped with us and shared our joy in speaking of our faith to young people. To be able to offer some language learning assistance and teaching in these circumstances was and is a bonus.

We have also been able to give financial assistance to various projects involving care and support for needy children, many of them abandoned or orphaned, in these countries, thus fulfilling the aim to provide a ministry of compassion as Christians.We are grateful to all the organisations,especially churches, who have enabled us to undertake this work.

Plans for the current year are in hand and we hope to run 8 camps, not including 1 new venture for children with HIV to be held at Zurduc. I ask for special prayers for this camp,that it may bring the comfort and joy of Christian faith to those who suffer such a distressing illness.

Two of our longest- serving Council members, Mary Gillies and Andy Johnstone, have taken rotational retirement and I wish to thank them for their long and valuable service and for their willingness to be co-opted for other duties from time to time in the future.

Our finances continue to strike a good balance between income and expenditure but the possibility of establishing a full-time Camps` Coordinator post, perhaps in association with Blythswood ,will necessitate some adjustment of resources. In this as in all things we go forward in faith knowing that the Lord can provide above and beyond what we can ask or even think.

Donald Matheson. 29th April 2006