Discover the powerful mentoring programme that rescues, restores and revives
Working for a mission helping street kids in Guatemala Alastair Welford was concerned how mentoring youngsters finished when they became young adults.
Some returned to the street with all the problems that created – so he and his wife, Debbie, began to work with them, creating courses in mentoring to support churches and community groups.
Nicodemus was born – a Christian charity dedicated to rescuing, restoring and reviving broken lives.
‘Mentoring can play a powerful role in fostering spiritual growth, developing leadership skills and promoting good mental health,’ he explains. ‘The training can, for example, enhance existing or new community mentoring programmes, support discipleship relationships and enable trust to be effectively built between volunteer mentors and those they are caring for.’
In the past 10 years Nicodemus, exhibitors at CRE Midlands 2023, mentored 1,373 vulnerable young people, rescued 2,288 from street living and made an impact on the lives of 15,428 young people. Last year 330 mentors were trained and another 170 in the first three months of 2023. The two courses – Foundational Specialist Mentoring and Child Sexual Exploitation – used to great effect in Guatemala and 10 other Latin American countries, are available in the UK, to enable church volunteers to serve as mentors and disciple-makers.
Sasha, who was living alone and pregnant at 19, praises the programme. ‘My economic situation and my pregnancy mean I feel frustrated and discouraged,’ she said. ‘But I have a mentor supporting me and she helps me find solutions, supporting me with medical consultations and in other areas. God is the centre of my life and that of my baby. My experiences have made me want to help other people.’
Nicodemus are offering CRE visitors and supporters an opportunity to take the Foundational Specialist Mentoring course for free – one person per church (available as an online course 24/7). Simply register at www.nicodemustraining.org and enter the offer code CRE236. Others wishing to do the course may purchase access at affordable prices – between £35 and £16 per person depending on the number purchased.
‘We often encounter churches and outreach groups where people have a passion to do something and support individuals in their community, to improve their mental health,’ said Alastair and Debbie’s son, Jonnie Welford, Latin America director. ‘Our training series equips people to serve as mentors and disciple-makers in their spheres of influence, both by practising and creating a culture of mentoring within the church and beyond its walls in our communities.’
Alastair and Debbie look forward to talking through their services with visitors at CRE Midlands 2023.
• The Nicodemus Charity is on stand A27 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Repaying the debt we owe to the Jewish people
For more than 80 years the Society for Distributing Hebrew Scriptures (SDHS) has published and given away copies of the Bible in bilingual format to Jewish people.
The society points out that God gave the scriptures to man as the one true source of light. He chose Jewish writers as the instrument to pen his word and carefully preserve it through the centuries.
‘The Hebrew heritage of the Word of God is real,’ said a SDHS spokesman, ‘and a great debt is owed to the Jewish people for this most precious gift. Out of gratitude to them and in partial repayment of our debt, the society exists to provide Jewish people worldwide with God’s Word so they may read and understand for themselves Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him [Messiah Jesus] the iniquity of us all.”
‘We love the Bible, we love the God of the Bible, and we also love his chosen nation, Israel. Our society was established in 1940 to follow in the apostle Paul’s footsteps when he said in Romans 10:1-2: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”’
The society publishes bilingual scriptures of the Tanakh (Old Testament) as well as the New Testament in both Hebrew and multiple languages such as English, Yiddish, French, Spanish, German, Russian and many more, sending out at least 50 every working day across the world.
Copies to give to Jewish friends or family members, will be available at the Society for Distributing Hebrew Scriptures stand at CRE Midlands 2023.
• The Society for Distributing Hebrew Scriptures (SDHS) are on stand F9 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Fifty years on, Thornleigh goes for gold
From the lamp post at the entrance to a bench and sundial in the grounds, Thornleigh Hotel at Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, offers a golden welcome to guests as it celebrates 50 years.
Jane Walmsley, manager for the past 15 years, delights in seeing new visitors and old, ensuring they get the most from their stay.
‘We are in a lovely setting, with sea views in the heart of Morecambe Bay,’ she said. ‘And I love to see happy guests, many of whom are so satisfied they book another holiday with us before leaving.’
BBC Songs of Praise presenter Pam Rhodes and CRE contributor Rev Cindy Kent have already delighted guests in this celebration year. They will be followed in August by popular singer Marilyn Baker. A special concert to highlight the anniversary will feature top singer and entertainer Jonathan Veira in the local Victoria Hall (Sat 26 Aug).
Jonathan will also be at the hotel from August 21, leading musical sessions twice a day.
At 54, and with many years in the business, Jane points out that the hotel – which can take up to 40 guests – has managed to overcome Covid lockdowns. Despite the pressures of staffing, rising food costs and rail strikes, she admits: ‘My greatest pleasure is seeing people being well looked after and happy – and booking them again at a future date.’
• Thornleigh Hotel are on stand P27 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Dozens of organisations bowled over by plans for CRE North 2024
Less than a month before England face Australia at Old Trafford, news of CRE’s next innings in Manchester was outlined to more than 50 guests at the atmospheric venue.
Representing businesses, missions and churches from across the north west and beyond, attendees heard from Bishop Tony Porter, formerly vicar of Holy Trinity, Platt and Mark Mitchell, founder of the Mitchell Group car dealership at Cheshire Oaks, who praised the vision of owner Steve Goddard for bringing CRE North to the BEC Arena (15/16 May 2024).
‘The exhibition is a vital opportunity for Christians of all denominations to find something to assist them in their ministry and witness,’ said Mark, a former High Sheriff of Chester. In a wide-ranging interview he admitted to beginning his commercial life at eight years of age, selling hamsters in the school playground.
Having set up the company in 1990 with £100 share capital and a £10,000 bank overdraft, the Mitchell Group, based at Cheshire Oaks, now employs 100 people, with a turnover of £50 million – in spite of the dealership not opening on a Sunday.
‘We have a sign which says: “At home with the family”. In an industry where standards are not high, we can stand out,’ he said. ‘Not all our staff are Christians. They are employed on the basis of skills and experience but we are the closest many of them will get to understanding Christianity. We have to be Christ to them. I follow the Bible verse – “Those who honour me I will honour.”’
He recalled the time when a major car manufacturer wanted to change the franchise to ensure dealers were open on a Sunday. Despite the huge impact it would have on his company, Mark refused to continue with the manufacturer, telling them: ‘I am more accountable to my maker than any auto manufacturer.’
His company now deals with three major brands – Lexus, Mazda and Skoda.
The interview followed entertainment from Wirrall-based Christian magician Steve Price, a Gold Star member of The Magic Circle and one-time winner of the Circler’s Originality Prize. Steve regularly entertains groups of all ages, taking his show to churches as well as cruise liners. Brett Pitchfork, CRE event director, explained how CRE North 2024, at the BEC Arena (15/16 May 2024) will be the first one in Manchester for five years.
‘It was the preferred venue of the majority of our 160+ exhibitors,’ said Brett. ‘Within the first two weeks of stand sales more than 25 per cent of the floor space had already been taken.’
Speaking before the event at Old Trafford, Rt Revd David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, said: ‘We are delighted CRE is returning to Manchester. Here is an opportunity for dozens of organisations to bring skills, services, ideas and resources to the north and for members of all church traditions to come and draw inspiration from them.’
• To book a stand at CRE North 24 (BEC Arena, Manchester 15/16 May 2024) contact James Batterbee on 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpas on 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk). Floorplans and price list available here.
Gemma’s gems score a big hit with Cowell and Co.
The BIG Sing choir, who scored a big hit with the judges on Britain’s Got Talent this month, will help open CRE Midlands 2023 (10am, Wed 8 Nov, Cranmore Park, Solihull).
Some members of the choir – there were 350 of them at Britain’s Got Talent! – will also talk about their work in local communities and encourage visitors to join them.
The choir was started 12 years ago by Gemma and Howard Francis to get people singing – whether they had a good voice or not – to help them make new friends and entertain others. In fact, there are now BIG Sing groups in many parts of the country with more than 500 members. All ages and all types of music are covered, from gospel to pop and all stages in between.
The project not only gives adults a chance to get together but through its charity, The BIG Sing SOUL, also offers TINY Sing music sessions to babies and tots whilst their parents socialise over a cuppa!
In different formats the choir has appeared with big names like Mica Paris, Ellie Goulding, Leah McFall (from BBC The Voice) Blake and the London Community Gospel Choir, for whom Gemma and Howard were once members. They have sung for Jamie Oliver, toured with Leona Lewis and were winners of the BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year in 2017.
A charity arm – The Big Sing SOUL (Sing, Outreach, Unity and Love) – was formed six years ago and has already raised more than £200k for charities.
‘Uniting communities with uplifting and motivating music, inspired by gospel music and teaching, The BIG Sing is more than just a choir. We are a family,’ explained Gemma. ‘Many members have found the choir has helped them through loneliness, depression, grief and illness. It has given them two hours a week to find themselves again.’
Despite the setback caused by various Covid-19 lockdowns, the organisation has not only pulled through but, as Gemma added, ‘grown from strength to strength in number and ability, showing members that together we can achieve greatness.’
She invites anyone interested to come and hear them at CRE Midlands 2023 – ‘so you can sing along and leave happy and uplifted!’
See their performance on Britain’s Got Talent here.
• The BIG Sing will be on stand DS34 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Instead, we moved to Manchester
If you haven’t already heard it, you soon will – ‘Instead, I wrote a song…’ is the UK entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
‘While we wish singer Mae Muller douze points galore, the song continually reminds us how we had to abandon CRE North 2023 when the venue was requisitioned for the contest,’ said CRE owner Steve Goddard. ‘But all was not lost. Instead, we moved the show! Eurovision may have disrupted our schedule but we’re tuning up for an excellent event.’
Twelve months later than originally planned, CRE North (15/16 May 2024) will be the first-ever at the BEC Arena, just a mile from the Trafford Centre and recently-demolished Event City (CRE North location in 2019). It’s located in the heart of the north-west conurbation, with easy access by road, rail and tram. And there’s free parking onsite to make exhibiting and visiting a pleasurable experience.
‘We asked hundreds of organisations where we should run our next regional exhibition after CRE Midlands later this year – and Manchester topped the poll,’ said event director Brett Pitchfork. ‘In less than a week a quarter of the stands have already been taken.’
‘We are delighted CRE is returning to Manchester,’ said Rt Revd David Walker, Bishop of Manchester. ‘Here is an opportunity for 180+ organisations to bring skills, services, ideas and resources to the north and for members of all church traditions to come and draw inspiration from them.’
Click on the links following for the official brochure, floorplan and price list:
To exhibit, please contact the sales team
James Batterbee
0161 250 2306
james@creonline.co.uk
Carol Malpass
0161 250 2467
carol@creonline.co.uk
• Visitor registration for CRE North 2024 will open in the Autumn
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Church takes huge strides to reduce carbon footprint
A church that reduced its carbon footprint by 80 per cent led to the architects behind the transformation being short-listed for a prestigious national award.
Promoted by The Architects’ Journal, the AJ Retrofit Award recognises and celebrates the design expertise behind the renewal and repurposing of existing buildings, setting a precedent for ways to slash the industry’s carbon footprint.
Archangel Architects, exhibiting under the name Church Build at CRE Midlands 2023, did not get the winning entry but as founding director Nigel Walter said: ‘Even being named on the short list was an accolade which we appreciated and was a testimony to the quality of the work.’
The reimagining of Downing Place United Reformed Church in Cambridge, completed in 2021, created an open and inclusive church and community centre. The church embraced the opportunity of redevelopment to significantly reduce its carbon emissions through upgrading the building fabric, installing energy efficient services (MVHR, LED lighting, solar PV panels) and switching to renewable energy suppliers. The absolute reduction in CO2 by the redevelopment has proved dramatic.
At the outset of the project, two years of historic gas and electric bills were compared with Church of England benchmarks which revealed energy use was 80 per cent more than the C of E average for the halls, and more than double the average for the church. After 12 months in use actual annual CO2 emissions were calculated. The church showed a reduction of 80 per cent and the halls a reduction of 77 per cent.
The Rev Nigel Uden, the church’s minister, said: ‘Downing Place Church has recognised that sustainability is a crucial issue for our time, not only for ourselves but for the whole planet and future generations. As part of our response, the church has established a group which aims to help develop our theological understanding of sustainability; take appropriate decisions regarding the church’s own life; act co-operatively with others who share the same goals and encourage personal lifestyle commitment.’
Margaret Reynolds, architect and member of the building committee, said: ‘I examined two years of energy bills in 2019 and realised what a huge amount of energy we were using.
‘We were delighted to find the building retrofit measures we proposed were so effective in reducing the carbon emissions. All the redevelopment work and expense proved very worthwhile.’
Nigel, a specialist conservation architect with 30 years’ experience of community-based architecture, added: ‘One of the greatest triumphs of this project has been that it has acted as a catalyst for the whole church community to embrace sustainability. We have achieved a lot for a relatively small budget though there is always more to be done.’
• Church Build will be on stand F3 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Siloam: the ‘kitchen table’ project punching above its weight
Richard Norton is as determined to help the suffering throughout the world as when he set up Siloam Christian Ministries in 1982.
Previously believing Communism was the way forward for the world, Richard had become a Christian and this dramatic change in direction led to his helping a mission providing bibles to countries where Christianity was not welcomed. He then formed Siloam, supporting indigenous Christians working in a variety of countries and recently this has included providing support for those in Ukraine.
‘Not everyone will want to support the appeals for Ukraine on TV made by larger aid organisations because they might feel their modest financial contributions would be miniscule to the overwhelming need,’ said Richard. ‘But, by supporting Siloam you know for certain that your gift, backed up with your prayers, will go a long way to putting aid into the hands of caring believers on the far side of Ukraine.’
Siloam is also helping people after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and assisting co-workers in Israel working for Love to the Needy – currently under increased pressure as refugees from Ukraine and Russia and other nations have added their needs to the many suffering from poverty in Israel, the land which gave the mission its name thanks to Jerusalem’s Pool of Siloam.
In Israel, the organisation has recently provided nylon backpacks containing t-shirts, socks, rain ponchos and other vital clothing items. Recently it has helped Love to the Needy provide new shoes to children and adults living in poverty in 11 locations as well as three outreaches for street people in Tel Aviv.
‘We might be a small “kitchen table” charity based in Leamington Spa with five workers – three of whom are part-time,’ said Richard, 79, ‘but we punch above our weight in providing for the needs of others in the developing world. We support projects worldwide which do not enjoy the financial support of other more prosperous UK charities and we are looking forward to meeting existing supporters and making new friends at CRE Midlands 2023.’
Siloam Christian Ministries are on stand C21 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Introducing the ‘me and eucharist’
A Birmingham pastor who started his own company creating easy-to-use communion containers, will exhibit his products for the first time at CRE Midlands (8/9 Nov, Cranmore Park, Solihull).
Bayo Oniye explained: ‘I was at a conference where the visiting speaker used a similar, all-in-one-system and realised how useful it was. When I contacted the company I heard nothing, so I decided to create my own, much-improved product.’
Holding a Masters’ degree in medical engineering, Bayo sold hip and knee replacements to orthopaedic surgeons before becoming co-pastor with his wife Bakang, a pharmacist, at Five Grace Church in Birmingham.
Together they started mmeyou – ‘a combination of two words — Me and You – from the words of our Lord Jesus: “This is My body (Me) which is broken for you (you).”’ The prefilled (all-in-one or separate) communion cups of red grape juice have a choice of packaged communion cracker or wafer.
‘Our vision is to serve the local church with a great tasting and hygienically-packaged product, especially important after Covid-19,’ said Bayo. ‘These are Holy Communion elements made from 100 per cent natural ingredients – ideal for individuals, families, small groups, churches and people taking part in services online. No matter how small or great your needs, we are here for you.’
Bayo believes mmeyou products are particularly useful for pastors taking communion in people’s homes.
‘While our containers have a large tag for opening purposes there is also a special pack for people who find it difficult to open the containers with the wafer in a small pouch,’ he explained.
Bakang, who looks after quality control, ensures there are no chemical preservatives in the drinks. There is also up to 100 per cent more drink (7ml of red grape juice per cup) than similar products, with a long shelf-life – eight months from manufacture. The cups can also be recycled.
• mmeyou are on stand DS5 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Eyes down for the next Big Church Read
When Steve Barnett heard of The Big Thames Valley Read, in which everyone who lived alongside the river was encouraged to read Three Men in a Boat, he thought a similar idea would work in a church setting.
‘I reckoned everyone reading the same book at the same time would build fellowship and deepen faith,’ said Steve, who runs St Andrew’s Bookshop, exhibitors at CRE Midlands 2023.
Many years later, during lockdown, he was talking with Andy Lyon from HodderFaith about ways to get people reading. They decided to create The National Big Church Read if they could get either John Mark Comer or Pete Greig to join in. And both agreed! Three years on there are now over 40 Big Church Reads to choose from.
‘We encourage groups and churches to journey through a specific book together,’ said Steve. ‘The author records a short video for each week in which they encourage people to talk about the book. This can be played from the Big Church Read website.’
What has excited Steve is that people are drawn into reading who might not normally – and many read the whole book.
‘In our survey we discovered a third of the respondents said they didn’t usually read Christian books, and others said they didn’t finish books they had started,’ he said. ‘But all the people who did not normally read the whole book, did so.
‘We are hearing of how groups have been drawn closer, faith deepened and lives changed. This is why more than 90 per cent of those who have already been involved in a Big Church Read say they will join in another.’
‘I just want to see more people reading and taking advantage of the wonderful books which are available,’ added Steve.
• The 3rd National Big Church Read starts on May 24
• St Andrew’s Bookshop are on stand C23 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands