In August 2024, Langham Partnership hosted a Langham Live prayer event that provided an insightful overview of the organisation’s finance and governance operations. Helen Hamilton, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and David McMullan, Deputy CFO and ESG Manager, shared the critical role their team plays in ensuring that Langham remains a financially sound and ethically robust organisation. Their discussion highlighted the efforts made to maximise the impact of donor contributions while maintaining strong governance practices.
Maximising Donor Contributions for Global Impact
One of the key topics discussed was how Langham Partnership ensures that donations are used effectively. Helen explained that the organisation strives to direct at least 70% of donor funds to frontline programmes, which are at the heart of Langham’s mission. This target reflects Langham’s commitment to making sure that the majority of contributions go directly toward advancing our key initiatives.
The remaining funds are allocated to essential fundraising and administrative costs. For the 2024 fiscal year, the finance team is working hard to exceed this 70% target, aiming to make every donation count. The UK serves as a central financial hub for Langham, processing around £4.5 million, with an additional £8-9 million managed globally. This centralised approach allows for efficient management and distribution of resources to Langham’s various international programmes.
The Role of Governance in Protecting Langham’s Mission
David emphasized the importance of governance in safeguarding Langham Partnership’s mission. Governance at Langham is about more than just compliance; it’s about protecting the integrity of the ministry. This includes managing risks related to anti-money laundering, data protection, safeguarding, and other critical areas.
Langham has implemented an e-learning platform to ensure that all staff, both in the UK and globally, are well-versed in these governance policies. This proactive approach not only helps protect the organisation’s reputation but also ensures that Langham can continue to operate with the highest ethical standards.
The Importance of Stewardship and Ongoing Support
Both Helen and David underscored the importance of stewardship in their roles. Helen praised her dedicated team, who manage the complex flow of funds across multiple countries, ensuring that every donation is used effectively. She also highlighted the importance of continuous improvement, as the team strives to stay updated on the latest developments in finance and governance.
David echoed this sentiment, emphasising that good governance is about doing what is right, not just what is required. This commitment to stewardship ensures that Langham can continue its work with integrity, making a meaningful impact on the global stage.
Prayer Points
Helen and David ask us to use the following points for prayer:
Give thanks for:
- The generosity of supporters both here in the UK and around the globe that enables payments to be made and the work to happen
- A dedicated and competent team, with good relationships between team members
- The ability to grow the team over time as work has expanded.
- The Langham Service Centre and its technology facilitate productivity.
- Good working relationships with our suppliers – banks/ payment providers etc..
- A supportive Board and Finance Committee
Pray for:
- Pray for continued good relationships between team members, the global team, and the people working on the programmes
- All team members should feel valued and appreciated, and we should each grow in our knowledge, and skills, and walk with Jesus.
- Protection against the risk of fraud and deception.
- The receipt of the 2 significant legacies is due to Langham UK.
- The 2024 audit and that all would go smoothly, and there would be good relationships with the audit team.
- Wisdom in how we develop our systems and processes, in particular, the development of a payment portal for the teams to make payment requests
- The challenges in getting money to difficult places, in a compliant way. That people would not face significant loss to their payment through exchange rates and bank fees.
Join Us for the Next Langham Live
As Langham Partnership continues its mission, the support and prayers of donors are more important than ever. Helen, David, and the entire finance and governance team play a vital role in ensuring that Langham remains a trustworthy and effective organization.
To stay informed and engaged with Langham’s work, consider signing up for the next Langham Live event. These monthly meetings offer a unique opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the organisation, hear from key team members, and join in prayer for the ongoing success of Langham’s global mission. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this important conversation.