CRE News

Making lives better by the book

Book Aid are back – giving you yet another reason to attend CRE National 2021!

‘Our van will be at Sandown Park, near the main entrance,’ said director Christine Pulsford. ‘We always need Bibles, theological books and commentaries, in fact all manner of Christian books. If you have any you can donate, please bring them with you. All we ask is that they are in good condition.’

While many British Christians have dusty tomes languishing in lofts, their fellow believers around the world are bringing the faith to others with limited literary resources at their disposal. 

Started some 34 years ago, Book Aid has distributed around 35 million second-hand Christian books and Bibles to overseas partners – mainly in Africa.

With a network of collection points in the UK, donated books make their way to the warehouses for sorting and selecting. Many are shipped overseas to Book Aid partner bookshops. Others are sold in Book Aid’s four UK Book Aid shops in London, Doncaster, Belfast and Barnard Castle – to help cover shipping and administration costs.

‘Our shops are filled with a wide range of Christian books – from rare finds to contemporary publications. If you enjoy reading, we look forward to welcoming you,’ said Christine. ‘And if you are unable to visit our bookshops, we also sellbooks online to support the ministry.

‘Our current project, “Spreading the Word”, started as a project to provide more Bibles for our partner in Zimbabwe. We simply cannot supply enough! So if you have Bibles, we would be delighted to receive them. Just remember – if you’d be happy to receive it, we’ll be happy to send it. More partners are asking to join this project too, so we need more Bibles than ever.’

• The Book Aid van will near the main entrance to CRE National 2021

Image: Jessica Ruscello/Unsplash

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Queen Elizabeth: Juliet’s banner is perfect tribute

Churches wanting to mark Queen Elizabeth’s reign and Christian beliefs should check out a new banner on Juliet Hemingray’s stand at next month’s CRE National.

Juliet’s creation is an ideal permanent tribute to Britain’s longest-serving monarch.

‘It seemed right to use the verse from Micah to reflect how the Queen lived her life,’ said Juliet. ‘The design shows quatrefoils from the facade of Westminster Abbey. The Queen’s canopy and the crown are made up of people and trumpets in proclamation of joy. Edged in black and containing the dates of her birth and death, there are loops and tassels in gold.’

The banner will be made in a variety of fabrics and embellished with coloured and silver and gold cords. Swarovski crystal rhinestones will reflect the light from the banner. The background fabric will be of high-quality brocade.

‘The design speaks to me about her faith and walk with Jesus throughout her life,’ said Juliet. ‘Her commitment to the green canopy has inspired the planting of many, many trees that will benefit the environment.’

Ideal for churches considering a memorial chapel to the late Queen, the banner will be on show at Juliet’s stand, along with items from her huge range of stoles, altar fronts, banners, copes, mitres and chasubles.

Trained as an art and design teacher, Juliet was asked to design and make an embroidered preaching scarf to be worn at children’s services. The creation – a fun scene of hills, sheep, fish, stars moon and sky – became the inspiration for a business which began in 1980 and has brought a colourful approach to the worship of hundreds of churches worldwide.

• Juliet Hemingray Church Textiles are on stand P4 at CRE National 2022

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The day Helen asked for a house – and was offered two

Helen Syrop read a news article about homelessness and wanted to do something in Bradford.

She rang CRE National 2022 exhibitor Green Pastures and asked if they could buy a house to help her. She was asked: ‘What if we buy you two?’ 

‘Housing the homeless is an extremely rewarding job,’ said Helen. ‘It’s very beautiful to work and walk with people through the ups and downs of their lives.

Vaslef (above), for example, had no home and was sleeping in a Bradford park. He had one set of clothes and no jacket and decided to end his life. However, through the partnership of Green Pastures and Hope Housing, he was given a home and support. He calls Helen ‘an angel.’ 

‘It’s me every day, a very big thank you – thank you God!’ said Vaslef.

Solicitor Richard Norridge believes truly ethical investments are very hard to come by – but the one set up by Green Pastures is the best he has come across.

The fund was set up 11 years ago and now works with more than 75 churches and Christian charities to provide homes and support for 1,100 people who had been homeless.

The Green Pastures Community Benefit Society Limited (CBS) is an Exempt Charity registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. Through this vehicle, the CBS issues loan stock to investors.

Subscriptions for loan stock inject cash into the CBS which uses the money to purchase and build property, often in conjunction with other sources of finance. Investors select an interest rate in the range of 0 to 4 per cent p.a. for investments of 1 to 4 years, or in the range of 0 to 5 per cent p.a. for terms of five years and over.

For every £15,000 invested, one person is housed and supported. By selecting less than the maximum return, more homeless people are helped. 

Green Pastures began when Pastor Pete Cunningham found people sleeping under the Southport pier. He felt challenged by the Lord to put his hand in his own pocket and cashed in his small pension. Church member Vicki Woodley re-mortgaged and together they put a deposit on two flats to house two people. Green Pastures was born. 

The vision grew greater than they ever imagined.  Twenty years later, the same passion to release churches to eradicate local homelessness burns brightly.

Green Pastures are on stand Y1 at CRE National 2022

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Climate change: let’s lead not lag

A charity set up in 2004 to provide a Christian response to the climate crisis will give a Christian perspective for change at CRE National 2022.

Dr Darrell D. Hannah, chair of the board and rector of All Saints, Ascot Heath, will speak on the urgent need for action (2.30pm, Tue 11 Oct). An American, Dr Hannah moved to the UK in 1992 to take a doctorate at Cambridge in Christian Origins and has remained in the country ever since. In his view, responding to the climate crisis is a missional activity.

Ruth Jarman, who co-founded Operation Noah because she saw the need for a Christian voice speaking truth into the climate crisis, said: ‘There are clear biblical reasons to make creation care a Christian imperative. Young people especially are calling for the church to act. We should be leading on this. We are the ones who believe in a loving creator and we are currently heading towards an unhabitable planet!’

Operation Noah representatives will identify some of the things Christians can do and explain how they can help get the message across to friends and church members. Earlier this year the charity was shortlisted for the David & Goliath Award as part of the National Campaigner Awards presented by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation – a recognition of Operation Noah’s small size but big impact in taking on a giant issue! 

‘We work with churches of all denominations to address the climate crisis, particularly through our Bright Now campaign, which encourages churches to divest from fossil fuels and invest in climate solutions like renewable energy,’ added Ruth.

The Bright Now campaign is also starting to work with churches on large-scale, nature-based solutions, from increasing tree cover to other environmentally sensitive ways of managing church land.

• Operation Noah are on stand S6 at CRE National 2022

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Queen Elizabeth: as we mourn, let’s minister

When the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced the Rev Cassius Francis immediately thought of his grandmother.

‘She would have been glued to the news and I would have dared anyone to speak or interrupt the coverage while she was watching!’ said Cassius, a church trainer and resource provider with Loss and HOPE, exhibitors at CRE National 2022. ‘It is difficult to dispute the global recognition of and respect for our Queen. The country will feel her death more deeply because, for most of our lives, when everything else has changed, the Queen has been a constant.

‘The lasting image I have of her is sitting alone in the church for her husband’s funeral. I can’t imagine, after being married to someone for over 70 years, how that must have felt. That image symbolised the pain and loss of so very many people during the pandemic. Our prayers are with King Charles III, the royal family and anyone affected by her passing, that they may know God’s peace, presence and comfort at this difficult time.’

With about 600,000 people dying in the UK each year, impacting partners, children, parents, other relations, friends or colleagues, Loss and HOPE, a project of charity AtaLoss, is a valuable coalition of organisations who feel passionately about churches of all denominations being equipped to support the bereaved.

‘We are asking churches to direct bereaved people in prayer stations and services to the signposting website – AtaLoss.org – to find help,’ said Cassius, who is also a minister with the Wesleyan Holiness Church. ‘Churches can also plan to offer The Bereavement Journey® to their communities over coming weeks. As we mourn, let’s use this opportunity to learn how to support each other for the health of our nation.’

Cassius is speaking on ‘Bereavement support – mental ill-health prevention and effective emerging mission’ at CRE National 2022 (2pm, Wed 12 Oct).

• Loss and HOPE are on stand E8 at CRE National 2022

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‘Blunder-free’ Bible to be unveiled at CRE

Since the first one more than 630 years ago there have been about 150 English translations of the Bible – but a scholar, poet and grammar expert will be at CRE National 2022 to tell us about the ‘thousand blunders’ repeatedly left uncorrected in all of them.

Christopher Sparkes spent 20 years painstakingly going back to the original Greek and Hebrew and has taken a different approach to translation, using what he calls ‘deep grammar, transcendent logic, internal harmony and diamond-mining research’ to unpick the locks and discover the meanings of Greek and Hebrew words and phrases ‘wrongly translated in every single English version.’

The result is the Keys to the Kingdom Holy Bible, available at CRE National 2022. Chris will also speak about the need for the new version (2pm, Tue 11 Oct). The bible is published by Filament Publishing, a company set up in 1999 by Chris Day who spent a decade with global publisher Encyclopaedia Britannica.

‘My vision was to create a new publishing house that was more author-centric and more flexible to their needs to build a business around their book,’ he said.

The new Bible is, according to Filament, ‘the first pure translation into English of the actual words of the Apostles – not influenced by creeds, traditions or the preconceptions of the translators.’

Sparkes was born in Birmingham in 1951 and lives in Petersfield, Hampshire. After lecturing in higher and further education, he is now a freelance educator. Since 1997, he has been looking into English translations and said: ‘I was stunned when I began looking at Hebrew and Greek words of the Old and New Testaments and comparing them with English Bibles. Some of the English words and phrases did not match the original grammatical forms. Nor did they match the internal themes. Furthermore, the rogue English was consistently backing certain themes of church traditions.’

• Filament Publishing and the Keys to the Kingdom Holy Bible are on stand S2 at CRE National 2022

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The Holy Spirit: helping you live life to the max

Pandemics rage, bills soar, stress goes off the charts – but pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado (above) believes help is here.

‘Now more than ever, we’re all weary from the loads we carry and the challenges we face,’ said Max. ‘We have questions we cannot answer and problems we cannot solve. We’d hoped that life would be an invigorating adventure or an inspiring journey. We never expected to grow so tired so quickly. But we can find fresh strength and purpose in the power of the Holy Spirit.’

The Bible makes more than 100 references to the Holy Spirit, claims Max, and Jesus says more about the third person of the trinity than he does about the church, marriage, finances and the future. But do we really know the Spirit? In his new book Help Is Here (Thomas Nelson), Max will give you the tools and encouragement you need to:

• Learn who the Spirit is and how the Spirit can help
• Become joyful, enthusiastic, and empowered as you draw closer to God
• Confidently take on any difficulty with the power of the Spirit
• Discover your unique gifts and purpose to further God’s kingdom

‘Our Good Shepherd doesn’t just feed us, he leads us,’ said Max. ‘He does more than correct us; he directs us. God keeps us on track and best of all, he’s commissioned the Holy Spirit to guide us down the winding roads of life, wherever they may lead us.

‘No more walking this path alone. No more carrying weight you were not intended to bear. It’s time for you to enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit and experience the vigorous life he offers. You can rest easy knowing that help is here.’

Book your tickets to CRE National 2022 for as little as £3 (£8 on the door)

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From leafy Esher to war-torn Kiev: David’s unexpected journey

David Giles (above) came to last year’s CRE National as a valued volunteer – but months later, as a direct result, found himself in a war zone!

David joined the CRE team in Esher, assisting communications chief David Hall following a lengthy spell working in a similar capacity for the Salvation Army. Taking the decision to go freelance in October 2021, he recognised the importance of connectedness across Christian organisations.

‘I was fully committed to serving on the CRE team,’ he recounted, ‘but also recognised the value of meeting so many people in such diverse sectors at a major national gathering.’

One of the many interactive exhibits David encountered was OSCAR’s popular jobs board.

‘I noticed numerous opportunities to serve with Samaritan’s Purse through their DART programme [Disaster Assistance Response Team],’ he explained. ‘This immediately captured my attention as the role requirements aligned closely with my career trajectory.’

He was interviewed and accepted onto the roster earlier this year. In-depth training in humanitarian and emergency response protocols followed and he was asked to join the DART programme for six weeks in Kyiv this summer.

The Samaritan’s Purse response in Ukraine is the organisation’s biggest ever, with hundreds of team members serving together from countries as far flung as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. A large number of Ukrainian Christians have also augmented the team, providing essential local knowledge and linguistic expertise. The response has included everything from medical treatment at an emergency field hospital to provision of clean water and essential food supplies.

‘My role has primarily focused on food logistics,’ explained David. ‘From a series of warehouses strategically located around the country, we’ve been able to provide for more than 3.5 million people, primarily in parts of Ukraine closest to the front lines where the need is greatest. It’s not at all glamorous! My days have been long, largely spent grappling with spreadsheets and booking complex truck movements. But there have been lighter moments, such as being able to drive ambulances in convoy to and from warm storage.’

Equipped with body armour and under strict security provisions, David visited the provincial cities of Vinnytsia and Dnipro – to support Samaritan’s Purse local warehouse teams and meet some beneficiaries.

‘I talked to a church leader whose congregation had instantaneously grown from 120 on a Sunday morning to around 1,200 because of the war,’ he recounted. ‘As a church growth strategy, that’s not to be recommended! But it’s indicative of the opportunities presented to the Ukrainian church, even as the missiles rain down.

‘CRE’s “Nothing beats being there” motto was certainly true in Kyiv. While UK coverage of the conflict has largely been truthful and accurate, experiencing the juxtaposition of air raid sirens and impromptu barricades alongside street musicians and elegant pavement cafes, has helped me understand the Ukrainian context more deeply. Locals were proud, welcoming and immensely grateful for the ministry being undertaken in Jesus’ name.’

David will be part of the CRE National 2022 team again next month.

‘You might come to CRE looking for a particular resource but God might have other ideas!’ he grinned. ‘Don’t ignore that still, small voice. It may be the start of a unique adventure!’

• Find out more about the Samaritan’s Purse DART programme here

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Take the Trew path to effective fundraising

A new year’s resolution in 1999 changed the course of Linda Trew’s life – and helped St Mary’s in Bloxham, Oxfordshire, begin a £1.5m project to develop church facilities.

Linda’s millennium resolution, with a subsequent fund-raising trek across the Andes to Machu Picchu, ultimately encouraged her to do more to help churches raise funds for necessary improvements. She is now an experienced fundraiser for CRE exhibitors Action Planning, a specialist consultancy for charities and other not-for-profit organisations. When it came to the challenge of advising St Mary’s, a Grade I listed church, she put together a plan for fundraising involving four phases – private, grant, congregational and public.

Despite the intervention of Covid-19 and rising costs, about £230,000 has already been raised with the possibility this total could rise to £300,000. A new heating system is already fully functional and money is in place to upgrade the AV equipment.

‘We’ve had a really good relationship with Linda and are pleased with what she’s done and the way she has done it,’ said Ian Myson, project co-lead at the church. ‘She’s been a valuable member of our team: helpful, proactive and happy to go the extra mile and do discretionary stuff that she wasn’t obliged to do. We weren’t in a position to raise anything from trusts without her. Her experience and expertise in which grant bodies to go for, which to prioritise and the sort of approach needed to succeed, was invaluable.’

Action Planning offer expert help to all churches with a comprehensive range of services, including governance, planning, fundraising, marketing, recruitment and training. Representatives of the company will talk on ‘Fundraising for capital projects for churches’ at 11am each day at CRE National 2022.

• Action Planning are on stand V8 at CRE National 2022

Main picture: Action Planning’s Linda Trew at CRE

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Thank goodness for Theo! Bath Abbey opt for award-winning chair

When the officials of Bath Abbey, known for its medieval heritage and beautiful gothic architecture, wanted to change traditional pews for chairs, they looked for a stackable yet practical replacement.

‘Taking out the pews enabled us to open up the abbey’s nave and side aisles and make it possible for people of different physical abilities to sit where they wanted to,’ said Bath Abbey’s Rev Edward Mason. ‘Stackable chairs mean the nave can be used for a wide variety of traditional and contemporary worship.’

The abbey approached Trinity Church Furniture, a company supplying ecclesiastical furniture for more than 40 years.

‘Our Theo chair is ideal for most church situations,’ said Trinity’s Mike Seward. ‘Too many churches discover too late that their chairs are too heavy and cumbersome or use up too much space.’ Designed by Simon Pengelly, the Theo is durable and lightweight. At just 4.25 kg and stacking at up to 30 chairs high, it is the ideal solution for many ecclesiastical contexts. Bath Abbey also decided to take the linking option which ensures perfect symmetry, row upon row.

The international design award, Reddot 2014, described the Theo as having an ‘elegant design that illustrates its own manufacturing method and is marked by a sophisticated flexing mechanism.’

• Trinity Church Furniture will be on stand O4 at CRE National 2022

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