Advent calendar opens window on world of refugee children
Last Advent, hundreds of children across the UK sent messages of friendship to refugee children.
CRE National 2019 exhibitor Embrace created a Children’s Alternative Advent Calendar where, behind each door, children followed the story of ten-year-old Sami and his family who fled Syria because of the war.
‘Refugee children often feel forgotten,’ said Embrace’s event manager Kerensa McCollough. ‘They don’t know what has happened to their friends, pets and extended family, and they see their exhausted parents struggling to provide food and shelter.’
Each day the calendar reveals a little more of Sami’s story.
‘On one particular day, we asked children to write, colour and send us a postcard with messages of friendship and love which we promised to pass on to Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon,’ said Kerensa.
Hundreds responded and this spring, Heather Stanley (pictured), Embrace’s individual giving and communications manager, visited an after-school club in Lebanon.
‘I was so thrilled to pass on the “thank you” and “we love you, too” messages,’ she said.
The Children’s Alternative Advent Calendar will be available on Embrace’s stand at CRE, along with lots of other Advent gifts and resources for you and your church.
‘Every penny you spend on the calendar supports our Christian partners in the Middle East who provide vital items to refugee families,’ explained Heather. ‘They were able to give away life-sustaining rice, hygiene kits, warm hats, gloves and pairs of sturdy shoes.
‘And our Christian partners are also running healthcare centres, schools, and after-school clubs for refugee children who otherwise would be missing out on their education. The difference you make buy simply choosing our calendar, is amazing!’
‘In a world focussed on “getting”, Sami’s story reminds us that Christmas is about giving hope,’ said Rev Mary Hawes, national children and youth advisor for the Church of England.‘This Advent calendar offers a practical way to give and learn at the same time.’
• Embrace are on stand S151 at CRE National 2019
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Experience the change that made Patience strong
She grew up in an impoverished home but now, with support from her local church and Compassion projects, Patience is taking positive steps away from a life of poverty.
The life story of this girl from Uganda will be told in an interactive audio and visual display at CRE National 2019, demonstrating what life can be like for children living below the poverty line in a developing country.
Taking up 156 square feet of trailer space, the Compassion Experience is free to enter for all attending the exhibition. Inside, Patience tells her story of growing up in an impoverished home. The exhibit goes on to show how she has overcome these challenges with support from her local church, alongside Compassion projects embedded in her community. These both ensured she received a quality education, had enough to eat, was given emotional and spiritual support, and could access medical care if she required.
She is now giving back to her own community, taking positive steps away from a life of poverty.
Justin Dowds, CEO of child development charity Compassion UK, said: ‘When people think of poverty, they often think of the lack of material things, but actually, poverty is the lack of freedom to make meaningful choices. Poverty narrows children’s horizons and undermines their ambitions. Through our holistic child development programme, Compassion stirs hope in children. You can witness that hope coming to life through the Compassion Experience.’
The charity has more than 60 years’ experience of working with some of the world’s poorest children. At present nearly two million children attend Compassion’s church-based projects in 25 of the world’s poorest countries.
• Compassion are on stand S39 at CRE National 2019
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Time to go flat out for poor people
Giving up your bed to sleep on the floor is just one task in a new experience for church members.
In taking up World Vision’s Matthew 25 Challenge, congregations are invited to concentrate on Matthew 25:35-40 – to care for our ‘neighbour’ living in poverty around the world.
‘Church members get daily text challenges to their mobile phone – or if they prefer, follow the challenges in a devotional booklet,’ explained World Vision’s Justin Bloomfield. ‘Both include amazing stories of children around the world, prayers, inspiring videos and discussion points.’
This new initiative, introduced to churches at CRE National 2019, will help churches step into the lives of people living in poverty – and respond with the love of Jesus. The daily challenges are family-friendly and include giving up your bed to sleep on the floor and giving up a meal and all drinks except water.
As one church pastor said: ‘It’s easy to read scripture, but it’s another thing to feel scripture.’
‘Our prayer is that the Matthew 25 Challenge will give church leaders resources to help equip them disciple their congregations and build community and relationships, too,’ said Justin.
• Visit the World Vision stand (S41) at CRE National 2019 to sign up your church to the Matthew 25 Challenge
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Out of disaster comes the divine
If it hadn’t been for a ‘massive error’ in Washington DC, the late Bob Gass and United Christian Broadcasters might never have met.
When just 29 visitors came through the doors of the two-day CRE in prestigious Washington DC in 1989, the event’s UK founder flew home counting the cost of a commercial disaster.
‘We were advised by our American partners that the capital would be ideal for the first event of its kind on US soil,’ recalled Gospatric Home, now honorary president of CRE. ‘It was a massive error. Despite a powerful marketing campaign to many thousands of church leaders, the attendance was embarrassingly poor.’
The exhibition was still in its infancy in the UK and the fledgling organisation did not need a loss-making event at such a precarious time in its existence. Unknown to Gos, however, one of the handful of visitors had been the late Bob Gass. And one of the exhibitors was United Christian Broadcasters. Until that day, they didn’t know each other existed.
And, in the economy of God, from the smallest of acorns a mighty oak grew.
Bob proposed contributing a devotional to UCB under the title Word for Today. The first edition was published in April 1994 with a print run of just 3,500. The rest is history.
‘Today, we are distributing more than 300,000 printed copies quarterly to the UK alone,’ said UCB’s publishing coordinator Laura Foxon. ‘As well as this, more than 76,000 people are receiving it each day by email, over 88,000 people read the daily devotional online in the first quarter of 2019 and 76,000 people accessed the UCB Word For Today podcast via our app in the first quarter of 2019.’
More than 300,000 people each week listen to UCB 1 and UCB 2, which both broadcast the UCB Word For Today every day.
‘None of this would have happened if UCB had not taken a stand at the exhibition,’ recalled Gos. ‘UCB must have been hugely impressed by Bob but it is quite normal for an enterprise of this kind to start quite modestly and grow in popularity. Many significant projects have begun through “chance” conversations in the aisles of CRE and we are grateful to God that we have been able to play a small part in his divine plans.’
In 1987, CRE National moved from central London to Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey where it takes place again this year (Oct 15-17). By the 1990s the exhibition was also being staged in Birmingham, Manchester, Harrogate, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Torquay and Exeter.
‘CRE has played a huge role in showing churches how to move with the times and grow and develop,’ said Gos. ‘Thousands and thousands of churches have modernised and continue to change in this age of the internet. Meanwhile exhibitors have got better and better at presenting their resources to church leaders.’
More than 4000 local church leaders and members, representing all major denominations, are expected to visit CRE National 2019, to be opened by former Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones and actress Fiona Hendley.
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How isolated villages were just waiting for Goddard
Many churches in rural areas were closed in the early 1960s – but Pastor Herbert Goddard was determined to do something about it.
At the same time Christian missionaries were returning home and could not afford suitable accommodation, so Herbert, also a director of a building contractors, revamped a disused church and built accommodation nearby. This was then offered to missionaries who took over the running of the church. It led to the formation of the Datchet Evangelical Fellowship which later became Rural Ministries, an exhibitor at CRE National 2019.
Herbert, a former president of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, died in 1981 but his vision to keep the Gospel alive in the countryside remains.
‘Every rural community is different, and we understand this,’ said Rev Simon Mattholie (pictured), chief executive officer of Rural Ministries. ‘Rhythms and seasons play an important part, along with a strong sense of history and the importance of a local place of worship. We want to help people see their community from a different perspective, to see what God is already doing among them and then join in.
‘Geographically, 93 per cent of the UK is rural, and home to about 12 million people. However, with “urban” being the main focus for many denominations, this sizable remnant is often left behind.’
Simon, who has served in a number of rural churches and for the past six years has lived in a smallholding, understands the loneliness of rural ministry. At CRE he wants to let people living in these isolated areas know support is available.
‘We want to speak to anyone whether they are a small mission initiative or a diocese supporting a rural parish,’ he said. ‘We want to hear their stories of encouragement and tell them ours.’
Life in the countryside has many benefits – a beautiful environment, a strong sense of community and proportionally fewer instances of ill health. But the low population densities and distance between residential and commercial centres, can bring challenges for those living, working and witnessing in the countryside.
Isolation through lack of public transport, networks of people or available resources is often a common theme. It can exist in villages near larger towns, where it is common for all the attention to be focused on supporting initiatives in the town.
‘Rural Ministries recognises and understands these, and many other issues, not least the impact they have on church life. We are here to help,’ said Simon.
• Rural Ministries are on stand FC5 at CRE National 2019
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Charting the UK chaplaincy explosion
Chaplaincy operates on the edge of the church but at the heart of the gospel.
That will be the message from Rev Jonathan Woodhouse, CB (pictured), former Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC), who will speak at CRE National 2019 on Chaplaincy: the new missional frontline (12pm, Wed 16 Oct).
‘There is anexplosion of chaplaincy ministry in the UK, from the community of faith to the community of work and play,’ explained Jonathan, who lectures at Moorlands College, part of the exhibition’s Study Zone. ‘Chaplaincy is a soft-skilled, inclusive, relational and incarnational ministry offering spiritual support, pastoral care and ethical questions in contemporary public spaces.’
His talk will introduce visitors to effective ways to listen and discuss contentious issues with people of different faiths and no faith in fluid, life situations – and how chaplains work in teams with those of other faiths whilst remaining true to their Christian journey.
‘I will also look at the emerging opportunities of chaplaincy in every locality and region,’ he said.
Jonathan has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Falkland Islands, Germany and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
‘Because of the issues dealt with in the army, especially on operations – mortality, relationships, pastoral support, purpose and forgiveness – there’s a great call for chaplaincy that isn’t necessarily there in the civilian world,’ he explained. ‘Chaplains live, breathe, socialise and go on exercise and operations together, dealing with powerful issues. I don’t know of a comparable relationship that a priest or minister might enjoy in their parish.’
Jonathan was head of the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department from 2011 to 2014 and the first-ever Baptist to become Chaplain General.
• Moorlands College are on stand SZ4 in the Study Zone at CRE National 2019
• Alliance of Town and City Chaplaincies (ATCC) are on stand S96 at CRE National 2019
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Carla Jane: first steps to understanding the true meaning of worship
Worship is something we do a lot at church but understand little – an observation that has made one of the contributors to Worship Wednesday (Oct 16) think hard over the past year.
‘A leading pioneer of modern worship said we’re currently big on imitation not revelation,’ said worship leader and choir director Carla Jane (pictured). ‘In coming together at Sandown Park, we can equip ourselves and our church communities anew. My prayer is that we will discover greater truths of the revealed wonder of God, which causes our hearts and knees to bow in reverence.’
An award-winning vocalist and choir director for the New Testament Church of God, Carla facilitates workshops for gospel choirs and church vocal groups. For the past nine years she has worked as a vocal coach and choir director across schools in Manchester and Liverpool, inspiring adults and children to ‘Sing it like you mean it’ – a motto she uses to encourage them to sing with passion and conviction.
Among those joining Carla for Worship Wednesday will be Chris Bowater, Roger Jones, Lou Fellingham, Noel Robinson and Roy Francis. Beginning at 11am, there will be four sessions:
What on earth is worship?
Establishing an agreed definition and understanding
Who on earth is worship for?
Discussing our relationship with God and each other
How on earth should we worship?
Validating differing styles and genres of worship
Worship: heaven help us!
Worship in spirit and truth requires the help and leading of the Holy Spirit
‘Our worship – whether contemporary or traditional, high church or low – should eschew man-focused experientialism and embrace the transcendent God,’ said Chris Bowater. ‘We’ll be attempting to show you how to do that in your church during Worship Wednesday.’
• Worship Wednesday runs from 11am on Wed 16 Oct at CRE National 2019
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Retirement: your best is yet to come
It’s time to stop believing that ‘best before’ applies to people as well as food, believes Peter Meadows, programme director of AfterWorkNet.
‘When applied to food, it’s wasting millions, and it’s much the same when applied to lives,’ he maintains. ‘Retirement today presents opportunities and challenges past generations never dreamed of.’
Peter launched the popular Christian youth magazine Buzz (now Christianity) and co-founded Spring Harvest. He will host a series of seminars with Dave Fenton who left teaching to lead youth work at the Keswick Convention and Word Alive. They will impart plenty of good advice in the seminar room behind the AfterWorkNet stand (S155) to those who are about to, or already have retired. Their three seminars will be repeated twice each day. Click here for more information.
‘We must fight the false notion that people of a certain age are no longer valuable,’ says Peter. ‘This faulty labelling is also inflicting cost – in terms of missed opportunities, experiences, richness of life, contributions to society and more. If we are to kill off ‘best before’ on food, which is a plan of the government, let’s kill it off for people too.’
Peter wants us to think of the ‘talents’ that many have accumulated during their working years.
‘Most likely they represent a treasure trove of valuable skills, knowledge and experience,’ he maintains. ‘It was what kept you afloat back then. But what about “now”? Because the call to be faithful stewards of the talents we have doesn’t end with our last pay cheque.’
• AfterWorkNet are on stand S155 at CRE National 2019
• See the AfterWorkNet seminar programme
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Square peg, square hole: discover the right way to recruit
Eldercare charity Pilgrims’ Friend Society (PFS) has cracked the problem of good recruitment – thanks to a fellow CRE exhibitor.
In September, Alexandra Davis joins PFS as director of marketing and communications, having been selected from a rigorous process managed by Action Planning consultants Tracy Madgwick and Hayley McDonald.
‘Good directors are hard to find in any circumstances,’ said Tracy. ‘For a Christian charity like PFS, which requires candidates accepting the organisation’s statement of faith, the field is narrowed drastically. But with the right contacts, the right candidates can be found.’
Action Planning has that level of experience, as well as a number of Christians like Tracy within its associate community. Their knowledge and connections are a valuable source of candidate referrals. Having provided recruitment and salary benchmarking services to PFS in the past – including the recruitment of current CEO Stephen Hammersley and one of the trustees – Action Planning was asked to help fill this crucial position.
‘We have quite a conservative basis of faith, which means we fish in a small pool,’ said Stephen. ‘That said, care for the elderly is one area within our secular state in which the regulatory regime is set up to encourage spiritual care and it is important to make Christians aware of this opportunity. Action Planning understand where we’re coming from, which means that, as well as screening out unsuitable candidates, they can screen in people who have the same perspective as us.’
• Pilgrims’ Friend Society are on stand S53 at CRE National 2019
• Action Planning are on stand FC31at CRE National 2019
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Where have all the black saints gone?
Stories of prostitutes set on fire are not the most popular of biblical narratives but we need to grasp their significance, according to Dr Sanjee Perera (pictured).
‘Many of us know the stories of aristocratic saints who lived centuries ago,’ said Sanjee, a keynote speaker during Ladies’ Day at CRE National 2019 (12pm, Thu 17 Oct), ‘but have we considered how their stories might clash with the earthy biblical narratives that speak of famine and slavery, unbending dictators, genocide and the fall of empires?’
Sanjee, a research fellow at the University of Birmingham, had to search to find stories of black women who have served and inspired the church and she will take CRE visitors ‘on a poetic journey through Victorian stained glass and alabaster angels in verdant graveyards’, to examine how goodness, holiness, beauty and virtue became synonymous with whiteness, and how this becomes a double burden for women with black and minority ethnicities.
‘In a programme of special presentations and seminars, Ladies’ Day will highlight the contributions of women in church and society, especially those who have been forgotten or neglected,’ said CRE event director Brett Pitchfork. ‘It has been 25 years since the first woman was ordained by the Church of England – and this presents us with an ideal opportunity for reflection.’
Rooted in Christian tradition and biblical values, a range of speakers and specialists will consider issues like gender stereotyping and the barriers women face in achieving their potential.
• Dr Sanjee Perera will speak on Where have all the black saints gone? (12pm, Thu 17 Oct)
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