Moorlands extends its reach by degrees
The only Christian youth work degree with JNC professional recognition on the island of Ireland will be available from September.
Moorlands College and Youth Link: NI, the inter-church youth organisation for Northern Ireland, will offer a BA (Hons) course in Applied Theology (Youth and Community Work) with JNC at the centre.
‘We’re delighted that Youth Link will work with us in a new centre called Moorlands NI @ Youth Link,’ said Revd Dr David Hilborn, principal of Moorlands College. ‘Their vision, mission and ethos is entirely compatible with Moorlands which has been equipping Christians for ministry among young people, children and others for many decades. The prospect of extending that work is very exciting. Youth Link’s grass-roots knowledge of the Christian context in Northern Ireland and its wider reach and infrastructure mean that students pursuing this new Moorlands BA programme will be excellently equipped for a range of ministries among young people and communities within and beyond the church.’
Since 1948, Moorlands College, part of the Study Zone at CRE Midlands, has given Christians the knowledge and skills they need to impact the church and wider world. It offers courses in applied theology at BA (Hons) and MA level, including short courses and events. Their courses are about applied theology, designed to give students a biblical and theological foundation on which to build their life and ministry.
• Moorlands College is on stand SZ8 in the Study Zone at CRE Midlands
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Egg ‘with added Easter’ celebrates first decade
The Real Easter Egg is celebrating its tenth anniversary – and CRE played a big part in its successful launch.
In 2010, high street supermarkets refused to stock a product with the story of Easter in the box, so the Meaningful Chocolate Company brought its first Real Easter Egg to CRE Midlands.
‘We asked churches to crowd fund the project by placing orders,’ said David Marshall, founder of the company. ‘I had never been to CRE before – and what an eye-opener! Hundreds of stands offering important and relevant resources, thousands of active church members looking for ideas and inspiration. People wanted to taste the chocolate, inspect the boxes and meet the people behind the product – something you can’t do online. Orders flooded in.’
Ten years on, more than a million eggs have been sold and more than £275,000 donated to charitable projects.
To help celebrate the role CRE played in the success of the project, a special discount code has been made available. Buy 12 or more original eggs and enter the code CRE2010 and you will get £3 off your order total. Visit the Meaningful Chocolate website.
Photo: EGGED ON: The Real Easter Egg, greeted with enthusiasm, at CRE Midlands 2010
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Be part of a ministry that pulls on the heart strings
A brand-new Puppet Ministry Starter Set will be launched at CRE Midlands – presenting churches with a fresh and creative opportunity to communicate the Christian message.
‘In an age when children appear to be more interested in a “small glowingscreen” and what comes out of their headphones, there is something simple yet effective about a puppet,’ said Ian Jones of One Way UKCreative Ministries. ‘They connect with people of all ages – in church, mid-week clubs or school assemblies. We also visit care homes and get a good reception from people with additional needs.’
Along with samples of hundreds of puppets, One Way will showcase their resources at CRE Midlands including storytelling, gospel illusions and toddler group ideas. The Puppet Ministry Starter Set will be available at 25 per cent off the recommended retail price.
Ian has used puppets in ministry for more than 20 years.
‘We never imagined the impact our work would have,’ he said. ‘We stillhave 12 children plus a range of adults in the team and more than 50 children have passed through along the way. Even in this day and age youshould never underestimate the power of a puppet!’
• One Way are on stand P36 at CRE Midlands
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Calling alert: how faith can get a good reception
A recent survey discovered that we spend three hours and 23 minutes every day looking at phone screens – the equivalent of 50 days a year.
Is there a connection between our phones and our faith – a question to be discussed by Nigel Bolitho of Oak Hill College in his seminar Connect your faith with what you watch, read and play (11am, Thu 5 Mar).
‘Phones are only one part of a changing culture,’ said Nigel. ‘There are many aspects in our day-to-day lives that can often seem unconnected to our faith in terms of our actions and attitudes – park runs to packaging, gaming to gastronomy, box sets to boxing.’
Traditionally, the church has responded to culture in a number of conflicting ways, outlined by Richard Niebuhr in his classic book Christ and Culture – such as being against or above it, or attempting to transform it.
‘But this is not just a faith issue but how we should engage with the people and culture around us,’ said Nigel, whose college is part of CRE’s Study Zone. ‘Dutch missiologist JH Bavink identified five magnetic points we can connect between our faith and culture.’
Nigel will explore the work of Niebuhr and Bavink, and the apostle Paul’s approach when visiting Athens in the book of Acts, to help us answer the question.
Oak Hill College, based in north London, trains men and women for ministry in Anglican and independent churches, for pastoral ministry, work with children and young people and cross-cultural engagement, in Britain and around the world.
• Oak Hill are on stand SZ7 in the Study Zone at CRE Midlands 2020
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Stay tuned for another decade of music that ministers
Celebrating ten years of music for church-based occasions, artists from Ministry of Music will entertain visitors at CRE Midlands (Wed 4 March only).
Founder Mike Maidment, 58, points people in the right direction if they are looking for musicians for a youth event, school mission, worship service, cafe church or conference. With 35 artists and groups on his books, he has provided performers for more than 600 events.
‘Being in a band myself for 10 years helped me appreciate the problems faced by musicians and I also learned a lot about various types of venue,’ he said. ‘It helps me see how to satisfy even the most unusual request.’
During the past decade he has introduced new artists to the church circuit and provided engagements for many established artists. At Midlands CRE visitors will be able to chat about their particular needs, sample the wide range of artists and music available and listen to some of the ministry’s performers in action including:
• Andrew Robinson, a singer-songwriter and worship leader based in Bedford who has been leading worship and performing for the past 20 years in churches and events in the UK and abroad
• Out of the Ashes, a pioneering couple from Gloucestershire who use music as part of their mission to stand for joy and healing, energising weary Christians and rejuvenating ailing congregations with a message of love
• Bean Baker, an experienced, versatile artist with a fantastic voice and a heart to lead people in worship. He can perform a wide repertoire of original songs and covers for all types of events including an acoustic set aimed at a café-style gig
• Nicky Whyman, a singer-songwriter with a strong soprano voice and lyrical piano-led songs bringing hope and encouragement to audiences. Her personal testimony of being miraculously healed of multiple sclerosis further fuels her commitment and drive to inspire audiences
Canon J John said: ‘I am delighted that Ministry of Music exists to resource the church with Christian bands and artists for their worship and outreach. Be sure to seize these assets for your church and community.’
For Ministry of Music’s schedule at CRE Midlands click here
• Ministry of Music are on stand E31at CRE Midlands
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Priests in poverty: College is ‘life-saver’ for Fr Barry
Poverty among clergy may not be as big a scandal it was in the 1890s but the College of St. Barnabas is still vital to people like Fr Barry Thorley.
The college was founded by former missionary Canon William Cooper who described himself as ‘a broken man’ from the physical hardships he endured during his ministry in the Australian outback and wilderness of Canada. Back in Britain, he came across other former missionaries and older clergy living in abject poverty and ill-health, most notably in the Brighton Workhouse, and he determined to do something to alleviate their suffering.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the college and Fr Barry Thorley (pictured), a current resident, said: ‘St Barnabas has been a life-saver. I’m no good at trowelling sentiment but it’s hard to exaggerate how much this place means to me.’
Poverty among today’s clergy means the college is still fulfilling its original mission and no-one eligible is ever turned away for lack of means. There is, for example, no requirement that a prospective resident must be in receipt of a Church of England pension. Financially independent of the Church of England, and pre-dating Church of England Pensions Board Homes, the college has an absolute capacity of 63, of which 28 are nursing wing beds – for which there is constant demand.
‘Our independence means we have to actively raise funds to achieve our charitable aims and objectives and our 125th anniversary gives a great opportunity both to increase awareness of the college and bring in some cash,’ said Mike Herbert, head of fundraising. ‘A number of events are being planned throughout 2020 to mark this impressive milestone.’
Mike is leading by example and doing a 125km sponsored walk from Gravesend to Eastbourne at the end of March, while another member of the staff will cycle 125 miles along the Pilgrim’s Way later in the year.
‘The college does a great job helping vulnerable elderly people in need,’ he said. ‘Continuing demand means our help in needed as much now as in Cooper’s day.’
• The College of St. Barnabas is on stand D1 at CRE Midlands 2020
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Home soggy home: 100 set for cardboard ‘sleep out’
Around 100 people are set to spend a night out in a cardboard box – to raise funds for the work of Birmingham City Mission (BCM). The Sleepout will take place in BCM’s HQ car park in Birmingham on Fri 28 Feb.
‘We have all seen it on our streets – homelessness, addiction and loneliness,’ said BCM’s Hannah Noble. ‘Rough sleepers huddled in doorways, soggy cardboard boxes and discarded beer cans. It’s no surprise there has been a renewed focus on homelessness in our politics and media.’
On any given night there are currently up to 5,000 rough sleepers in England, according to Shelter’s latest statistics – double the number of 2010. Last year a 31-year-old homeless man, Kane Walker, died in an underpass in Birmingham’s city centre. His death put a national spotlight on the average life expectancy of homeless people in the UK – 45 years for men, 43 for women.
Since it began in 1966 Birmingham City Mission, an exhibitor at CRE Midlands, has sought to help the city’s homeless. Its care centre now provides food, activities and support to around 200 homeless and marginalised people each year, many struggling with addiction and mental health problems. For them, the centre is ‘trust, safe, support, friends, my family.’ Through building relationships, giving practical help and sharing the Christian message, the care centre offers hope and a chance for guests to move on in their lives.
‘Homelessness is real but there are solutions,’ said care centre manager Steve Bagnall. ‘Not every situation is solved, but overall there is more success than not and we value your prayers for our guests.’
A Sleepout information and registration form can be found here.
• Birmingham City Mission are on stand F21at CRE Midlands 2020
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Budget for blessing: keep your financial dreams afloat
More than £100,000-worth of consultancy packages will be available to churches and other not-for-profit organisations at CRE Midlands.
Action Planning, a leading multi-disciplinary consultancy serving the not-for-profit sector, is giving away the services to mark its 30th anniversary. Under the title Pearls of Wisdom, 56 separate consultancy packages are available, with an average market value of £2,000, ranging from governance reviews to board awaydays, income generation workshops to branding reviews and HR support to executive life coaching.
The services will be provided free of charge by 39 of Action Planning’s community of expert consultants.
‘Many not-for-profits are in a position where they would benefit hugely from outside support but don’t have the budget,’ said Action Planning chair David Saint, who will speak at CRE Midlands on Raising funds for capital projects in your church (12pm, Wed 4 Mar). ‘This is an opportunity to put budgetary considerations to one side and access expertise that could transform your organisation for good.
‘After 30 years of serving the not-for-profit sector, we wanted to do something to capture the imagination and delivered genuine value. We’ve been able to do this because of the structure of Action Planning. The community of expert consultants we’ve gathered together delivers breadth and depth of expertise.’
Pearls of Wisdom packages will be delivered throughout 2020 and eligible organisations will have until 16th March to apply. The offer is aimed at not-for-profit organisations with an annual income of at least £200,000 in the last financial year, and/or at least two full-time equivalent paid staff members in post. Full eligibility criteria, along with application instructions, can be found on the Pearls of Wisdom website.
• Action Planning are on stand P66 at CRE Midlands
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Post-Brexit: Andy pens worship song calling us to be reconciled
A song that encourages churches to build unity in post-Brexit Britain has been written and recorded by CRE contributor Andy Flannagan.
‘Reconciled highlights the need for repentance and intentional, bold relationship building with our neighbours,’ said Andy. ‘I hope it will be sung by many churches and be a useful tool as church leaders work out how to challenge their people to be prayerfully and politically involved in our nation.’
Andy, director of Christians in Politics, spoke on Brexit at CRE North in Manchester last March.
‘It is very easy to feel paralysed by both the complexity and toxicity of the issues surrounding it all,’ he said. ‘We may feel as if we are sliding towards chaos but we follow a God who since the dawn of time has brought order from chaos. It shouldn’t scare us. If you think we are in chaotic times, try living in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar!’
Order emerges from chaos through restored relationships, believes Andy.
‘The cross sits at the centre of history because it makes possible the reconciliation between us and God and between us and those who may not feel like “us” anymore,’ he said. ‘There is currently a real danger of a cultural divide becoming a chasm. We need to build relationships across divides.’
Reconciled can be heard on YouTube and the chord sheets and lyrics can be downloaded from andyflan.com
Pic © Virginia Lattul
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To get the best, come as a group
When CRE comes to town, Rev Hilary Howarth rounds up a posse to visit the exhibition.
Hilary, minister of the Triangle Community Methodist Church, Bolton, said: ‘It is a brilliant day out and I know it can make a lot of difference to church life. Our departmental leaders and helpers get fresh ideas. The resources on show are a real inspiration.’
A local preacher for many years, Hilary became a minister in 2002 and served in Chorley and Northwick and Winsford circuits before returning to her roots in Bolton to lead The Triangle Community – three fellowships that came together to form a new church.
‘It’s great when people like Hilary “get” the event,’ said CRE’s Steve Goddard. ‘We would encourage all church leaders to look carefully through our 130+ exhibitors and programme of seminars and presentations at Stoneleigh Park and invite key leaders and influencers to join them – from bishop to bell-ringer, vicar to verger. Already half the people who have bought advance tickets tell us they have never yet been to a CRE. They are in for a day of rich discovery.’
Entry to CRE Midlands is just £3 each for a group of three or more, if tickets are bought in advance from here (£8 each on the door).
Cartoon by Rev Taffy Davies