Goodbye collection plate, hello CollecTin
Churches which no longer pass the collection plate around during a service are discovering a special unit that encourages people to support their work.
The CollecTin More allows people to use a contactless credit card, mobile phone or smart watch to make a donation to church funds.
‘Many churches opted not to pass the offering plate when services resumed after the pandemic and have continued with the same policy,’ explained Chris Allwood, co-founder of CollecTin, first-time exhibitors at CRE Midlands 23. ‘The CollecTin More allows people to make a donation easily – without embarrassment. It is also useful in larger churches and cathedrals, which remain open for long periods, providing a means of raising funds from tourists, for example, who may be carrying less cash.’
Churches can identify up to six amounts which can be programmed into the system. Donors can select how much they wish to give, or opt for the ‘choose your own amount’ button.
‘It is a simple system which more than 1,000 churches have already started to use with great success,’ said Chris, who, with co-founder Guy Robinson were the first to build and trial a mobile contactless donation unit in 2015. They formed the CollectTin company in 2018 with the latest system made available three years ago. Now used by many large charities, including OXFAM and Cancer Research UK, it can be seen on the CollecTin stand at CRE Midlands 23.
• CollectTin will be on stand DS35 at CRE Midlands 23
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Metal theft: churches urged to review security
Churches across the UK are being urged to take steps to prevent metal theft following a spate of incidents.
The warning comes from specialist insurer Ecclesiastical following theft of lead from the roof of churches in Bath, including All Saints Church in Weston, which was targeted multiple times in one month.
High demand for copper and lead, driven by an increase in metal prices, saw several churches affected by theft in the first quarter of 2023. Ecclesiastical, exhibitors at CRE Midlands 23, are urging churches across the country to carry out reviews of their security arrangements as a result of the recent increase.
Roof alarms have been proven to especially deter criminals. Other measures such as installing additional lighting to increase surveillance levels, use of anti-climb paint and CCTV can help deter thefts. Making life difficult for metal thieves by removing easy means of access onto roofs, such as waters butts, benches, bins and ladders.
Some churches and heritage properties that have been victims of metal theft incidents have replaced stolen materials with alternatives, such as stainless steel, which are less appealing to criminals.
The insurer requires customers to have security marking systems such as SmartWater, which has been proven to help with successful prosecution of metal thieves, in place as part of its policy and for policy conditions to be followed.
Jo Whyman, risk management director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: ‘Theft of metal can have a devastating impact on churches. It is critically important the right cover is in place. We’re urging churches across the country take steps to protect themselves and follow our guidance which is available through our website. We will be at CRE Midlands 23 to advise churches on a personal level.’
• Ecclesiastical are on stand P29 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Embracing ‘vibrant’ Middle East artisans
We love taking every opportunity to showcase products from the Middle East, as the region is at the heart of everything we do.
So says Dan O’Callaghan, head of trading at Embrace the Middle East, exhibitors at CRE Midlands 23.
‘Hand-carved olive wood products and olive-related produce are key items which we can source from the area,’ he explains, ‘but we’ve also found some amazing local artisans producing beautiful handcrafted and hand-painted ceramics and glassware.’
Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA) offers artisans the opportunity to showcase their handicrafts for fair wages. The BFTA Craft Village is based in the heart of Beit Sahour, a suburb of east Jerusalem.
‘It’s vibrant, lively and brimming with a sense of community,’ says Dan.
The BFTA launched around 2009 and has grown exponentially. It supports 53 family-owned olive wood carving workshops, ceramics and glass workshops, and around 50 women’s co-operatives working in embroidery, basket weaving and jewellery. Several groups of artisans with disabilities create felt and wool products and handmade cards.
‘We’re so excited to be able to stock these beautiful items and show them at CRE Midlands 23, many crafted by families who have passed on their skills through the generations.’
• Embrace the Middle East are on stand E3 at CRE Midlands 23
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Why a coffee house in Strasbourg became Dan’s home-from-home
A community-centred café in Strasbourg last year became a home-from-home for one Birmingham student.
France Mission, an exhibitor in Mission on the Map at CRE Midlands 23, helps UK students find a French church where they can worship and/or serve during a year abroad. Under the scheme, Dan Rees went to Strasbourg.
‘In September 2022 I moved to the city to help out with the day-to-day activities of a church there,’ said Dan, a student at the University of Birmingham. ‘I saw God’s provision for me clearly and it was a joy to have fellowship with God’s people in another country, witnessing first-hand how he’s working there.’
Each Sunday, the church met in a hospital chapel where Dan played the piano.
‘I also enjoyed their home groups (called Living Rooms) and was part of a life group with three other men where we discussed God’s work in our lives and prayed for each other,’ said Dan.
The church runs Oh My Goodness! a community-centred café where members care for and develop links with local people.
‘This is done through providing coffee and food for homeless people,’ explained Dan. ‘There are various workshops and events throughout the week, including a community gospel choir which I accompanied on the piano. I was blessed to get to know many Christians and non-Christians through volunteering in the café three afternoons every week and am thankful for the opportunities it gave me to share the Gospel. Now that I’m back in Birmingham, my prayer is that God will continue to bless the work in Strasbourg.’
You can find out more of the work of France Mission in Mission on the Map at CRE Midlands 23.
• France Mission are on stand DS17 at CRE Midlands 23
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Good news: read all about it
While TV and radio news bulletins seem to be never-ending gloom and despair, hearing the cry ‘Get the good news here!’ makes a welcome change.
It was made by three evangelists working with the Outreach UK mission in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard where they were giving out copies of the Good News evangelistic newspaper. Packed with testimonies of people whose lives have been changed by an encounter with Jesus Christ, the newspaper gets the Gospel out on the streets.
‘We gave away several hundred in less than an hour,’ says evangelist Andy Godfrey. ‘The fact that it proclaims nothing but good news makes it easy to promote.’
Written and designed for non-Christians, the monthly publication contains stories of both celebrities and ordinary people who have come to know Jesus. With something for everyone it can be offered to everyone. And there is space on the back for a local church to put its contact details.
• The Good News Evangelistic Newspaper is on stand C15 at CRE Midlands 23
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Podcasts prove popular for Bible teaching pioneers
Request from young supporters has encouraged the Open Bible Trust (OBT) to create podcasts from their 400-plus bible studies on YouTube.
It all began last year with a monthly ‘What is Wisdom?’ podcast by Michael Penny and W M Henry. The series of six was based on the book of Proverbs and the presenters did not shy away from difficult subjects like ‘Wisdom and Work’, ‘Wisdom and Money’, ‘Wisdom and Adultery’ and ‘Wisdom and the Tongue’.
This was followed by a second series of 13 episodes entitled ‘Looking into Luke’ with contributions from Sylvia Penny. Two of the podcasts looked at ‘Beelzebub and the Unforgiveable Sin’ and ‘The Transfiguration’ but by far and away the most popular one was ‘The Rich Man and Lazarus’. Michael Penny admits that dealing with this story took a lot of preparation, but he is pleased that the podcast has helped so many people. OBT are now about to embark on a third series ‘Exploring Ecclesiastes’.
‘Ecclesiastes is so interesting and deals with a number of important subjects relevant to an affluent, materialistic society like ours,’ said Michael. ‘However, what the author has to say about each one is scattered throughout the book. Our aim is to bring all the teaching on each individual subject together, making it easier to understand.’
Subjects covered will include ‘God’s Gifts and God’s Burdens’, ‘Time and Eternity’, ‘Evil Times and Happiness’, ‘Work, Labour and Toil’, ‘Wealth, Money and Riches’ and ‘What is Good?’
Formed almost 40 years ago to help Christians reach non-Christians, OBT also produce Search magazine and various Bible study books by Michael Penny.
• The Open Bible trust are on stand D35 at CRE Midlands 23
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands