Superior software for churches? Gordon plugs the app
A suite of apps specifically designed for churches, combining well-established tools and fresh innovations – that’s the promise behind a new name unveiled at CRE 24.
The teams that brought churches Cambron Software, Power Music Software and Amplify Code have united under ChurchApps.co.uk.
‘While the name has changed, users can still expect the same exceptional customer service from the same dedicated professionals – now under a new corporate identity,’ said founder Gordon Cameron.
- Plan2gether.com takes the pain out of scheduling, creating recurring and non-recurring events, allocating people to teams, sending automated reminders by SMS text or email, editing rotas from anywhere on a laptop, tablet or phone – with the rota privacy level you want.
- The KidsClub.me app avoids the hassle and chaos of managing children’s club attendance and registration. It provides a user-friendly, online check-in and registration platform, tailor-made to meet the specific needs of a club. Say goodbye to paper sign-ups and manual tracking. By using the app, everything is streamlined and digital.
- Power Music is the best music display and management app for Windows, Mac and iPad/iPhone, putting an end to the hassle of working with paper music. All sheet music is stored in one place, enabling the user to share songs and playlists with other devices using Power Music Box.
Churches can buy hardware to support Power Music – from a MusicOne digital music stand to a bluetooth page turner. Also available are Power Music songbooks with Power Music Software now the only source for Spring Harvest songbooks from 2006 to 2020.
‘We invite churches of all sizes to explore our apps and see how our custom-made technology can enhance their mission,’ said Gordon.
• ChurchApps.co.uk are on stand E18A at CRE 24
CRE 2025
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James Batterbee
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Porn: now there’s hope beyond the harm
Mike Genung was at CRE Midlands last year when he heard his name being called.
‘As no-one knows me in the UK, I ignored it at first,’ he recalled. ‘But a woman asked me if I was the person giving a talk on porn addiction.’ Mike nodded. ‘I’ll bring my husband then,’ she said.
At the end of his talk the couple approached Mike. In tears, they thanked him.
‘Porn addiction had caused pain and wrecked their marriage for years,’ he recounted. ‘Now they had hope.’
Mike started Blazing Grace more than 20 years ago in the USA, to help people who struggle with porn addiction, sex addiction and adultery. The charity offers counselling by Zoom and in person for men and women. Mike, who speaks in churches and other venues, has written nine books and gets many requests for help from men and women in the UK.
‘I’ve been exhibiting at CRE for five years,’ said Mike. ‘I’ve also spoken in churches and led counselling sessions in the UK for individuals and couples. At every show, I hear repeatedly that there are no other Christian ministries in the UK that offer help in the sexual arena like Blazing Grace.’
On the morning of the first day of Mike’s first CRE, no one came to his stand.
‘It was as if we had spiritual leprosy!’ he said. ‘I prayed against the spiritual battle with the CRE prayer team, a wonderful couple. The dam broke and people started approaching us.’
According to Mike, the UK is the second largest consumer of porn in the world, second only to the US. Surveys show that upwards of 70 per cent of UK Christian men view porn.
‘I see the UK as a mission field that is ripe for ministering to the sexually broken,’ said Mike.
Mike told CRE News that an opportunity has surfaced to create a video series on recovery from sexual sin for men, wives and young people that would be promoted to the 70,000-plus UK churches. It will cost around £8,000.
‘We have also been praying for an office to offer counselling,’ he said. ‘This could be as simple as a room at a church.’
You can find out more about Mike’s talk at CRE 24 (12.30pm, Thu 10 Oct) here.
• Blazing Grace are on stand B27 at CRE 24
CRE 2025
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James Batterbee
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A grief resolved: find new hope on the bereavement journey
The culture is changing around grief and bereavement and people are seeking support.
So says CRE 24 speaker Rev Nicky Grey, who lost her husband and mother within six weeks of each other. She found the materials in The Bereavement Journey, supported by CRE exhibitor AtaLoss, helpful in processing her own grief – and began helping the charity. She has delivered the programme in prison, where it helps women process traumatic and unresolved loss and has become the organisation’s head of church engagement.
‘Our website currently has the greatest number of people referred to it from mental health services, because grieving people don’t know where else to turn or because unresolved grief has been identified as the root cause,’ she explained. ‘CRE 24 will provide another opportunity to show how we provide support for Christians in Milton Keynes, the wider region and around the UK.’
The Bereavement Journey, a programme offered by churches and other organisations for their communities, is rapidly spreading since its relaunch last year and is already run in more than 350 locations across the UK.
There are about 600,000 deaths in the UK each year, leaving more than six million people significantly bereaved.
‘We’re beginning to realise the affect that unprocessed loss can have,’ she said. ‘Unresolved grief is behind many of society’s problems.’
For more information about Nicky’s talk at CRE 24 (2pm Thu 10 Oct) click here.
• AtaLoss are on stand P43 at CRE 24
CRE 2025
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James Batterbee
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E: james@creonline.co.uk
ZAC the musical: from the composer who’s never sold us short
A composer whose music has become part and parcel of church life will next week launch ZAC, his 25th musical (7.30pm, Sat 28 Sep, Bromsgrove Baptist Church).
He will follow it up with a talk at CRE 24 (2pm, Thu 10 Oct) on how musicals can be used in mission and evangelism.
Originally a teacher, Roger Jones is director of Birmingham-based Christian Music Ministries (CMM) and began writing when he composed Jerusalem Joy, a performance around Jesus’ ride on a donkey into Jerusalem. He has become internationally known with his works performed all over the world.
‘The new production will follow the Bible story of Zacchaeus as he transforms from a diminutive, cheating tax collector to a follower of Jesus,’ (pictured above) he explains.
With him at CRE 24 will be Devon Brown, for many years one of CMM’s soloists, He has sung for them in Canada, India and Israel. Roger will also be involved in a teaching workshop,Praise of future past (Wed 9 Oct, 12.30pm) and with Devon will lead the workshop Psalms, hymns and songs (Wed 9 Oct 2.30pm).
On Thursday, again with Devon, he will join Lou and Nathan Fellingham and Lucy Grimble for a session on sung worship and song writing (11am).
This year marks 40 years since Roger left his financially secure teaching job to concentrate on a less secure creative ministry. In 2018 he was awarded the Mary Jones Prize by Bible Society for his musical Greater than Gold (1983) and its contribution to keeping the story of Welsh girl Mary Jones and her Bible alive, worldwide.
In 2019 Roger was recipient of the Thomas Cranmer Award for Worship, presented to him by Archbishop Justin Welby.
• For more information on the worship strand at CRE 24 go to page 17 of the exhibition handbook.
CRE 2025
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To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Blazing a trail for creative storytelling
A scavenger hunt based on the nativity story introduces the birth of Jesus in a new, engaging way.
It’s all part of Tale Trails, an initiative to help churches develop work with families and young people.
‘I wanted to use my expertise to provide a series of events for use in church and school situations,’ said Kirsty Allen, a former primary school teacher with drama training. ‘My first activity – the scavenger hunt – went down extremely well in a trial with 40 to 50 children in my home district.’ Kirsty, 55, intends to produce a number of Tale Trails to encourage children and adults to delve deeper into biblical stories.
‘I will cover subjects such as Easter along with some more suitable for schools and community use,’ she said, ‘to introduce children to parts of the Bible and traditional tales such as Goldilocks.’
The Nativity Trail features eight original illustrations which participants in teams hunt for. They then scan the attached QR code using a mobile phone or iPad and watch a short and entertaining video about one of the characters from the story. They must work as a team to rise to the creative challenges set within the trail, such as making their own videos based on the story.
‘A smart device (iPhone or tablet) able to scan QR codes is necessary,’ explained Kirsty. ‘A second device that can take photos and videos will be useful. Each team will need one QR code-friendly device and one photo-friendly device.
‘Through this engaging activity, participants experience stories by hearing from the characters involved and learn along the way by answering questions to unlock the next clues. The project is suitable for ages four to 94, so great for all-age events.’
• Tale Trails will be on stand P13 at CRE 24
CRE 2025
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James Batterbee
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Crafted to be classic and contemporary
Every new chair at St. John the Divine in New York has been meticulously crafted to compliment the cathedral’s existing architecture – and even features a personalised dedication plaque.
‘We are truly humbled that Dean Patrick Malloy and his team chose to work with us,’ said Gavin Duignan, owner of CRE 24 exhibitor ICS Furniture and designer of the ICON 40 chair. ‘Each of the 2000 chairs not only meets functional requirements but is engraved with the cathedral’s memorable rose window emblem.’
Dean Malloy said: ‘Modern objects can be jarring in historic buildings, but the contrast between the classic and the contemporary, when done well, can be extremely pleasing and even evocative. Years of dynamic and exceptionally cordial dialogue between us and ICS has borne fruit. The chairs allow us to stage diverse events – music, visual arts, lectures, panel discussions, and, above all, the worship of God – efficiently and beautifully. We are delighted that the cathedral is ICS’ first major American commission.’
• ICS Furniture are on stand D7 at CRE 24
Photo: St. John the Divine, New York
CRE 2025
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To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Moving forward, future proofed
Integrating technology into some of the UK’s most historic listed buildings – that’s the mission of first-time exhibitor FWD-IP at CRE 24.
Future-proofing buildings by enhancing network infrastructure, telecommunications and security, the firm designs and installs state-of-the-art CCTV camera systems, contributing significantly to health and safety protocols, security measures, visitor management and crowd control. Their door and gate access control, barrier systems and automatic number plate recognition technology help manage car parking and secure premises effectively.
In operation since 1992, FWD-IP has partnered with time-honoured institutions such as Ely Cathedral, The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and the English Martyrs, Cambridge (OLEM), the Fitzwilliam Museum and Cambridge University.
‘We are thrilled to participate in our first CRE, where we will showcase our premier security solutions designed to safeguard places of worship and our national treasures,’ said FWD-IP director Will Everitt. ‘With many venues hosting an increasing number of large-scale events, our technology ensures seamless and secure operations, allowing them to focus on their mission and community.’
• FWD-IP are on stand C1 at CRE 24
CRE 2025
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To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Speaksee set to ‘amaze’ at CRE 24
A ground-breaking technology that delivers live speech transcription directly to a mobile phone or AV system will be launched at CRE 24.
Iain Harvey-Smith, of DM Music, believes Speaksee will have church leaders amazed at how it can help deaf people and those who hard of hearing. ‘This is a brand-new product in the UK,’ he said. ‘Seeing Speaksee in action will provide a better understanding of its capabilities than any description I can offer!’
An added benefit of Speaksee is that it can also be an effective language-translation tool for those for whom English is not their native language
DM Music – established over 30 years ago as a dedicated church supplier and installer of sound equipment – is now one of the leading AV system installers with installations in over 3,000 churches.
Adam Lee, the UK regional director for the Dutch-based Speaksee company, will join Iain at CRE 24.
• DM Music are on stand A17 at CRE 24
CRE 2025
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To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
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E: james@creonline.co.uk
The long and winding road to Highgate House
The building may date back to the 17th century but it will meet the current demand for affordable, quality conferencing.
So said John Heasman, chief executive of the Christian Conference Trust, opening Highgate House in rural Northamptonshire.
As the newest member of the Christian Conference Trust (CCT) family, which also runs well-known High Leigh in Hertfordshire and The Hayes in Derbyshire, Highgate House is equipped with 16 conferencing spaces, fully-catered services and 82 en-suite bedrooms.
By opening a third centre, the trust has added 30 per cent more capacity for Christian groups to benefit from residential ministry. It expects to welcome more than 25,000 people each year to Highgate House, representing groups from all major denominations.
‘Today is the culmination of years of searching, planning and praying,’ said Heasman. ‘We pray the opening of this stunning country house will benefit thousands of believers in invaluable residential ministry.’
• CCT are on stand A6 at CRE 24
Photo: Highgate House, CCT’s stunning new conferencing centre
CRE 2025
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To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
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Yvonne Bell: how a chasuble changed her life
When Yvonne Bell’s vicar asked her to make him a chasuble she didn’t even know what one was.
‘He had to take me into the vestry to show me! I had no idea how many clerical vestments there were,’ recalls Yvonne, who had switched from attending a free church to join the Church of England. She was also at college studying art which included work on textiles.
Overnight, her life changed completely.
Creating the chasuble took her beyond the canvas prints, posters, greetings cards and postcards she had been designing. Her clerical range now includes stoles, copes, mitres, lectern and pulpit falls as well as church banners painted on silk using permanent silk dyes.
The Rt Rev Sarah Bullock, Bishop of Shrewsbury, recently had a cope made by Yvonne (pictured) to represent the area in which she ministers. Made of dupion silk and lined with cotton, the cope includes paintings of local features such as rivers, canals, birds, animals, ducks – and a green tractor.
‘It had to be green because that is the colour the local farmer drives,’ explained Yvonne.
‘The Bishop was thrilled to bits.’
It’s a reaction she invariably gets when one of her clerical creations is worn in front of a congregation. Based in nearby Deanshanger, Northamptonshire, Yvonne will be at CRE 24 introducing her range of artistic products including greetings cards and prints. She will take orders for clerical items if visitors want a special gift for a vicar or church. She will also have a range of teddy bears available for which she has created special clerical garments.
• Yvonne Bell is on stand A11 at CRE 24
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