Putting mission on the map in Europe
Get involved in what God is doing in the wider world – that’s the message from Transform Europe Network (TEN).
‘We believe seeing what God is doing in another country can really inspire the UK church,’ said TEN’s Melanie Griffiths. TEN’s projects include:
For the Nations
This is a free six-week small group resource to get churches excited about mission. It includes two online sessions where those taking part will connect with Christians in Eastern Europe.
TENteams
TEN is running two short team trips to Albania and Croatia in 2024 and looking for team members. These are: Albania women’s trip 2-9May, to help new Christians learn to read the Bible and to pray. Croatia kids’ camp in July 2024 (dates tbc).
Church teams
An opportunity for your church to send a team to help our partners in Eastern Europe and the Balkans with English classes, kids’ camps (pictured) or evangelism. ‘We can connect you with a partner and help you plan and run trip training for you,’ said Melanie Griffiths.
TENteach
We are looking to recruit new teachers to teach English online to students in Eastern Europe, using Bible stories.
You will meet Nick Clarke, who coordinates our TENteach project, on the TENstand in Mission on the Map at CRE Midlands.
Photo above: A Transform Europe Network kids’ camp in full flow.
Try the ‘me and eucharist’ seven-piece sampler at CRE Midlands
Birmingham pastor Bayo Oniye and his wife Bakang, who started their own company creating easy-to-use communion containers, will give away a free sample pack (seven pieces) at next week’s CRE Midlands (8/9 Nov, Cranmore Park, Solihull).
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.
‘I was at a conference where the visiting speaker used a similar, all-in-one-system and realised how useful it was,’ he explained. ‘When I contacted the company I heard nothing, so I decided to create my own, much-improved product.’
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
Giving online? Keep an eye on those transaction rates!
More than half (56 per cent) of people donating to churches using online options choose to cover the transaction fee, according to research from CRE exhibitor iKnow Church.
By covering the transaction fee, the donor chooses to pay a little extra, meaning the charity will get 100 per cent of the donation – and it will cost the church nothing to process it.
‘During the pandemic, with offering baskets confined to the cupboards, many churches instigated online giving – often for the first time,’ explained iKnow Church’s Kyle Cottington. ‘People could now donate via the church website at any time, day or night. The money usually appeared in the church bank account within a few days. However, with online donations, there is the added consideration of the processing and platform fees involved with transaction rates. Some providers charge up to five per cent per donation.’
The transaction rate from iKnow Church is already one of the lowest, but by covering donation fees the average transaction rate from May to July 2022 was just 0.97 per cent per donation – with an average donation of £105.
‘Based on 56 per cent covering donation fees, a church which received 500 donations totalling £50,000 over the course of the year could save over £600, if the fee is two per cent,’ said Kyle. ‘Compared to a 3.6 per cent fee the saving is more than £1,300 per year – enough to buy a decent keyboard, noticeboard or a good supply of coffee for the congregation and community!’
Star Trek fan announces bold voyages for Faith Experiment
Two healthcare scientists are determined to help those who believe their discipline rules out God.
They have created The Faith Experiment, a series of interactive, family-friendly sessions for young people and adults of any ability. It will be promoted on their stand at next week’s CRE Midlands (8/9 Nov).
‘We look at perceived conflicts between established science and the Christian faith and discuss how we might reconcile the two,’ said Matt Gardner. A huge Star Trek fan as a child, Matt achieved registration as a clinical scientist in 2014. Two years later he became a Christian, after spending years pondering the purpose of life.
He met Davinder, also a healthcare scientist, at an event celebrating the International Day of Medical Physics. They married in 2019 and are both now directors of Faith in Science of which The Faith Experiment is part. They began the experiment during their engagement and presented the first pilot course in 2018.
‘We also aim to help those who struggle to reconcile the Christian faith with current scientific thinking – probing vital questions,’ said Matt. ‘Can science and God co-exist? Does it matter that the Bible largely lacks scientific detail? Can science answer all the questions which matter to us?’
The couple will be available to chat to visitors at CRE about the courses they run and how they can help youngsters who are puzzled by problems posed by science. They are also running an online taster event on January 15 2024 and want to explore the possibility of sharing other workshops in local churches.
• Faith in Science are on stand P55 at CRE Midlands 23
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
Time to welcome in the singled out
Single Christians overwhelmingly feel isolated and misunderstood, to the point of leaving the church to which they belong.
That’s a key finding of a survey of more than 3,000 single Christians commissioned by dating website Christian Connection.
‘We realised that something needed to be done and Single Friendly Church Network (SFCN) was born,’ said Beth Collingridge, communication director for the new charity. ‘We want to see all churches become places where single people feel welcomed, valued and included.
‘Our work started more than five years ago with the mission to inspire a movement that welcomes and values single people in all our churches. We also want to see single people empowered to participate fully in the life and ministry of the church. Singleness is on the rise in every age group in the UK, with 40 per cent of UK adults currently single. Churches need to recognise and reflect this change.’
SFCN equip church leaders through a guided audit, training and providing further resources, to make positive changes in their churches to ensure all single people are welcomed, valued and included. Having just launched as a charity, they hope to build a network of single friendly churches across the UK which have completed the audit and committed to making positive changes.
Churches taking part in the audit are encouraged to find out who is single in their local area; review their language to ensure it is inclusive of single people; check that those arriving alone for services are welcomed and included in social opportunities; check that sermon messages and illustrations are relevant to single people as well as couples; and whether single people are encouraged to take on leadership positions.
Members of the group will be at CRE Midlands to introduce the organisation and chat to visitors about how they can help their church. They are also cutting a cake on their stand at 3pm on Wed 8 Nov, to celebrate becoming a charity.
‘This is a vital area in church ministry and we want to do all we can to ensure the welcome churches give to single people is real and enhances their experience and involvement in the work and mission of the church,’ added Beth.
• Single Friendly Church are on stand D7 at CRE Midlands 23
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
The quality content creator bringing people closer
In an age of digital connectivity, Monkeynut Audiobooks are helping churches and individuals develop quality Christian content that communicates.
With a commitment to creating exceptional courses, podcasts, professional interviews, web trailers and audiobooks, this first-time CRE exhibitor at Cranmore Park has become a key producer of faith-based multimedia. The company collaborates with publishers such as SPCK, Harper Collins and Thomas Nelson, and authors like N.T. Wright, Bob Hartman and triple MOBO award-winner Guvna B – becoming a go-to source for churches, publishers, businesses and individuals.
‘It’s a blessing to be able to support people who are bringing others closer to Jesus,’ said Elliott Frisby, founder of Monkeynut. ‘It’s our calling, and it’s what we love. There are many doors that lead to the Lord and we have the honour of helping people guide others through them.’
Operating from their picturesque studio in the heart of Hampshire, nestled close to Winchester Cathedral and Romsey Abbey, Monkeynut offer a unique service called Record My Life Story. This service captures interviews that immortalise life stories and is perfect for retiring pastors, milestone anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions.
‘If you’re passionate about your faith and want to share your journey, we are offering you the opportunity to record free social media interviews at CRE that will shine a spotlight on your message and mission,’ said Elliott. ‘In a world where the digital realm opens countless doors to faith, we are ready to support you. Join us on our journey at Cranmore Park.’
• Monkeynut Audiobooks are on stand G13 at CRE Midlands 23
Main photo: Children’s author Bob Hartman and Rev Sarah McClelland speaking to Monkeynut’s Elliott Frisby on an upcoming podcast, ‘The Outskirts of Faith’.
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
How your ‘hybrid’ church could become a stand-alone power station
As the focus continues on carbon footprints, one guilty contributor is likely to be the fossil-fuelled heating appliance in your church.
Helping churches find the best available heating system is CRE exhibitor Dunphy Heating with a track record going back to 1973.
‘We are able to offer various different heating solutions,’ explains director Warren Taylor. ‘These include heat pumps, hybrid systems which use a mixture of gas boilers, heat pumps, solar panels and our ever-popular electric radiator system which works just like a traditional heating system but uses electricity, so no gas boiler is required. All our systems are expertly installed by our directly employed engineers.’
Warren points out, however, that careful consideration needs to be given when installing heat pumps.
‘They run at a lower temperature to that of a gas boiler so would not work for every church,’ he explains. ‘We can, however, install a hybrid system which uses both a heat pump and gas boiler because not all churches would be able to solely rely on a heat pump. The heat pump would provide approximately 60 per cent of the heat and the gas boiler would provide the rest. Adding solar panels to your roof can effectively turn it into a standalone power station. This gives you freedom to reduce your energy bills.’
Dunphy Heating can also provide electric radiator systems which work like a traditional radiator but aren’t moving water around.
‘Warm up times tend to be 70 per cent quicker than a traditional radiator,’ says Warren. ‘They also retain their heat for up to 45 minutes meaning the system can be turned off sooner. Adding our Wi-Fi control – which works with all systems – means the exact amount of energy is being used as and when the heating is required and can be controlled remotely from anywhere in the world which can save on energy consumption.’
• Dunphy Heating are on stand G1 at CRE Midlands
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
The power of Tove: a building project Covid couldn’t cancel
A meeting at CRE National 2018 led leaders of a Northamptonshire church to call on exhibitors BCHN Architects to design their revamped premises.
Two churches – Tove Baptist and Towcester Baptist with Helmdon and Western Baptist in Northamptonshire – had amalgamated and moved to the Tove Valley Centre with one group meeting in Weston Chapel.
The new building contains a meeting hall to seat 186 people, featuring an entrance foyer with a folding door that opens to increase capacity for large events. A reception office and kitchen servery open into the foyer while a full catering kitchen and servery also opens onto the meeting hall. Three meeting rooms for 10, 20 and 30 people were created – to be used as lettable spaces as well as children’s classrooms during Sunday services.
Despite building work being halted for six weeks because of Covid, the job was finished in March 2021 and the first service held in April.
Church deacon Rosie Binlay, who with husband Jeremy were the church’s project leaders, told BCHN: ‘We enjoyed learning (fast) how to run a building. A new user commented on the building and I honestly said we couldn’t improve on the design.’
A second phase is planned for which the church is now raising finance.
Baart Harries Newall Architects, a multi award-winning practice, was founded in 1963 and became BCHN in 2023 following a merger with Bott Cruise Architects. BCHN will be at CRE Midlands to discuss potential church projects of all kinds. The company’s Mike Cruise will also talk on ‘Collaborative design for your new church building’ (3pm, Thu 9 Nov). More information here.
• BCHN will be on stand P9 at CRE Midlands 23
Photo: Tove Valley Centre in Northamptonshire.
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
How green was my vestry
Free saplings will be available at CRE Midlands to publicise a green church heating initiative.
ChurchEcoMiser has no boiler, is compatible with solar panels, silent in operation, virtually maintenance free and (most importantly) warms the fabric and congregation.
Chris Dunphy, pictured with comedian Tim Vine at the opening of CRE National 2022, launched the system two years ago as an all-electric carbon neutral system. He will give away another 200 trees as an indication of the company’s determination to help green the planet. The saplings will be about 150-200mm in a hessian bag of soil.
‘The saplings will be given to people who visit our stand for information,’ he said. ‘It’s the third time we have given them away and the feedback to date has been excellent. The choice this year will be Apple or Cherry. Our commitment to working towards a greener future is to plant 500 square metres of woodland for every church heating system installed. We will be doing this through the National Trust and each church will be issued with a certificate and proof of purchase.’
Chris, a long-standing exhibitor at CRE, has almost 50 years’ experience in church heating. He developed ChurchEcoMiser in 2016 as the ideal system for remote country churches where gas was either unavailable or too expensive to install – ‘but it proved a popular option with all churches.’
Over the years, he has designed and installed more than 1,000 heating systems in church buildings and was the heating adviser to the Diocese of Sheffield for 10 years. Many of the churches he has worked on are Victorian or medieval where protecting the fabric of the building is as important as heating the congregation.
‘It has always been a challenging but rewarding task,’ he said.
• ChurchEcoMiser are on stand D1 at CRE Midlands 23
Photo: Comedian Tim Vine (left) with Chris Dunphy of ChurchEcoMiser
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
Barbie inspires ‘meaningful’ advent calendar
Barbie has been a big summer hit – but few realise she was the inspiration behind the UK’s top-selling Christian Fairtrade advent calendar.
‘Back in 2011, I saw a Barbie Advent calendar on sale in a supermarket,’ said David Marshall, founder of the Meaningful Chocolate Company. ‘Three things struck me. How could it only cost 99p? What had she got to do with Christmas? What would you think Christmas was about if all you got was a Barbie calendar every year?’
David also saw surveys showing that 36 per cent of 5 to 7-year-olds did not know whose birthday was celebrated on December 25th and that 51 per cent of adults said the birth of Jesus was irrelevant to their Christmas.
‘We worked with clergy, churches and children’s advisers and that’s how the Real Advent Calendar came to be created,’ he said.
To help share the Christmas story the Real Advent Calendar has a line about the nativity behind each of the 25 doors and a corresponding page in the Christmas story-activity book – included with every calendar. The book expands the story along with Advent challenges and a £300 competition.
More than one million calendars have been sold over the years with three million people experiencing the Christmas story as a result.
The calendars cost £4.50 each and come in cases of 18 (with free delivery). Supermarkets and Traidcraft are not stocking the calendar this year but, while stocks last, it will be available at the KCLCT bookshop at CRE Midlands 23 or online.
• The KCLCT bookshop is on stand P73 at CRE Midlands 23
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