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)
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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)
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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
Rick Wakeman to open CRE Midlands 23
Legendary rock star Rick Wakeman will open CRE Midlands 23 (10am, Wed 8 Nov, Cranmore Park, Solihull).
Baptised at South Harrow Baptist Church, Wakeman became a Sunday School teacher there before attending the Royal College of Music in the 1960s, where he studied piano, modern music, clarinet and orchestration.
As well performing with top bands like the Strawbs and YES, he is best known for his own albums like The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. He has also played on more than 2,000 different tracks by artistes as diverse as Black Sabbath, Cat Stevens (‘Morning Has Broken’), Mary Hopkins, Cilla Black, Elton John, Edison Lighthouse, David Bowie (‘Life on Mars’) Lou Reed, Dana (who has opened CRE three times), Des O’Connor, Al Stewart, Ralph McTell and Harry Nilsson.
Awarded a CBE for services to music and broadcasting in 2021, Wakeman will be interviewed at CRE Midlands by Peter Wooding, son of Dan Wooding, a Christian journalist, author and close friend of Wakeman’s from the late 1960s until his death in March 2020. Wooding wrote a biography of his friend in the 1970s under the title Rick Wakeman: The Caped Crusader.
‘I have many stories about the great man,’ said Wakeman, ‘and some of them I can tell, too! I look forward to playing ‘Gone, But Not Forgotten’ at CRE Midlands – in memory of my dear friend.’
Wakeman will be joined at the opening of the exhibition by The BIG Sing choir, who recently scored a big hit with the judges on TV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
Photo: Rick Wakeman © Lee Wilkinson 2017
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 one cathedral no longer fears those chair-raising moments
For years, Winchester Cathedral had relied on aging, heavy chairs that lacked comfort and mobility, rendering them semi-permanent fixtures.
Recognising the need for a versatile solution, the managers of the building turned to Trinity Church Furniture, a CRE Midlands 23 exhibitor, and their award-winning Theo range.
‘The new chairs not only look good and feel comfortable but above all, are light enough to be easily moved by our vergers when required, even at short notice,’ said Bruce Parker, chair of Winchester Cathedral Friends. ‘This has already meant the glory of an unfurnished nave has been enjoyed many times over since their installation.’
A unique number is etched onto each of the 1000+ chairs with the cathedral benefitting from enhanced organisation and event coordination. Their stackable design also enables easy storage and manoeuvrability, allowing for swift adjustments as required.
‘We are delighted with our news seating, which has provoked much positive comment about comfort and design. They make our vergers’ work less onerous, equipping us to be far nimbler in our varied daily operations,’ said the Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem, vice-dean of the cathedral.
Trinity Church Furniture has been a supplier of ecclesiastical furniture in the UK and internationally for more than 40 years.
• Trinity Church Furniture are on stand C1 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
Ugly Duckling: the beautiful way to make time count
When the parents of a five-year-old were handed a copy of a new family resource, it revolutionised their times together.
‘One of the key benefits of Table Talk for Children was that it actually made us stop,’ the parent explained. ‘We had a good 45 minutes to an hour just laughing together. We laughed at silly answers and dug deeper into the more intriguing ones. We made sure we had the time we needed to think about our answers during one round, and then followed this up with a quick-fire round. It was really lovely to have something which made us carve out time.’
As Sharon Lanfear, director of the Ugly Duckling company, producers Table Talk, said: ‘Talking is important for everyone, but it’s particularly crucial to the mental and emotional health and development of children and young people. When we support children to talk it can strengthen our relationships with them and give them space to express how they are thinking and feeling. We are therefore excited to launch three new resources to encourage children and adults to get talking together. You can use these resources if you are a parent, grandparent, a children’s worker or a teacher.’
• Table Talk for Children is for children aged 7-11 (with some questions suitable for ages 5-6). The box contains six themes exploring: Home Life, School Time, The World, Well-being, Friends and Technology – helping children express their thoughts and feelings around issues that really matter to them.
• Table Talk for Families offers a fun way to get families talking, laughing and spending quality time together. Exploring 21 Themes this mini pack can be used at home, in the car, on holiday, at meals times or at family gatherings.
• Table Talk for Early Years was developed in partnership with the Diocese of Gloucester. This is a pack of 21 question and activity cards designed to get parents, carers and children aged two to four talking and playing together.
‘At the Ugly Duckling Company, we are passionate about helping people find life in all its fullness through the power of conversation,’ said Sharon.
• The Ugly Duckling Company are on stand P49 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
Mental health: time our churches faced up to the challenge
Cheryl was about to get married and to everyone else her life looked good – but the 24-year-old medical student was hiding a deep depression.
The wedding came and went and things only got worse. Overwhelmed by dark thoughts, some days she even struggled to get out of bed.
‘My church had been incredibly supportive in helping to organise the wedding with many friends stepping in to help with flowers, food and decorations,’ recalls Dr Cheryl Hawkins (pictured above). ‘But no one realised how I was struggling.’
Eventually she got better and graduated as a doctor, quickly specialising in mental health. As a psychiatrist she saw Christians and non-Christians alike who struggled with the condition.
‘I also saw people in my church with similar issues and noticed they weren’t always well supported,’ she explains. ‘The church was great when someone had broken their leg, had a baby or were diagnosed with cancer, but when it came to mental health issues people didn’t seem to know the best way to help. They feared saying something wrong, or just failed to see that the person was struggling.
‘Like myself all those years ago, many people with mental health issues hide what they are going through, worrying about what people might think of them if they find out, so the issues are not even seen.’
Four years ago, Cheryl started delivering Mental Health First Aid training to businesses and schools. She has now produced a unique range of biblically-based courses to address the increasing number of mental health needs in churches. In 2022 she launched Encourage Mental Health CIC and this will be the focus of her stand at CRE Midlands 23.
She will also talk on ‘Bridging the gap: how to support mental health in your church’ (Thu 9 Nov, 3.30pm).
• Encourage Mental Health are on stand DS32 at CRE Midlands 23
Photograph: Dr Cheryl Hawkins
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
How Emmaus set Christopher on the road to deeper learning
A friendly nurse pointed Christopher Fletcher to the Bible and changed the course of his life – but signing on for a correspondence course took his Christian experience to another level.
‘I was reading a commentary by William MacDonald, a tutor at Emmaus Bible School,’ said Christopher. ‘I looked up the establishment online and found out about their correspondence course. I learned more in the first few weeks than at all the other places I have studied. The way the lessons are planned is very informative, turning difficult doctrines into practical understanding.
‘Thanks to the training, I have done a lot of preaching in prisons and churches and the school has really helped me to pass on what I have learned to others.’
Emmaus started in 1942 and was introduced to the UK in 1951. Since then, more than one million courses have been distributed.
Jonathan Hughes took over as UK director six years ago – leaving his work as a clinical biochemist in hospital laboratories to lead the Emmaus vision of making Bible study accessible and understandable to thousands. More than 10,000 courses are distributed each year – about 40 per cent to those in the prison system.
‘All the courses are free of charge,’ said Jonathan. ‘Our students all study from home and at their own pace. Their work is graded by tutors who take a personal and pastoral care in each student. We also supply multiple copies to church leaders who want to use our courses as the basis of their Bible teaching programmes. From personal experience, my fellowship has massively benefitted from this approach.
‘The prison ministry means that chaplains and other visitors regularly see the evidence of changed lives formed in the most difficult of circumstances. CRE Midlands 23 will be an ideal opportunity to meet new students and make connections with church leaders who have not heard of the Emmaus Bible Study books.’
• The Emmaus Bible School is on stand D17 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 Embrace are ‘super excited’ to bring beautiful handicrafts to UK
Beautiful handicrafts from Middle Eastern artisans will be on display at CRE Midlands 23 in November.
‘We have always been passionate about finding ways to enable artisans to market their lovely products abroad, whilst still making sure fair trade practices are met,’ said Dan O’Callaghan, head of trading at Embrace the Middle East, a Christian development charity tackling poverty and injustice in the region. ‘We are super excited to showcase handicrafts from one of our long-standing Lebanese partners for the first time.’
Tahaddi is a community-based organisation serving an informal settlement in Beirut. Well known for their work in education and primary healthcare, Tahaddi also has an initiative called the Sewing Atelier in which 25 local women are trained as seamstresses. They go on to produce beautiful, practical merchandise such as bags, aprons, oven mitts and the like.
‘These are sold in local markets and hospitals and through local businesses and NGOs – this can be life-changing for families living on the breadline,’ said Dan. ‘Not only does the project provide a modest income but also a sense of self-worth and community. This year we’ve imported four of Tahaddi’s accessories – a tote bag, an accessory bag, a beach bag and a pencil case and these will be available at CRE Midlands 23. In future we hope to expand our range.’
• 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
Church leaders look forward to CRE Midlands 23
Dozens of leaders from churches across the Midlands met at Cranmore Park in Solihull last week (28 June), venue for the upcoming CRE Midlands 23 (8/9 Nov).
In the purpose-built exhibition centre, Dr Peter Green, director of the Christian Family Trust told the audience: ‘It blew my mind when I visited CRE some years ago. It was so exciting – you must bring all your people here. They will see dozens of things which can transform local ministry.’
Rev Margaret Simmons, from the parish of St Matthew and St Oswald, Rugby, said: ‘When I was a new vicar I went with members of my church. There was so much to see and always an excellent talks programme – such a lot to inspire fresh ideas.’
Lynn Boulden, producer at UCB Radio, based in Stoke on Trent, relayed how the station’s Word for Today Bible reading notes, written by Bob Gass and sent to millions worldwide, owed a debt to the exhibition. UCB’s Ian Mackie travelled to Washington and attended the only exhibition ever held in the USA. While the event itself was unsuccessful, with only a handful of visitors attending, Mackie met Gass for the first time. The rest is publishing history.
Steve Goddard, owner and managing director of CRE, said: ‘Bringing people together makes all the difference. The internet is a wonderful invention but, in our opinion, face to face beats mouse to mouse – every time.’
More than 150 stands at CRE Midlands 23 will offer products and services ranging from contactless card machines to customised keyboards for worship (pictured). Mission on the Map will bring together a dozen missions working nationally and internationally. Some 50 talks will feature experts offering advice in various aspects of church life, from fund raising to faith sharing.
Birmingham-born Roger Jones will bring a choir to perform a revised version of his musical Saints Alive. The BIG Sing choir (pictured), who scored a hit with the judges on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year, will help open CRE Midlands 23 (10am, Wed 8 Nov), the first-ever CRE at Cranmore Park and the first in Greater Birmingham for eight years.
• CRE Midlands 23 at Cranmore Park, Solihull opening hours: Wed 8 Nov, 10am-5pm; Thu 9 Nov, 10am-4.30pm.
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