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ByDave Hall

Discover the new world of stress-free streaming

Audio-visual systems are always complicated to operate.

It’s a myth Andy Pidsley will debunk at CRE National 2022.

‘Any system we fit is designed to the customer, including the level of sophistication they require and the experience of those operating it,’ said Andy, managing director of APi Sound and Vision. ‘We have developed a customisable controller – pre-set cameras and stop/start functions. Projectors and other devices can all be controlled from this single device so someone who has never used the system before can run a service on Sunday – with anyone watching online getting a high-quality stream.’

Covid-19 lockdowns have meant that viewing figures can far outweigh the number attending the church broadcasting the service. And streaming is ideal for christenings, weddings and funerals when not everyone is able to attend.

‘Operating the sound system can be done from an iPad anywhere in the church, far less daunting than at a conventional mixing console with about 400 buttons!’ said Andy.

With almost 35 years in the industry, APi, advisors to the Diocese of Exeter, have worked in many different locations, from cathedrals to small village churches – but always with a view to providing ‘as unobtrusive an installation as possible.’

Choosing who to install such streaming facilities means asking whether the company is familiar with church and heritage environments. ‘They need to respect the building during installation,’ said Andy who invites all CRE visitors to bring their AV questions to his presentation at CRE (3pm, Tue 11 Oct) where they will receive ‘no-nonsense, pragmatic answers to their questions and an APi goody bag!’

• Andy and his team will be on Stand J6 at CRE National 2022

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ByDave Hall

Want a card with a Christian message? Have a Hart

Mike and Sue Hart were disappointed they couldn’t find a suitable Christmas card to send to non-Christian family and friends – 40 years later their own creations will be at CRE National 2022.

‘We made our own card and printed more than we needed, to reduce costs,’ said Mike, who advertised in a Christian magazine and placed cards in two Christian bookshops.

Gospel Cards was born!

Based in Bridgend, Wales, they now have a wide range for other occasions, along with Christian calendars and other gifts. A percentage of sale proceeds is given to 25 Christian charities, with more than £360,000 passed on in this way.

This year sees the launch of a new, high-quality outreach calendar – Amazing Love. 

‘Because calendars often have to be folded to fit through letterboxes, which spoils their appearance, we have produced an A5-sized calendar with a high gloss card cover,’ said Mike. ‘As well as being easier for churches to distribute, it is also attractive with high-quality photography and space for engagements. The back cover has a Christmas card greeting and appearance that will encourage folk to display it with other cards.

‘Appropriate monthly Bible verses, and a brief Gospel presentation, make it a wonderful vehicle for the good news of God’s amazing love for us in Christ.’

His challenge to churches and Christians is to ‘reach out to the people in your neighbourhood by giving them the calendar this December, together with an invitation to a carol service.’

• A free sample of Gospel Cards’ calendar and details of their other products can be found on the United Beach Missions stand A6 at CRE National 2022

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ByDave Hall

Take the long view – and build for the future

Building the kingdom of God and meeting the needs of those around you requires patience – and it often helps to take the long view.

So believes Phil Winch of CPL Architects, exhibitors at CRE National 2022. Phil points to the famous Romero Prayer, originally drafted by Bishop Ken Untener, which captures the thought beautifully.

‘It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view…’ says the prayer. ‘We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work… We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realising that. This enables us to do something and to do it well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest…’

‘By taking the long view,’ says Phil, ‘we see how our present day-to-day work fits into the larger picture and helps us to achieve our long-term vision. When churches think about planning a new building project, they are takingthe long view, where time and resources invested today will realise their vision for both present and future generations.’

In Matthew 13, Jesus spoke about the long view: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.’

Many churches CPL work with today take the long view and are building for the future.

‘If we can help you to achieve your long view, do talk to us at Sandown Park,’ said Phil. ‘We would be happy to offer an initial free, no obligation consultation.’

• CPL Architects are on stand N1 at CRE National 2022

Photo: St John, Egham, in CPL Architects’ portfolio.

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ByDave Hall

Administration: the gift we ignore at our peril

Overlooking the spiritual gift of administration may be why local churches fail to make any significant impact.

So says Andy Bagwell, executive director of UK Church Administrators’ Network (UCAN), exhibitors at CRE National 2022. Andy has worked as a senior church manager for more than 15 years in two large Anglican churches and regularly provides organisational health and operational effective consultancy for churches, as well as overseeing a comprehensive programme of training events, conferences, accredited learning courses and online resources.

Since its formation in 2009 UCAN has led the effort to support church administrators across the UK.

‘Our desire is to equip those responsible for administration in churches to be efficient and effective in their roles, connecting them to one another for mutual support and resource-sharing and to forge healthy and effective working relationships within church staff teams,’ said Andy.

He also heads up UCAN’s Churchworkers.net HR support service, which helps churches rise to the challenge of being an effective, responsible and caring employer.

Jo Roach, a church office manager in Cambridge, went on a UCAN management course.

‘The course provided me with space to think, confidence in my knowledge and abilities to lead, and tools for handling the challenges of management along the way,’ she said. ‘It was also a wonderful place to meet with others who understood the particular stresses of a management role within their local church.’

• UCAN will be on stand S5 at CRE National 2022

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ByDave Hall

Home is where God’s heart is

Finding a home for every UK child and teenager who needs one – through fostering, adoption and supported lodgings. That’s the bold vision exhibitors Home for Good will share at CRE National 2022.

‘We believe churches have a crucial role to play to make this vision a reality,’ said CEO Tania Bright (pictured). As a former supported lodgings host and foster carer, and now adoptive mum to ‘two brilliant boys’, Tania knows personally the joy and challenge that can come as we reimagine family and open our homes.

‘Our faith inspires, motivates and encourages us to act and believe that change is possible as we stand firmly on a strong theological foundation and commit to prayer for every aspect of our work,’ she said. ‘For some this will mean personally exploring fostering, adoption or supported lodgings. For others it will be about intentionally offering support to families who love and are raising children with an experience of care in our churches and communities. The boys and I would not be where we are today without the outrageous love and fierce commitment of families in our church and beyond.’

Tania, speaking on all three days at CRE National 2022, will point to the fact that there are more than 50,000 churches in the UK. In every village, town and city these churches – big, small and in-between – are filled with people who want to follow the example of Jesus and walk alongside the marginalised.

‘When we read the Bible, it’s impossible to ignore an issue that is close to God’s heart,’ she said. ‘Psalm 68 tells us that he sets the lonely in families. Imagine the transformational difference the church could make if even more individuals and families in our congregations opened their homes to children and young people! Imagine the impact if church communities wrapped around those families with love, encouragement, prayer and practical support.’

• Home for Good are on stand V5 at CRE National 2022

Book your tickets to CRE National 2022 for as little as £3 (£8 on the door)

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ByDave Hall

CRE debut for Two Lads and a Laptop

An unusual musical trio will join comedian Tim Vine at the opening of CRE National (10am, Tue 11 Oct).

Two Lads and A Laptop comprises Brazilian Nick Ingles, an accomplished cellist, Mike Roberts, a British-born electronic musician and a 16-inch MacBook Pro (birthplace uncertain) the founding member of the group and natural leader as far as it is concerned – at least for the next few years until it’s replaced… but that’s confidential.

Laptop allows Mike to turn cups into bells and even transforms Nick’s cello into an orchestra. In his spare time, when not attempting world domination, ‘he enjoys obsessing over the numbers 0 and 1, chilling by himself with an internal fan, and global networking,’ explains Mike. ‘But together, we’re on a mission to spread love, joy and peace!’

Loving music of virtually every genre and context, the three pals are happy to turn their hand to anything – performing unique versions of songs that inspire and lift spirits. They will perform at different times throughout the exhibition’s three days and they have a stand on the show floor as well, to chat to anyone interested in their repertoire or who think they may provide a useful contribution to the schedule of a local church.

Nick’s first encounter with the cello was in church. Classically trained, he has always explored an alternative repertoire, from gospel to pop, choral to musicals, and says ‘the cello seems the perfect instrument for such broad exploration.’ Mike’s first encounter with expressive sound was a blend of gospel organ from his Pentecostal roots ‘mingling with the jet sounds of planes approaching Heathrow.’

Mike, married with two children, and Nick, married with one daughter, live in nearby villages in Cambridgeshire and met when their two churches – Anglican and Baptist – held a joint get-together in 2020. Two Lads and Laptop often contribute to church-based events but also enjoy secular contexts – ‘just playing to bring pleasure.’

‘We love the opportunity to share the Gospel in music and welcome the opportunity to introduce our approach to CRE visitors,’ said Mike.

• Two Lads and a Laptop are on stand Y5 at CRE National 2022

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ByDave Hall

Info-Point: your visitors’ new guide

Two brothers-in-law have created a system for showing visitors round any church – without a personal guide.

Dan Boys and Joe Middleton established Info-Point from WildFi two years ago when Dan, a geography and environment management graduate, realised the system would benefit historic churches in remote areas with poor or non-existent wi-fi. It allows visitors to discover more about the building, its historic background and even the people buried in the churchyard.

The size of an A4 box file, Info-Point powers a QR code system which links with mobile phones to provide commentary in words, text or using photographs at key points in the church and grounds.

‘The system is simple and entirely self-contained and doesn’t use phone signals or require connection to the internet,’ said Dan.

St Swithun’s Church, Long Bennington, Lincolnshire have Info-Point. Anyone visiting the church with a smartphone can connect and take a historical tour of the church, read about its WW1 story and war graves, discover the God’s Acre churchyard wildlife project, download walks and rambles – and be informed of the church’s upcoming events.

On the Scottish Orkney island the unmanned Rousay Heritage Centre, which has no internet access, has the system installed to allow visitors to discover the island’s heritage using a touchscreen or their own device. The system can be installed in any church or churchyard – with solar power if no mains connection is available.

‘We are also using the system in a church which will need to be closed for redevelopment for some months,’ said Dan. ‘It will enable people to discover why the church is closed, the progress being made and when it will re-open.’

A church without a lot of historical background can still find the system useful. A notice board outside the church can provide the link to details of service times and other facilities.

• Info-Point from WildFi is on stand H4 at CRE National 2022

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ByDave Hall

A Bible for new Christians? Easy does it

The company which has made Bible reading easier to understand for children and young people has completed the age range with its latest publication – the ERV (Easy-to-Read) Holy Bible (Anglicised).

‘It is packed with extra help to enable you to understand what you are reading and encourage you to apply godly wisdom to your life,’ said Rachael Franklin, product manager for Authentic Media.

Based in Bletchley, the company is already the producer of the International Children’s Bible and the Authentic Youth Bible. The new publication, which completes the range, includes book overview guides, 164 ‘Bible Bits’ that explore key passages, 275 ‘Insights’ that explore the meaning of verses, as well as advice on how to read the Bible and maps of the Bible lands.

‘The ERV uses accessible and contemporary words and phrases,’ said Rachael, ‘and will be particularly helpful for new Christians, anyone new to reading the Bible or those on discipleship and evangelistic courses.’

It is available in three hardback designs – Floral, Black and Teal – for £19.99. The individual Matthew’s Gospel (£1.50) makes a helpful outreach tool. Bulk discounts are available from Authentic Media for churches and organisations.

‘Our range of books and Bibles for both adults and children are designed to bring people closer to God over a whole lifetime, helping them to mature in their faith. We want people to grow spiritually and be open to what God may be doing in their lives,’ said Rachael.

Book your tickets to CRE National 2022 for as little as £3 (£8 on the door)

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ByDave Hall

Lockdown opens up worldwide audience for Veira

Less than 18 months after wife Sue donated him a kidney, opera and gospel singer Jonathan Veira will perform again at CRE National (Thu 13 Oct) – singing songs which earned him a massive following during the pandemic.

Over the long months of lockdown he, Sue and other helpers, produced a two-hour programme of songs and interviews each Sunday evening on Facebook and Youtube – to entertain thousands in isolation all over the world.

JV Live from the Steinway Room saw Jonathan chatting and singing with guests on Zoom or in the room itself when allowed. The programmes are still being broadcast on a fortnightly basis, live shows permitting.

An online community, which grew larger by the week, crowdfunded Jonathan to make three CDs of the songs they had grown to love – available at CRE National alongside his Hymns Project 2 album.

The popular singer, who has starred in most of the world’s famous venues in a variety of roles, and whose visits to churches and halls across the country continue to attract large audiences, was hospitalised for some time in June last year for the successful operation to give him one of Sue’s kidneys.

‘It feels brilliant to be back and performing again, in front of a live audience,’ he said.

• Jonathan Veira is in concert in the Arts Café at CRE National (3pm, Thu 13 Oct)

Book your tickets to CRE National 2022 for as little as £3 (£8 on the door)

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