Val takes on next leg of Sorted’s journey
Sorted print magazine, which folded following the death of founder Steve Legg, has been re-imagined as a new project aimed at digital readers.
Sorted Digital is a wholesome, online magazine aimed primarily at a male readership.
It is the vision of journalist Val Fraser who began working for the magazine five years ago as a columnist and feature writer. In 2022 Steve made her the digital editor with editorial responsibility for the Sorted magazine website.
Steve’s widow, Bekah, has given her blessing to this new venture saying: ‘Sorted print magazine ceased publication in September 2024 and there are no plans to resume it. Sorted Digital online magazine is a new venture owned entirely by Val with no legal ties to Sorted Magazine or SCM. It’s an exciting new project which has already attracted a wonderful outpouring of support.’
Val told CRE News: ‘Sorted Digital (SD) will be an online magazine published monthly via Substack. When the idea for it began to take root in my heart I never imagined it would take off so quickly. The first issue went out on February 10 and had 10,000 views in the first week!
‘Steve’s ministry has left a remarkable impact upon the hearts and minds of many people. I really do feel I’m standing on the shoulders of a giant. It would appear that God has not finished with the vision he gave to him. I’m also grateful to Bekah for listening carefully to my ideas and for giving her blessing to this new project.
‘SD has been designed for optimum readability on a mobile phone and I am encouraged that a good number of familiar names have stayed on board. Together we are confident we can deliver a little bit of that famous Sorted vibe.’
Val is not perturbed editing what is primarily a men’s magazine.
‘There are many men editing women’s magazines and after working with Sorted for so long I have a real feel for the contents,’ she explained. ‘In fact, something like one in five of the magazine’s subscribers were women!’
Sorted Digital will be free, although there will be opportunities for readers to make a donation.
‘It will arrive in your in-box monthly and contain half a dozen articles,’ she added.
CRE 2025
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James Batterbee
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E: james@creonline.co.uk
Journeying from loss to faith and hope
Churches across the UK are witnessing a remarkable mission impact through a programme supporting grieving adults.
The Bereavement Journey® is a series of seven sessions of films and peer group discussion for churches to offer to bereaved people. Originally developed by counsellor Jane Oundjian MBE, the programme is now provided by the charity AtaLoss, exhibitors at CRE 25. Under the leadership of Revd Canon Yvonne Tulloch, the course has been running in a revised form since 2023 – with significant results.
While the first six sessions are without faith content, the seventh and final, optional for participants, gives a Christian response to faith questions arising in bereavement. It has been developed by Yvonne. An integral part of the training is the ‘Bereavement Friendly Church’ webinar helping church leaders understand the need and opportunity for bereavement support and the particular challenges associated with bereavement and the Church.
Since its publication in September 2023, The Bereavement Journey has spread to more than 400 locations across the UK and a recent analysis reveals considerable reach beyond church congregations.
- 89 per cent of course leaders report welcoming participants with no previous church connection
- 39 per cent of all participants are coming from outside church circles
- 80 per cent of participants are choosing to attend the optional final session on faith – rising to 83 per cent for courses involving participants with no prior church connection
‘Many years ago, I felt God call me to a new form of mission and I believe this is it,’ said Yvonne. ‘Much like the Alpha Course, we knew we had to prescribe the programme’s delivery and since then, we’ve heard nothing but good reports. It’s very humbling to see the Holy Spirit at work.’
• Ataloss will be on stand E8 at CRE25
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
Time to get more ‘Indiana Jones’ about our Bibles
‘Frustrated cartoonist’ Graham Whiteman (above) had ‘made a bit of money and found a bit of fame’ from his skills – but it had never come to much.
So, in 2005 with wife Charlotte, he opened a coffee shop in the centre of Porthmadog in North Wales – and it quickly became a much-visited destination for local residents and holiday-makers.
‘The Big Rock Café started with a heavenly call to put the word of God on serviettes!’ said Graham. ‘Bibles are free to passers-by and scripture remains prominent on the café’s walls.’
The premises also became the meeting place for a church which Graham led for 15 years.
‘Cartoons and illustrations were a handy way to keep the Sunday faithful awake but I wanted to take it further,’ he recalled. ‘Could I present the Sunday sermon to the Monday café customer in the time it takes to drink a cappuccino?’
The result was a sketch-book full of good intentions – ‘with half-drawn ideas and no opportunity to finish the challenge I set myself.’
While reading the Bible daily in 2022, ‘the Lord began to move us on from the café.’ Now with eight children, Graham admits that moving on from the daily commitment of baking bread seemed impossible.
‘Yet the Lord did it,’ he said. ‘First with an un-settling, then with Covid and the death of a loved one – and lastly with a big step of faith.’ After two months seeking a place to rent, the Whitemans ended up in a manse owned by the Church Growth Trust in the Milland Valley, West Sussex.
‘Drawing cartoons inspired by the Holy Spirit suddenly came to life,’ said Graham, ‘and what had been so impossible all those years ago, became possible. After only a few months I had produced a number of “zine” books and panel cartoons, based on scripture truths that had become real to us, personally.’ Don’t Walk in the Dark was born.
‘We have seen the Lord turn a vision into a charity with trustees, a website and opportunities to share more of what has been placed on our hearts,’ he said. ‘We want to help Christians be a little more Indiana Jones about their Bibles – seeking the treasure as if their lives depend upon it, on their knees, following its tunnels and understanding the battle, torch in hand.’
• Don’t Walk in the Dark are on stand S8 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
The former GP who prescribes eye-catching posters
A doctor who gave up being a GP to produce colourful posters saw an increase in orders in the build up to Christmas.
Nick Radcliffe, 48, began The Christian Poster Company four years ago in Liverpool, as a release from the intensity of his medical work. It has also helped him overcome the trauma of losing a three-year-old daughter to leukaemia in 2012.
‘I gave up my doctoring in March after 20 years as a GP,’ he told CRE News. ‘I was becoming more and more burnt out and God provided this business at just the right time. It was the best decision I have ever made, releasing me from the stress of dealing with people’s illnesses and also the scars I still have from our child’s death. I’m incredibly grateful.’
The company’s 2025 calendars have been particularly popular, with more than 1200 sold.
‘I have found a real joy in the creative process, producing posters, cards, notebooks and calendars,’ said Nick. ‘My wife and I have three other daughters, and they like to lend a hand when they can, so that family aspect is an unexpected bonus. I also get a lot of pleasure from meeting customers and representatives of bookshops and other companies who sell my products.’
The Christian Poster Company exhibited at CRE for the first time at Milton Keynes in October.
‘I just love the challenge of running my own business and my products are sold online and in bookshops,’ said Nick. ‘God’s word takes pride of place, with the occasional quote from a popular hymn, and it is wonderful to hear how they have been used to bring pleasure and aid others in ministry.’
Nord to take centre stage at CRE 25
In the 1960s, the acoustic guitar became the new worship ‘accessory’ – in the past 10 years it’s been joined by a distinctive red keyboard. For the first time, the keyboard’s makers, Nord, will be exhibiting at CRE 25 and musician Matt Cossey (above) explains why the keyboard has become so popular in churches throughout the UK
The sound – let’s start with an obvious point – they sound great. But what’s different about a Nord over many other keyboards is that their piano samples capture the nuance of acoustic instruments so well. Nords are also known for having some of the best sounding electric pianos, great pads and, many would agree, the most authentic organ recreations on the market.
The ability to ‘flow’ – as a Christian musician, I often find myself in a worship setting where my goal is not to simply play a part, but rather respond to what the Spirit is doing. I love this context, where I need to listen to what is going on, listen to God, and play something appropriate that can accompany how the Spirit is moving. Enter the Nord… Whilst the seemingly infinite knobs and dials might initially induce mild panic, there is a reason for this apparent complexity. The truth is, Nords are actually incredibly intuitive and easy to use once you understand them, because everything is accessible.
A desire for excellence – lastly, I think the increasing abundance of red keyboards in churches is indicative of a desire for excellence. When I talk to church leaders and musicians, I so often hear the same heart for ‘something greater’ in worship. I get a sense of unrest and an unwillingness to settle. The Nord has come to represent a sound and a standard that so many aspire to.
There is a lot more that could be said on this topic, but if a bright red keyboard can play even a small part in helping the churches achieve this, they are worth every penny.
Matt Cossey is an active performer, composer, Nord Keyboards artist and keyboardist for disco icon Gloria Gaynor
Meet the tea company brewing up change
The company which launched the UK’s first Fairtrade tea in 1994 will make its debut at CRE 25 (15-16 Oct, Sandown Park, Esher).
‘We also helped write the Fairtrade tea standards to improve the lives of workers on tea plantations,’ said Adam Perry of Clipper Tea. ‘The brand launched the world’s first unbleached, plant-based, biodegradable and GMO-free tea bag in 2018.’
Clipper is part of Ecotone, a mission-driven company. For more than 30 years, Ecotone has charted an alternative path to the dominant industrial food model.
‘Thanks to our agricultural practices, our organic tea plantations save 900 tons of CO2 equivalent compared to conventional tea,’ explained Adam. ‘In line with our mission to preserve biodiversity, Ecotone has set ambitious impact reduction targets and initiatives throughout its value chain to reduce its footprint. One hundred per cent of our factories and offices will be green-energy powered by 2030.’
• Clipper Tea will be on stand B4 at CRE 25, alongside long-standing CRE exhibitors Kingdom Coffee
‘Good News’ Bob still going strong
Bob Parsons (above) celebrated his 90th birthday in August – but that hasn’t stopped him delivering the Good News newspaper to local people in Southampton.
Shirrell Heath Methodist Church began distributing copies more than 30 years ago (it was called Challenge then). Around 400 copies go out every month and Bob still personally gives out 50.
‘Delivering the Good News is a great way for people to read how Jesus can change lives,’ he said, ‘especially if the stories are about a well-known people.’
‘Good News, and Challenge before it, has always included a mix of “celebrity” stories as well as “ordinary” Christians’ testimonies,’ explained editor Andrew Holloway, ‘because people who read secular newspaper and magazines are used to seeing famous people featured and reading about their lifestyles. The difference with Good News, of course, is that celebrities are only featured if they have something positive to say about faith, God, Jesus, the Bible or Christianity in general.
‘People start reading the paper because of the recognisable faces, but often then go on to read the testimonies of other people in the paper. This is why we include well-known people like singers, actors or sports stars – because Good News can’t reach people with the Gospel unless they pick up the paper and start reading it. Many evangelists who use the paper tell us this strategy works.’
Good News also features apologetic articles and a clear gospel message, plus familiar newspaper features like a film review, recipe, crossword, sudoku, cartoon – all with the aim of attracting different readers.
New exhibitors line up for CRE’s 40th anniversary
With nine months to go before the doors open on CRE 25 (15-16 Oct) more than half of the space available has been sold or reserved.
And while dozens of businesses and charities will be well known to visitors, more than 20 organisations will be exhibiting for the first time at Sandown Park, including:
10 of Those
MTS Live
Clipper Tea
Interactive Storyteller
The Stones Hotel
University of Kent
Gemini Parking Solutions
Flock and Canvas
Curious Berries
CMJ UK
Whittlebury Park
World Uyghur Christian Union
Academic Venues Solutions
Leading the Way
Shevet Achim UK
ReSource
Servicestream LTD (MCN Media)
Headline Audio (Nord keyboards)
Faith in Later Life
Stephen Disraeli
Wycliffe Hall
‘Several of these organisations joined us for the first time in Birmingham and Milton Keynes in 2023 and 2024 and it will be a special privilege to introduce them to visitors at the traditional “home” of CRE at Sandown Park in the Autumn,’ said event director Brett Pitchfork.
Kids and vaping: a new challenge faced by Hope UK
A huge number of children and young people are taking up vaping – not because they want to quit smoking but because they see it as cool and trendy.
So says Mary Deller, of drug education charity Hope UK, in the first of a special series of podcasts featuring CRE exhibitors. The organisation works with Year Six children, to help them in the transition to secondary school.
‘We are facing a whole host of issues that weren’t there in my youth,’ explains Mary. ‘At every school we are asked to talk to their young people about vaping. If you ask children who were vapes invented for, they’ll say teenagers or adults. But when you explain that vaping was invented for smokers who want to quit smoking, the penny drops.’
The Christian faith is fundamental to what Hope UK do.
‘It’s part of the legacy and the history of who we are as an organisation and what motivates us as individuals, both staff and volunteers, because we are all practising Christians,’ explains Mary. ‘We often quote John 10:10, where Jesus talks about giving us life in all its fullness, whereas the thief comes to kill and destroy. We make that analogy with drugs.’
The organisation is currently looking to recruit volunteers from churches.
‘It is a big commitment, but you get very good training, accredited by the Open College Network,’ says Mary, ‘so if you have a passion for this work and feel called, then I’d definitely encourage you to get in touch with us.’
See the whole podcast with Mary Deller of Hope UK.
All-action start for fundraisers in the new year
Churches looking to raise funds for innovative local projects are invited to attend a special event in London.
The Faith and Fundraising Conference (26 Mar 2025, Royal Geographical Society, London) will feature a range of expert speakers offering on-hand help and ideas. There’ll be plenty of time for in-person networking, too.
CRE exhibitors Action Planning have joined forces with Stewardship and Yeomans Marketing and Fundraising, to run the conference.
‘You will leave with new insights from generous funders, stories of success, practical tips from sector experts, contacts and inspiration to fuel you for the year ahead,’ say the organisers. ‘Those who attend will also receive a limited-edition publication with exclusive research findings, case studies, stories and stats to extend the benefit to their team and ministry.’
Speakers already announced include the CEO of World Vision, Fola Komolafe; Steve Campbell from C3; Tarn Bright, co-CEO of Home for Good/Safer Families; Jonathan de Bernhardt Wood, director of giving at the Church of England; Robin Peake, chair of Fundraising in Christian Organisations and Wendy Pawsey, head of giving for the Evangelical Alliance. Trusts and foundations represented include the Joseph Rank Trust, Benefact, Jerusalem Trust and the Stewardship Philanthropy Fund.
A full list of speakers will be announced over the coming weeks with early bird tickets already available.
• Action Planning will be on stand G3 at CRE 25