Bear’s book to be focus of Big Church Read

Bear’s book to be focus of Big Church Read

This year’s Big Church Read will be launched at CRE 25 – and the focus will be Bear Grylls’ new book The Greatest Story Ever Told.

Steve Barnett, one of the founders of the Big Church Read, said: ‘This book invites you into the drama of Jesus’ life like never before. With gripping storytelling and raw honesty, Bear retells the gospel through the eyes of five of the people those who knew Jesus best – his mother Mary, Thomas, Simon Peter, John and Mary Magdalene.

‘Their first-hand encounters bring the story to life with intensity, warmth and deep reverence. At the heart of it all are Jesus’ own words, taken directly from the Bible, letting the greatest story ever told speak for itself.’

The book recently became a No. 1 Times Bestseller – the first explicitly about Jesus to have topped the list.

‘We believe it has huge evangelistic potential, and our vision is to get churches reading it together this autumn,’ said Steve, who runs the St Andrews Christian Bookshop, exhibitors at CRE 25. ‘Working with a number of partners we hope that up to 2,000 churches will join us for the Big Church Read in October. We hope that once people have read it, they’ll be inspired to share the story of Jesus with friends and family who don’t yet know him.’

They will also be invited to buy 10 copies each to give away as presents at Christmas.

‘Giving someone a book by Bear Grylls – an adventurer, writer and survival expert – is such an easy and natural way to start that conversation,’ Steve told CRE News. ‘We are aiming to see one million copies given away at Christmas!’

See Bear’s personal invitation to CRE visitors to be part of the initiative below.

• St Andrews Christian Bookshop and the Big Church Read are on stand E9 at CRE 25

CRE 2025

Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk