CRE News

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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One-time jailer set free to be creative

When doctors told an injured, one-time jailer she would never work again, God had other ideas.

Lesley Hollingworth was in her mid-30s when she was given the live-changing medical message – and she believes God’s reply was ‘How about some art?’ It was to be six months before she could stand up but during that time she thought through how to go about her new mission in life.

Many of the products that came from her changed circumstances will be available on her stand at CRE National. From the cards she originally painted – which still sell well – to her latest products in resin and wood, the extent of her recovery and vision will be there for all to see.

‘I have a workshop and studio at my home in Chesterfield and started the business inventing and making products,’ she said. ‘They contain my story, my heart and God’s amazing powerful word in full colour for all to see.’

From the first sale of cards at Cliff College, the variety of products has soared – despite Lesley’s full-time job looking after children in care.

‘These days I concentrate on things that will be useful to people because many simply haven’t money to spend on extras,’ she said.

One item CRE National visitors might like, as a Christmas present for their clergy friends, is a cushion or t-shirt bearing the words: ‘I’m not sleeping, I’m downloading a sermon.’

• Lesley Hollingworth Design are on stand Q4 at CRE National 2022

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Hats off to Angela for her messages of hope

During lockdown Angela Weatherly decided to switch from selling books and bibles to babywear – with a message.

‘I wanted to create a brand which carried a message of hope, not just the usual cheeky monkey angle,’ she explained. IBelieve Baby Apparel was born and already her range of babygrows and t-shirts have found a welcome home in many families.

‘They are the kind of outfits I wish had been available when my own children were little,’ she said. ‘Too many are inappropriate.’

Her messages include ‘Straight outta heaven’ and ‘Jesus walks with me’.

‘I want my clothes to say something positive about the child,’ said Angela who began selling ladies’ fashion items from a market stall, then had a high street shop selling gifts and cards for 20 years.

She aims to increase the range of products over the next few years – and one of her hats has already been requested by adults!

• IBelieve Baby Apparel are on stand S9 at CRE National 2022

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Let one spark light your fundraising fuse

Video tutorials, live webinars and expert coaching to help churches raise funds for their work from faith and secular funders.

That’s what first-time CRE National exhibitors The Charity Spark will offer visitors to Sandown Park next month where they will launch their new Trust Fundraising for Churches digital training course. Director Rebecca Denny (pictured) has served on PCCs and trustee boards of churches for many years so has first-hand experience of how fundraising can transform a local church.

‘I’m excited to attend CRE and meet with church and faith organisation leaders from around the UK,’ she said. ‘I believe passionately in giving churches the skills and confidence to fundraise effectively so we can reach more people in our communities – helping them where they need support and at the same bringing the gospel to new audiences.’

Rebecca will introduce the course during her presentation ‘Fundraising for your future: an introduction to trust and foundation sources’ (2pm, Wed 12 Oct).

The course will be delivered through The Changemaker Academy, an online platform which can be accessed on demand. Each course will come with two ‘power up’ hours of 1:1 consultancy to tailor the course to the church’s needs.

‘We are delighted that one CRE attendee will win a licence to the Trust Fundraising for Churches course,’ said Rebecca. ‘Just pop by our stand to say hello and enter.’

• The Charity Spark are on stand S11 at CRE National 2022

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Discover the new world of stress-free streaming

Audio-visual systems are always complicated to operate.

It’s a myth Andy Pidsley will debunk at CRE National 2022.

‘Any system we fit is designed to the customer, including the level of sophistication they require and the experience of those operating it,’ said Andy, managing director of APi Sound and Vision. ‘We have developed a customisable controller – pre-set cameras and stop/start functions. Projectors and other devices can all be controlled from this single device so someone who has never used the system before can run a service on Sunday – with anyone watching online getting a high-quality stream.’

Covid-19 lockdowns have meant that viewing figures can far outweigh the number attending the church broadcasting the service. And streaming is ideal for christenings, weddings and funerals when not everyone is able to attend.

‘Operating the sound system can be done from an iPad anywhere in the church, far less daunting than at a conventional mixing console with about 400 buttons!’ said Andy.

With almost 35 years in the industry, APi, advisors to the Diocese of Exeter, have worked in many different locations, from cathedrals to small village churches – but always with a view to providing ‘as unobtrusive an installation as possible.’

Choosing who to install such streaming facilities means asking whether the company is familiar with church and heritage environments. ‘They need to respect the building during installation,’ said Andy who invites all CRE visitors to bring their AV questions to his presentation at CRE (3pm, Tue 11 Oct) where they will receive ‘no-nonsense, pragmatic answers to their questions and an APi goody bag!’

• Andy and his team will be on Stand J6 at CRE National 2022

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The benefits of a divided church

When the children wanted something a little out of the ordinary, church leaders at St Peter and St Paul, Northleach ordered a 6ft high lamb created from huge clip-together Everblock units.

An instant success, it is one of the more unusual orders fulfilled by The Portable Partitions Company, a first-time exhibitor at CRE National 2022 and a leading manufacturer and supplier of portable partitions, room dividers, barriers and outdoor partitions.

‘We have an unrivalled range of high quality, great value products for virtually every space-division problem and budget,’ said PPC’s Sally Tyson. ‘We manufacture most of our products in our workshop in Tewkesbury, so we are pretty sure we will have a height, width, colour and sound-dampening material to suit all needs, including screens for separating areas within places of worship.’

Alistair Mitchell, who is children’s worker at Otford Methodist Church, Oxford, ordered PPC screens for use in the Sunday school but has found many uses for them.

‘The fact that I had purchased from the company before and know the product, meant that I knew what I was getting,’ he said. ‘Different colours on the two sides really adds a bonus to the product and gives more versatility. They are used in the Sunday school every week and everyone comments on them. They also act as back panels to interview evenings and for art displays.’

• The Portable Partitions Company will be on stand P3 at CRE National 2022

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After bereavement: how churches can offer light and hope

Churches can have a huge role to play in helping grieving people recover.

So says Rev Cassius Francis (pictured below), project co-leader and church trainer with CRE National exhibitors Loss and Hope, a Christian coalition offering resources to help churches support bereaved families.

With many years’ experience ministering to those who have suffered bereavement, Cassius will speak at CRE National (2pm, Wed 12 Oct) on the need for Christians to provide support – and how Loss and Hope can help.

‘Our vision is that no bereaved person in the UK should be unable to find support when they need it,’ he said. ‘The pandemic and subsequent lockdown periods have exacerbated the problems of those facing loss because they have often been unable to be with the dying. Many counselling services and avenues of support are still unable to meet the need.’

The Rev Canon Yvonne Richmond Tulloch, chief executive of Loss and Hope, was a co-founder of the charity. After being suddenly widowed in 2008 she found life went into freefall.

‘I’m convinced that light and hope could come through churches,’ she said. ‘Being present in every community, they are ideally placed to help.’

For many years Loss and Hope have been using the Bereavement Journey, a six-session course with an optional session at the end explaining the Christian faith perspective.

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

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Green Christian: herald of hope in a damaged world

Becoming agents of change through daily prayer, simple lifestyle, public witness – and by encouraging one another.

That’s the agenda of first-time CRE exhibitors Green Christian who will invite visitors to discover a Bible-based, green perspective.

Environmentalist and theologian Judith Russenberger, married with three grown-up children, will speak on ‘Green Christian – our calling to care for creation’ (2.30pm, Thu 13 Oct). Using Genesis 2 as a basis, she will look at how we are called by God to care for what he has made.

Formed in 1981, Green Christian helps Christians understand the need to care more for creation and provide Christian insights to the green movement. Their CRE stand, shared with Operation Noah, will also provide a place where visitors can talk about the vital connection between faith and creation care and how to respond.

Deborah Tomkins, co-chair of Green Christian, said: ‘We are delighted that Judith will speak on our behalf. She is an established expert on the subject and will be well worth listening to. Green Christian seeks to encourage Christians to live gently on the earth, encouraging one another in discipleship which accepts our impact on God’s creation as a whole.

‘We believe in a gospel for all creation. We are a community of ordinary Christians from all backgrounds and traditions who seek to let loose hope in this damaged, exploited and unjust world, pioneer practical discipleship in shared prayer, struggle and action, and equip prophetic witness through our campaigns and resources.’

• Green Christian are on stand S6 at CRE National 2022

Main picture: Eco Church is a mixed media collage depicting St Mary the Virgin Eling, overlooking the Solent. It is Graham’s expression of the joy of renewal, an honouring of the past and apprehension and uncertainty in the present. Hope is present in the eternal stars over the church and in the free-flying swifts.

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

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