Writing just before Easter and a fortnight’s holiday, I have a very grateful heart, and I am full of thanks and praise to our almighty God! (And my smile really has returned!) The mountain of finance backlog created by the problems of 2004, and the implementation of the new membership database, is now just a small hill. Many members of the Fellowship will have received my very belated thanks for your generosity in supporting the work during 2004. By the end of April we hope to be right up to date with acknowledging all receipts as we receive them, and then we shall begin to catch up with asking members who pay their subscription by annual reminder. Don’t worry if you are not sure where you are in all of this, you can be sure we will let you know! My thanks in particular to Charles Otim and Joan Arnold in the office for their hard work, but also to Elaine Hutchison and Geoff Smith, both of whose part-time assistance has been invaluable in establishing the new systems, and processing the mountains of data – in the region of 8,000 receipt transactions for 2004!

With the growth in the Fellowship’s activity, and the exciting plans that are being developed, pressures on the finances remain. I expect to be able to report to the General Committee in June, and in the next mailing, all that has occurred along with future financial needs to keep CMF in the black.

In the meanwhile thank you very much for your prayerful understanding, in what has been a demanding period for the finance operation in the CMF office.

Giles Rawlinson
Chief Administrator