CRE 2024 in Milton Keynes – join us for lunch and the low-down!
Local church leaders and office holders within striking distance of the town are invited to find out about CRE 2024 – at a special lunch in Milton Keynes on Tue 21 May.
‘In our (almost) 40-year history, we are bringing the exhibition to the area for the first time in October,’ explains CRE owner Steve Goddard. ‘We know from experience that, while some will have visited the exhibition somewhere else at some point over the years, many hundreds will have no idea we even exist!
‘In association with Churches Together in Milton Keynes we are therefore inviting everyone in some form of leadership in their local church to join us for lunch. We will lift the curtain on our plans for CRE 2024 at the Marshall Arena and show how local churches of all denominations and sizes will be resourced in hundreds of new and innovative ways. Even if you live some way from the town, you are still welcome!’
- Date of leaders’ lunch: Tue 21 May 2024
- Time: 12.30pm
- Venue: The Church of Christ the Cornerstone, 300 Saxon Gate Milton Keynes MK9 2ES
The buffet lunch is courtesy of CRE but numbers are limited, so please book your place today by contacting Jenny Brygan: jenny@creonline.co.uk by Friday 19 April. T: 0161 250 2737.
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
Where next? Check out the CRE Jobs Board at CRE 2024
Visitors to CRE 2024 will be able to scan OSCAR’s Jobs Board which brings together a variety of work opportunities, paid and voluntary, in churches and with Christian organisations.
‘Whatever stage of life or season you are in, you can usually find opportunities to help you follow your calling and use your gifts to serve the kingdom of God – full-time, part-time or spare-time,’ said OSCAR founder Mike Frith. ‘We will also be on hand to help you explore your options with access to our huge online database of organisations and opportunities.
One grateful user is Stephen Jennings.
‘I spotted a card for Hope UK, to be trained as a drug educator,’ said Stephen. ‘I contacted them and following five months of training, joined the organisation doing just that! Thank you, as I had not heard of Hope UK until I scanned the boards!’
The OSCAR Jobs Board is an integral part of Mission on the Map at CRE 2024, where 10 organisations will promote their specific area of mission, home and abroad. More here.
• The OSCAR Jobs Board will be on stand F16 at CRE 2024
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
Genesis to stay in the garden of Tywyn
One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of embroidered clothing was born in the beautiful Welsh town of Tywyn – and that’s where founder Mike Stevens wants the company to stay.
Mike started Genesis as a surf shop on the town’s promenade in 1973, selling and hiring surfboards and skateboards. From day one he also sold T-shirts and very soon started printing his own – thanks to a new, state-of-the-art printing machine bought from the USA.
‘The T-shirt printing developed very rapidly following demand from schools, outdoor centres, churches and charities who wanted their own designs produced,’ he recalls. ‘We’ve never looked back and now supply a wide range of clothing, printed or embroidered to clients’ design, throughout the UK and Europe – for companies, events, festivals, promotions, top London shows and still, of course, churches.’
Genesis is now an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) run by company staff. Operating from a 6000 sq ft factory unit on the Pendre Enterprise Park, the company has recently invested in the very latest design printing machine to ensure it remains at the forefront of new technology. The very latest embroidery machine was also purchased a couple of years ago.
‘Our new product catalogue for 2024 is the biggest we have ever produced, featuring a massive choice of clothing and merchandise,’ says Mike. ‘We look forward to introducing our goods to churches at CRE 2024.’
Mike has had many enquiries in recent years from competitors wanting to buy the company.
‘Had I taken that route, however, we would have moved away from Tywyn,’ he explains. ‘Genesis was born in the town and that’s where I want it to stay. By converting the company to an Employee Ownership Trust, the staff now own the business which secures employment in the town for many, many years to come.’
• Genesis will be on stand C37 at CRE 2024
Main picture: Genesis founder Mike Stevens presents Roy and Ben Castle with T-shirts at CRE National 1994
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
From rural mission to interactive storytelling, new exhibitors book for CRE 2024
CRE takes place for the first time in Milton Keynes this October (9-10) – and a number of organisations are taking the opportunity to exhibit for the first time as well.
Rural Mission Solutions want to see a vibrant, credible and caring Christian community in every UK village. This might be in the local church (pictured above), or an informal group of Christians drawn from local fellowships. The organisation has a wealth of experience to ensure that strategies are culturally relevant, appropriate and effective. Rural Mission Solutions are part of Mission on the Map at CRE 2024.
Church Services TV help local churches set up systems to stream their services. ‘Through our services parishes help housebound parishioners, people living in nursing homes or those abroad or just feeling lonely, to stay connected with their own church or new churches,’ said David Harvey, a director of the company. More here.
Churches without a regular bookshop can install a pop-up version, thanks to 10ofthose who offer help to churches wanting to distribute good quality Christian books at a competitive price. ‘We’re a ministry that hand picks the best books that hold to the Bible, then we discount them, so more can go out,’ said co-founder Jonathan Carswell. ‘We use our profits to support missions around the world’. More here.
Led by Dr. Michael Youssef, Leading the Way’s international team of experts provides hope that is revolutionising lives here in the UK and around the world. Currently celebrating 35 years of ministry, Leading The Way’s television and radio programmes are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents.
The Field Studies Council is best known for providing residential and day field trips for those studying biology and geography. The charity organises primary school trips offering first-hand adventures in nature, from day visits to first overnight stays and activity-packed residentials. Secondary school and college courses are tailored to curriculum requirements, with relevant practicals and fieldwork content.
A project of Frontiers, Momentum Yes focuses on sending teams to live out and share the love of Jesus in Muslim communities where no one has previously made him known. Momentum Yes are part of Mission on the Map at CRE 2024.
Interactive Storyteller’s Tale Trails is a new, interactive, digital, story-based scavenger hunt, which can be carried out in any venue. The first in the series, The Nativity Trail, features eight original illustrations which participants hunt for, scan the attached QR code, and watch a short and entertaining video of one of the characters from the story.
And two returnees…
Go Teach Publications publish Bible teaching material for use with children and young people aged three to 14 years. Go Teach began publishing dated Sunday School materials (under another name) in 1946 and is the longest established producer of such materials in the UK.
Established in the 1970s, Genesis is one of the UK’s most experienced wholesalers of printed and embroidered garments, supplying a massive range of tee shirt styles, hoodies, polo shirts and much more, available in Fairtrade and organic cotton. The company last exhibited at CRE way back in 2016 – so to us they’re as good as new! More here.
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
Your church service, beamed worldwide
More than 500 churches now reach audiences in 228 countries and territories – thanks to Church Services TV (CSTV).
David Harvey, a director of the company, said: ‘Our streaming services help parishes reach housebound parishioners, people living in nursing homes or abroad or those just feeling lonely. They can stay connected with their own church or find new churches online.
‘CSTV was designed for non-technical users and can be remotely controlled from smart phones or tablets. This means authorised church personnel can turn the system on or off, set up schedules and recordings and track viewer statistics.
‘We provide embedded players on church websites and also on Facebook and YouTube automatically, making CSTV the most versatile and user-friendly application available.
‘We believe our range of services will far outstrip anything else available to your parish and, in our opinion, is the most comprehensive package available. We work with churches, taking them through every step of the process to make sure they are confident and happy with our top-level service.’
• Church Services TV will be on stand E8 at CRE 2024
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
Fellinghams, Jones and Bowater to lead worship strand at CRE 2024
Musical maestro Roger Jones will join fellow worship leaders Chris Bowater (pictured above) and Lou and Nathan Fellingham at CRE 2024.
Roger became a Christian in the late 1960s through the work of Christian Endeavour but his vision to write musicals began as head teacher at Aston Manor School (now an Academy) in 1973. The school choir performed Jerusalem Joy – a performance he wrote around Jesus’ ride into the holy city on a donkey.
He then wrote five more musicals before going full time into Christian music, becoming director of Christian Music Ministries, publishers of his music and other books. Birmingham-born, Roger also hosts Heart and Soul, a two-hour weekly programme on Brumside Radio, presenting church music. In between, he chats to guests.
‘CRE Midlands in November 23 was a huge success!’ said Roger. ‘So many folks and so churches came together, meeting and sharing with each other. I’m sure CRE 2024 at Milton Keynes will be just as great an occasion.’
Lou and Nathan Fellingham are tireless in their pursuit to write and record powerful songs that lift heads and stir hearts. An internationally-known worship leader, Lou has recorded 10 albums and is known for her prophetic edge and distinctive voice. Part of Emmanuel Church in Brighton, the Fellinghams are actively involved in leading worship there. An accomplished musician, Nathan is also a producer, speaker, pianist and writer. His passion is to combine rich theology with soulful melody.
For nearly 50 years Chris Bowater has been at the heart of the contemporary worship revolution in churches in the UK and many other countries across the world. He is constantly seeking to explore the cutting edge of music and his albums have reflected the strong classical, hymnology and jazz influences of his roots as well as his desire to maintain the best of musical and lyricist traditions.
Chris served on team as worship pastor at New Life Church, Lincoln, now Alive Church and more recently as senior pastor at New Life Church, Sleaford. He lives in Market Harborough and is currently part of the Market Harborough Community Church.
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
‘Impossible dream’ comes true, 117,000 times and counting
Flying over Malawi in 1998, Steven Loots prayed that every village and town he saw through the aeroplane window could have a church with a pastor and mission to reach others.
‘The words uttered in that tiny plane gave birth to a vision of such magnitude that at first I thought it was an impossible dream,’ Steven explained. ‘But slowly, as I prayed over and over, asking the Lord for these small African villages, he confirmed what I was to do for the next few decades.’
Harvesters began by working with established churches, led by faithful men and women who could initiate church planting in the surrounding areas. These churches, known as hubs, were used to train people to share their faith and disciple others.
The Hub Church Planting Model took shape in Lilongwe, Malawi and Chingola, Zambia, with just one person in each place. The first year saw 27 new churches, and by the third year, 125 new churches had been established through evangelism and discipleship.
Harvesters Ministries has now blossomed from a small family enterprise to a global movement with offices and staff spread over five continents. As of early 2024, more than 117,000 churches have been planted, 34,000 student pastors are enrolled, and Harvesters is operating in more than 85 countries, teaching its curriculum in over 64 languages.
‘The huge numbers are exciting,’ said Steven, ‘but best of all is the fact that you can go to a small church in a village far from the city and find believers who are being discipled, who love God and who read and study the word of God and apply it, and then lead other people to Christ and disciple them.’
After 20 years pastoring churches in Wales and Cornwall, Glen Chaplin (see video interview below) became manager of Harvesters UK and will be on the organisation’s stand at CRE 2024.
‘I was on a church mission team and worked with Harvesters Ministries to plant churches in Brazil and Mozambique,’ he said. ‘It was a logical move to take up a role in such a wonderful worldwide mission. From pastoring one church, I now have a role in helping hundreds!’
In 2024, Harvesters aims to plant an additional 35,000 churches, continuing to train pastors, win converts, make disciples and deliver God’s word. At CRE 2024 you will find out how your church can get involved.
‘We are humbly grateful God’s grace and favour,’ said Steven. ‘And now we invite you to journey with us, pray for us and support us – for the work is not done.’
Harvesters are on stand P23 at CRE 2024
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkypPOnatQU
Main photo: Harvesters’ Glen Chaplin is interviewed by Elliott Frisby of Monkeynut Audiobooks at CRE Midlands 23
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
Trust has high hopes for Highgate House
A high-quality Christian conference centre in Northamptonshire will open this summer.
Highgate House, a new member of the Christian Conference Trust (CCT) family, is a former coaching inn dating from 1663. It has been transformed into an exclusive space for Christian groups to experience residential ministry. With 81 en-suite bedrooms, the venue can accommodate up to 159 adults and 30 children, making it ideal for exclusive-use events.
CCT, an exhibitor at October’s CRE 2024 in Milton Keynes, also run High Leigh in Hertfordshire and The Hayes in Derbyshire. Equipped with large meeting halls, fully catered services and being centrally located, Highgate House will help meet the significant demand from Christian groups for affordable, quality conferencing.
By launching a third centre, the trust will offer 30 per cent more space for Christian groups to benefit from rates that are on average half the price of commercial venues.* This affordability, combined with the warm and friendly Christian welcome synonymous with High Leigh and The Hayes, makes Highgate House a great quality option for those seeking a home-from-home for conferences and group retreats.
John Heasman, chief executive of CCT, said: ‘Having served more than eight million believers since 1910, we are thrilled to announce the opening of Highgate House, our third centre dedicated to serving the church in fellowship and growth. As a not-for-profit charity, we exist to see Christian ministry flourish and believe this new addition will provide a unique and affordable space for groups to gather together and strengthen their faith.’
Highgate House is now accepting bookings and groups are encouraged to secure their space as soon as possible. With wide-open availability, churches and Christian organisations can lock in their preferred dates for this year and 2025.
For booking inquiries and more information, please visit cct.org.uk
* Average saving based on analysis of the per-person midweek price quoted by 22 commercial conferencing venues located within a 90-minute drive of CCT venues on a like-for-like basis. Based on Christian group pricing for events taking place in Spring 2024. Source: CRNet Venuefinder.
The Christian Conference Trust (CCT) will be on stand A6 at CRE 2024
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
Picture caption: Highgate House, a new member of the Christian Conference Trust (CCT) family
Pop-up shop pioneers set for CRE debut
Churches without a regular bookshop can install a pop-up version – thanks to an organisation exhibiting at CRE 2024 (Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, 9-10 Oct) for the first time.
10ofthose offer help to churches wanting to distribute good quality Christian books at a competitive price.
‘I was excited to get a role in a mission-based company helping people find books at a reasonable price that explain the Christian faith,’ said John Robb (pictured), who joined the company 13 years ago. ‘We sell books online or arrange for a bookstall with a range of appropriate titles for a church or special event, such as a conference. We have opportunities to sell at large events such as the Keswick Convention, as well as smaller conferences and one-off stalls in local churches.’
Early on in the company’s existence, it sold books and offered 10 copies of one title at a discount price – to enable churches to buy in bulk at a cheaper price. Special offers on individual titles are still a feature.
The company also has a publishing arm. Authors of biographies, children’s books or short manuscripts that can be used for evangelism, are invited to contact the company with a view to having them published.
Jonathan and Roger Carswell set up 10ofthose to help provide biblical books which were easily understood. Jonathan loves putting solid Christian books in the hands of believers as well as those who haven’t yet come to faith. And his love for good books is infectious.
‘We’re a ministry that hand picks the best books that hold to the Bible, then we discount them so more can go out,’ said Jonathan. ‘We use our profits to support missions around the world. We are passionate about what we recommend because we know that, if books point to Jesus, they can totally change a life. We have experienced that in our own lives and we want people to discover that in theirs, too!’
The company will be at CRE 2024 (Marshall Centre, Milton Keynes Oct 9-10). A wide range of books, suitable for all stages of Christian development, will be available and staff will also be on hand to advise on specific publications.
10ofthose will be on stand D1 at CRE 2024
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
BySimon
CRE 2024: Welcome!
CRE 2024 is taking place at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes (MK1 1ST) on 9-10 Oct 2024.
Join hundreds of local church leaders, officers and anyone involved in Christian work and ministry, in a day of discovery – of new ideas and resources, specialist advice and inspirational worship and teaching.
Find all the details about CRE 24 here: Exhibition handbook
And find our handy travel guide here: Getting to CRE 24
More than 150 exhibitors
More than 150 organisations will be waiting to meet you, offering everything from contactless card machines to customised keyboards, heating to seating, clergy clothing to communion wine. CRE provides you with a great context for networking and creative thinking. It really is your one-stop shop for church supplies, resources and ideas.
Find a complete listing of exhibitors here: Who’s exhibiting?
Talks programme
The exhibition also features a packed talks programme, with dozens of presentations by national experts offering practical advice on a range of subjects – from fundraising to faith-sharing, holiday clubs to homelessness.
Find all the talks here: Talks programme at CRE 24
Church poster
For this year’s CRE, we’ve produced an A4 poster for churches planning to visit the exhibition.
Download and print out your poster here!
CRE 2024 opening times
• Wednesday 9 October 2024 – 10am-5pm
• Thursday 10 October 2024 – 10am-4.30pm
Tickets
Tickets are available here! Tickets are £4 if booked in advance (£3 each for groups of 3 or more) and £8 on the door.
Getting there
The Marshall Arena is next to Stadium MK and is seven minutes from Junction 13 of the M1, and 10 minutes from Junction 14. If you’re travelling by train, the three closest stations are Milton Keynes Central, Bletchley and Fenny Stratford.
Download our handy guide to Getting to CRE 24, with full travel details!
The venue address: Marshall Arena, Stadium Way West, Milton Keynes MK1 1ST.
Milton Keynes is built on a grid system of H Roads (horizontal) and V roads (vertical). The Marshall Arena is between V6 Grafton Street and V7 Saxon Street.
Parking
There are 1,450 parking spaces around Stadium MK, so plenty to choose from.
We look forward to welcoming you to CRE 2024!