Go Chatter: Easter Lego project follows Christmas success
The company which brought fun into the Nativity story are about to release a special series of mini QR-coded videos giving a Lego treatment to the events of the first Easter.
Go Chatter Videos exhibited at CRE Midlands 23 in November. ‘We had lots of lovely feedback about the Nativity series from churches countrywide,’ said founder Dan Rackham.
‘The Entertainer toy shops displayed five posters in their stores, each using a QR code to highlight different aspects of the Christmas story.’
Shirley Ashworth, a leader of Mount Zion Church, Cliviger, near Burnley, Lancashire, said: ‘We got the posters at the Go Chatter Video stand at CRE in Solihull and used them in five different places around our village. Parents got as much pleasure out of them as their children! Two Lego Church sessions also attracted a large family attendance at our church.’
It was during his seven years as a volunteer evangelist in Toxteth, Liverpool, that Dan realised the value of videos in working with children – and the way Lego could be incorporated into the mix. Go Chatter Videos was the result.
The new posters will each display a part of the Easter story, using similar Lego characters to highlight a particular feature. The Easter material will be available here.
‘There are already a number of videos which churches can buy and download, highlighting different Bible stories including David and Goliath, Jonah, The Raising of Lazarus and the Easter Story,’ said Dan.
In September the company will launch a training course for 18 to 24-year-olds keen to learn how to create Lego stop-motion videos. The Go Chatter Videos material is one of the few ways to highlight the Bible using Lego as Lego’s creators have a policy against making religious sets. A 4,000-brick model of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was produced recently, legitimised by the set’s architectural focus.
Tickets for CRE 2024 will be available in the Spring
CRE 2024
Tickets for CRE 2024 are available now!
Organisations considering exhibiting at CRE 2024 should contact James Batterbee on 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk). Click here for a brochure, floor plan and price list.
Photo: One of five Nativity story QR code posters in a hairdressers’ window with the Nativity in Lego in the shop window
More tech, vicar? Kyle introduces a new clash-free Room Booking tool
Following seven months of extensive trials and development, iKnow Church launched their Room Booking tool at CRE Midlands 2023 in November.
Now churches no longer need worry about clashes and double bookings as the tool manages the process. Church administrators can then approve the booking and users can book and pay for rooms directly through the church website.
For parishes in the Church of England, the tool also integrates with A Church Near You.
The iKnow Church team demonstrated to CRE Midlands visitors how the software worked and were on hand to answer questions. They will do the same at CRE 2024 at Milton Keynes (Oct 9-10).
‘We are based in Solihull so it was wonderful to welcome CRE to our home town,’ said iKnow Church founder Kyle Cottington (pictured right). ‘There is nothing like introducing a new product to people, face to face. We had many good conversations with existing customers and met many new decision-makers interested in our software. We are looking forward to CRE 2024 in October when we hope to introduce more helpful services for churches.’
iKnow Church and Church Edit will be on stand F1 at CRE 2024
CRE 2024
Tickets for CRE 2024 are available now!
Organisations considering exhibiting at CRE 2024 should contact James Batterbee on 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk). Click here for a brochure, floor plan and price list.
Trust has high hopes for Highgate House
A high-quality Christian conference centre in Northamptonshire will open this summer.
Highgate House, a new member of the Christian Conference Trust (CCT) family, is a former coaching inn dating from 1663. It has been transformed into an exclusive space for Christian groups to experience residential ministry. With 81 en-suite bedrooms, the venue can accommodate up to 159 adults and 30 children, making it ideal for exclusive-use events.
CCT, an exhibitor at October’s CRE 2024 in Milton Keynes, also run High Leigh in Hertfordshire and The Hayes in Derbyshire. Equipped with large meeting halls, fully catered services and being centrally located, Highgate House will help meet the significant demand from Christian groups for affordable, quality conferencing.
By launching a third centre, the trust will offer 30 per cent more space for Christian groups to benefit from rates that are on average half the price of commercial venues.* This affordability, combined with the warm and friendly Christian welcome synonymous with High Leigh and The Hayes, makes Highgate House a great quality option for those seeking a home-from-home for conferences and group retreats.
John Heasman, chief executive of CCT, said: ‘Having served more than eight million believers since 1910, we are thrilled to announce the opening of Highgate House, our third centre dedicated to serving the church in fellowship and growth. As a not-for-profit charity, we exist to see Christian ministry flourish and believe this new addition will provide a unique and affordable space for groups to gather together and strengthen their faith.’
Highgate House is now accepting bookings and groups are encouraged to secure their space as soon as possible. With wide-open availability, churches and Christian organisations can lock in their preferred dates for this year and 2025.
For booking inquiries and more information, please visit cct.org.uk
* Average saving based on analysis of the per-person midweek price quoted by 22 commercial conferencing venues located within a 90-minute drive of CCT venues on a like-for-like basis. Based on Christian group pricing for events taking place in Spring 2024. Source: CRNet Venuefinder.
The Christian Conference Trust (CCT) will be on stand A6 at CRE 2024
CRE 2024
Tickets for CRE 2024 are available now!
Organisations considering exhibiting at CRE 2024 should contact James Batterbee on 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk). Click here for a brochure, floor plan and price list.
Picture caption: Highgate House, a new member of the Christian Conference Trust (CCT) family
Pop-up shop pioneers set for CRE debut
Churches without a regular bookshop can install a pop-up version – thanks to an organisation exhibiting at CRE 2024 (Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, 9-10 Oct) for the first time.
10ofthose offer help to churches wanting to distribute good quality Christian books at a competitive price.
‘I was excited to get a role in a mission-based company helping people find books at a reasonable price that explain the Christian faith,’ said John Robb (pictured), who joined the company 13 years ago. ‘We sell books online or arrange for a bookstall with a range of appropriate titles for a church or special event, such as a conference. We have opportunities to sell at large events such as the Keswick Convention, as well as smaller conferences and one-off stalls in local churches.’
Early on in the company’s existence, it sold books and offered 10 copies of one title at a discount price – to enable churches to buy in bulk at a cheaper price. Special offers on individual titles are still a feature.
The company also has a publishing arm. Authors of biographies, children’s books or short manuscripts that can be used for evangelism, are invited to contact the company with a view to having them published.
Jonathan and Roger Carswell set up 10ofthose to help provide biblical books which were easily understood. Jonathan loves putting solid Christian books in the hands of believers as well as those who haven’t yet come to faith. And his love for good books is infectious.
‘We’re a ministry that hand picks the best books that hold to the Bible, then we discount them so more can go out,’ said Jonathan. ‘We use our profits to support missions around the world. We are passionate about what we recommend because we know that, if books point to Jesus, they can totally change a life. We have experienced that in our own lives and we want people to discover that in theirs, too!’
The company will be at CRE 2024 (Marshall Centre, Milton Keynes Oct 9-10). A wide range of books, suitable for all stages of Christian development, will be available and staff will also be on hand to advise on specific publications.
10ofthose will be on stand D1 at CRE 2024
CRE 2024
Tickets for CRE 2024 are available now!
Organisations considering exhibiting at CRE 2024 should contact James Batterbee on 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk). Click here for a brochure, floor plan and price list.