2022 Annual Report

EVERY PERSON, IN EVERY PLACE, EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR, WATCH OR READ THE WORD OF GOD IN A RELEVANT AND ENGAGING WAY. UCB 2022 Annual Review Summary

A THANK YOU FROM DAVID L’HERROUX Dear Friend,

Every year is a new opportunity to see the goodness of God at work in our lives, and 2022 was no exception.

During a time of so much change in the United Kingdom – the death of a monarch, multiple changes in the office of the Prime Minister, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine – UCB is steadfast in the conviction that God’s Word remains the same, and that truth gives us reason to HOPE! To say that the UCB Family are grateful for your continued support – even when times are tough – would be an understatement. Because you choose to sow into Christ-centred resources, the lives that are impacted are too many to count. But we wanted to give you a glimpse into just how big an impact your gifts and prayers have had over 2022. The following pages will give you some of the biggest highlights from each department within UCB, with brief glimpses of how lives have been changed as people encounter God’s Word through UCB’s ministry resources.

We continue in the faith of God’s second promise to Ian Mackie, our founder: that a big move of God is coming to the UK, and UCB will play a part in making room for the growth of the Church when church buildings are bursting at the seams. YOU are the Church, and you are part of this vision, so again, thank you for standing with UCB to spread the best news in the world: Jesus is alive!

Every blessing,

David L’Herroux UCB Chief Executive

CONTENTS A letter from David L’Herroux Broadcasting Mark’s story Communications Real life stories Prayerline Kingdom Academy Stewardship of funds Exciting things to come

P2 P3, P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11

BROADCASTING Paul Hammond, Head of UCB 1

2022 was a year of growth for UCB Radio, allowing many more people across the UK (and the world) to hear the hope of God’s Word on UCB 1 and UCB 2 and through UCB’s podcasts.

In March, UCB 1 and UCB 2 joined the growing network of DAB+ radio stations and UCB 2 moved on to the larger digital transmitter network that enabled UCB 2 to be heard by thousands more listeners in the UK.

In 2022, a staggering 74% of the UK population tuned into a digital radio station every week, with over a billion hours of radio listening altogether. But what are they listening to?

We recognise that secular radio’s content informs, influences and reinforces a world view – whereas UCB Radio’s content informs, influences and reinforces God’s view.

Anne Henderson, Head of UCB 2

UCB RADIO

UCB News: Up-to-date reports on national and world affairs from a Christian perspective

This Is My Story: UCB 2’s weekday programme of inspirational Christian testimonies Listen online or via the new UCB Player app – with 30-day access to UCB’s faith-building content

STUDIO

UCB 1 and UCB 2: two national Christian radio stations featuring a wide range of contemporary Christian music, worship songs, edifying conversation, and Bible-based wisdom

Ruth O’Reilly-Smith, UCB 2 Presenter

Talking Point: UCB 1’s weekday topical News and Current Affairs programme where faith comes first

STUDIO

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Vicky Gibbens, Head of UCB News

News & Current Affairs

These last few years have highlighted just how important it is to have a Christ-centred perspective in media, and the UCB News & Current Affairs team have worked so hard to bring hope beyond the headlines. A survey of UCB’s listeners found UCB to be the most trusted source for news, with listeners describing it as having a Christian perspective, honest, and unbiased. One listener commented: ‘They feature social and humanitarian stories that mainstream media doesn’t usually highlight.’

For the first time in UCB’s history, UCB news has replaced Sky News coverage from 7am to 10am on the weekends. And thanks to successful fundraising efforts, we have been able to raise the resources needed for the News and Current Affairs project in record-breaking time, reaching a project goal of over £100k in less than 6 months of the project launch. This enabled UCB to upgrade the News Hub.

UCB Player

In May, a relaunch of the UCB Player app also increased UCB Radio’s reach to new listeners. The latest version of the app introduced a catch-up feature along with live radio, recently played songs, UCB’s daily devotionals, podcasts, videos, and so much more – making UCB even more accessible and user-friendly.

David Peek, Senior Broadcast Journalist

2022 Total Downloads

31,615 Top Three Podcasts

• The UCB Word For Today – 1.7 million listens • Bible Books in 30 Minutes – 1.4 million listens • Bible Surprises! in 30 Minutes – 26,628 listens

UCB.CO.UK/player 4

ac

Mar k in

You’re given only a few moments to call your loved ones, not knowing whether

‘When you’re suddenly faced with...death, your faith becomes more real than ever’.

For the next few weeks, consultants and nurses worked to keep Mark alive, but he ended up on dialysis, and his organs were shutting down.

While Jennifer (Mark’s wife) had ‘rallied the troops’ to pray for him, things kept getting worse... ‘The doctors decided to give me the strongest drugs available in modern medicine.

When I didn’t respond to the drugs straight away, the consultants feared that I wouldn’t make it through the night...

back in church t day Firs

a com

Arriv ing ho m e

Only God is powerful enough to step in and do the impossible in our lives.

After 29 days in a coma, Mark woke up.

We know this from reading His Word every day, and we see the same truth fulfilled in life stories happening all around us.

As Mark gained more strength, he kept thinking back to a Word For Today reading from Bob Gass some 15 years ago: ‘It’s only when man has done all he can do that God steps in to do the impossible.’

Two years later, Mark is still recovering from the traumas inflicted on his physical and mental health, but every day, he leans on the Lord, and it’s such an honour to know that UCB has played a part in his story.

To this day, the doctors cannot explain how Mark survived

year later

a om

40

t of ou

one mas rist Ch

your only chance at survival is to put you into an induced coma.

For Mark, a UCB Word For Today Reader, this was the reality:

that dark night when all his vitals were failing. The odds were against him surviving Covid at all. But he knows that when the doctors had done everything they possibly could (with every drug available in modern medicine), it still wasn’t enough.

Gra ce we lc

at Loch Lom oliday and ily h m Fa

After being rushed to the hospital, the doctors tell you that your oxygen levels are so low that

this will be a final ‘goodbye’.

And then, just like that, you’re unconscious – completely at the mercy of the medical staff who are looking after you.

What they didn’t know at the time was that my vitals had gone crazy due to sepsis – but those powerful drugs they’d given me weren’t even designed to treat sepsis. To this day, the consultants and nurses say it was a miracle.’

Da y

Imagine this… It’s Christmas Day 2020, and you’ve just been ‘pinged’ to say you have Covid-19. By Boxing Day, you are stumbling down the hallway, struggling to breathe.

The doctors couldn’t believe it.

ays 9d r6 e t af

home Dad her es om

MARK’S STORY

Then suddenly, without warning, all of my vitals began to stabilise, and my body began fighting back.

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COMMUNICATIONS The Communications team works to produce the UK edition of UCB Word For Today, as well as all of our events, fundraising, church partnerships, mailings, and digital platforms. 2022 was a year of exciting ‘new beginnings’, with the release of multiple, special-edition devotionals, the return of in-person Foundation events (our regular leadership gatherings), and Big Church Festival.

Over

20,000

copies of a 30-day devotional to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II were freely distributed

1.5 million copies

of the UCB Word For Today were distributed to over 250,000 homes, organisations and churches across the UK Globally, Word For Today had a weekly reach of 408 million*.

10,000 copies

of A Faithful Life – a 30-day devotional created to honour The Queen’s life – freely distributed

DOWNLOADS OF BIBLE APP FOR KIDS We continue to work closely with OneHope in distribution and promotion of resources for children and young adults.

100 16 million million + unique downloads, downloads (lifetime figure)

now available in 65 languages

58,902

Bags of Hope distributed

* Figures compiled from adding up all numbers on print, media and digital platforms and assuming each person engages with UCB Word For Today on average two times per week.

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I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) manifesting in a need to keep the components of life in order. This is as a result of having much responsibility placed on me from a young age due to childhood experiences.

My need to control my life has cause much distress and unhappiness, not just for me but for my children and others close to me. I carry much guilt due to my sorrow regarding this. Seeing the words ‘God of the impossible’ [in your recent mailing] gave me hope that He can help me overcome and be restored and reunited with my loved ones.

Anon

REAL LIFE STORIES

I am writing to you again to express my deep gratitude for the UCB Word For Today.

It means so much to me. I have never thrown any of the magazines away and I find myself dipping into certain days which comfort me to suit whatever I am feeling at the time. My husband died eight years ago, and we were not fortunate enough to have children. Any family I have live a long way away, so it is so comforting and reassuring to read Bible passages with explanations. As I have no transport, I cannot attend church services every week as I used to. I really do value your booklets – thank you.

Anon

UCB became a very big part of my life when I was admitted to hospital in 2019. I was in a dark place then, and I tuned in to UCB, and it was like I had regular hospital visits and encouragement anytime I wanted.

Since then, I have never ever stopped listening and purchased a DAB radio specifically to listen to UCB. I am a regular listener/participator and joined Matt Brown in ‘The Bible Study’ on air in 2021. You are a big part of my family. How could I not support you? I wish it could be more.

Anon 7

UCB helped me walk through some of the darkest valleys of my life... I remember calling the Prayerline and speaking to a kind, gentle woman of God, who listened to my burdens, tears and needs and then prayed for me.

God’s provision for Prayerline since the start of the pandemic has led to incredible growth in response to an ever-rising need for prayer in our society.

A year later I began online ministry and everything she prayed for me came to pass! I knew the trajectory of my life took a turn for the best when I turned to UCB for support and encouragement. Since then I have gained so much strength in my personal walk with God, and have never looked back.

Jessica

One major highlight post lockdown has been our rekindled relationship with the Armed Services, with Forces Prayerline now being promoted across Armed Forces.

What people say…

‘Prayer feels more tangible and “connected” when someone else prays for me.’* ‘Prayerline is a neutral and safe place to get prayer.’* ‘I have felt the compassion on the phone, in my darkest times.’* ‘Sensing the Holy Spirit on the call and in my life afterwards.’* * Paraphrased from comments people have made about Prayerline

Phone Calls

107,908

Website and Emails

8,506

Voice messages

5,180

Letters

7,678

(Received and prayed with)

(Received and prayed over)

(Received and prayed over)

(Received and prayed over)

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Change your life. Change the world.

In summer 2022, the early stages of planning for the new Kingdom Academy kicked off! Through carefully conducted research (with staff, previous Academy students, and training providers), our Academy team has put together a Vision Document, laying out the plans for this incredible new project.

The Kingdom Academy will be designed to uniquely equip the church for growth using a blend of five pillars:

Media, Ministry, Mission, Management, and Music The focus on these elements is structured to help prepare the Church to be a force for Jesus within every area of society, and we are excited to continue into Stage 2 of the planning process in 2023, developing relationships with training providers and running pilot programmes.

Watch this space.

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STEWARDSHIP OF FUNDS Below is a breakdown of how UCB has allocated the resources with which God has blessed the ministry in order to continue sharing His Word with the nation.

2022 INCOME

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

2022 EXPENDITURE Fundraising and publicity costs

Charitable donations and grants

Broadcasting and digital media

Global broadcasting and publication support

£856,000

£3,904,000 Publications

Donations and legacies

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

£9,367,000

£2,015,000

£178,000

£306,000

£830,000

£200,000 OneHope

£53,000

Investments and charitable activities

Prayerline

Total £9,545,000

Total Expenditure £8,164,000

The above figures are summarised from our audited reports and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.

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EXCITING THINGS TO COME… Throughout 2023 and into 2024, UCB has some exciting plans for the future.

INTEGRATED DATA

Implementing a fully integrated CRM, finance, and marketing solution.

ABOUT

COURSES

CONTACT

A BRAND-NEW WEBSITE

With a streamlined user experience, enabling users to find what they need quickly.

Change your life. Change the world.

APPLY NOW

KINGDOM ACADEMY

The launch of our international training hub, in partnership with Visible Music College in Memphis, Tennessee.

MUSIC

MEDIA

OTHER COURSES

A NEW VIDEO-BASED YOUTH APP

For young people – helping them to connect in an exciting new way with God’s Word.

Jonah

Chapter 1-4

DEVOTIONAL VIDEO

New Youth App Mockup

UCB Kingdom Academy 11

Thank you again for making 2022 an incredible year of growth for the kingdom. Because of you, this Christian media charity can keep sharing the power of God’s Word with so many people who need the hope of Jesus.

If you have a story of how God has blessed you through UCB, we’d LOVE to hear it.

Email: testimonies@UCB.CO.UK