Sharing faith: Tim helps us go timid-free
For almost nine out of 10 of us who lack confidence in sharing our personal Christian testimony, help is at hand.
The new Living & Telling course from CRE Midlands exhibitor Agapé UK is a series of 10 free videos created to help Christians communicate their faith – naturally, helpfully and as a way of life.
Agapé UK’s Tim Moyler and Dave Pegg of the PACE Trust were challenged by research from the Evangelical Alliance suggesting 87 percent of UK Christians lack confidence in sharing their spiritual journey with others.
‘Over the past few years we have developed the course in Exeter and it seems to transform the lives of those who attend,’ said Tim. ‘Leaders of churches and organisations across the country began asking us if they could run the course, too, but it was all on bits of paper, video clips and in our heads!’
Time and Dave realised that Living & Telling had to become a series of highly-interactive videos.
‘As the project got underway many brilliant communicators such as Phil Knox, Matt Summerfield and Grace Wheeler offered to join the team and present a session,’ recalled Tim. Living & Telling was launched at CRE National 2019 and Tim reports having more than 250 helpful conversations with church leaders about the course at Sandown Park.
‘Many have been in touch to say they are already running the course with house groups,’ said Tim. Agapé UK will profile Living & Telling at a seminar at CRE Midlands (3pm, Wed 5 Mar) and guide visitors through their brand-new website.
‘The videos are easy to run and can be downloaded free of charge,’ said Tim. ‘A beautifully-produced, low-cost workbook has been produced for each group member. Come to the seminar and we will give this to you, free of charge.’
• Agapé UK are on stand B13 at CRE Midlands 2020
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Is your church building underinsured?
As many as 80 percent of non-household buildings in the UK are underinsured – many of them churches, according to CRE Midlands exhibitor Access Insurance
‘Some people believe that, because the building will never be totally destroyed, it is not worth insuring for the full amount,’ said James Hill of Access. ‘They assume they only need recompense for the damage done but that is rarely the case. Many insurance policies have an “average” clause, designed to ensure the buildings are insured for their full value. Such a policy means that if you insure only 50 percent of the value of the building you will only receive 50 percent of any claim, regardless of its size.’
Access will introduce church leaders to their online valuation service at CRE Midlands – a safe haven for many churches and charities anxious not to face potential damage without proper cover.
‘We also find the insurance value of many church properties remains unchanged for years –with the value of the building rising considerably above the insurance figure,’ said James. ‘This would prove disastrous in the case of severe damage. If you think you may face problems like these come and talk to us.’
• Access Insurance are on stand F15 at CRE Midlands 2020
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Pixel perfect: Vote for your favourite church photograph
All nine photographs are superb – and visitors to CRE Midlands will be invited to choose their favourite.
Run by Ecclesiastical insurance, Parish Pixels is a national competition celebrating UK churches through photography. Judges have already selected nine regional winners but visitors to the Ecclesiastical stand at CRE Midlands can vote for the one they think should be the overall winner.
‘There are so many unique and fascinating items, stories and people in our churches and we are highlighting these,’ said Michael Angell, church operations director at Ecclesiastical. ‘The response to the competition has been fantastic and we received some incredible images that show why our churches are so special.’
Representatives from the regional winning churches, all receiving £1500, will be invited to attend a celebratory lunch in October 2020, where the overall winner will be announced. The winning church will receive £5,000.
‘We welcome CRE Midlands visitors to vote for their favourite photo at our stand,’ said Michael. ‘Our church insurance consultants will also be available to discuss any insurance requirements – including your church, home or vicarage – and financial planning for retirement.’
• Ecclesiastical insurance are on stand E32 at CRE Midlands
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Released prisoners: Government turns to Pastor Pete
Of 66,000 people released from prison each year, some 36,000 will go back behind bars – but now one CRE exhibitor has been approached by the government to help tackle the problem.
A Ministry of Justice pilot project is being run in four areas of the UK to try and reduce the re-offending rate by 10 per cent – and Green Pastures, a charity based in Southport, are a strategic part of the initiative.
‘It is wonderful to know that, at last, the government has approached the Church to help address a problem they have had for the past 40 years,’ said Pastor Pete Cunningham, founder of the organisation.
In 1999, Pastor Pete his son Andrew and Vicki Woodley, already housing the homeless in their church building, put their hands in their pockets and purchased two flats in Southport to give homeless people somewhere to live. The first recipients were a single mum and her child. Two decades later, there are now 400 people housed by the charity at any one time and thousands more have benefitted over the years.
In 2003, a chaplain from North Staffordshire found out about the work and asked Green Pastures to buy a property in Stoke-on-Trent – so his team could take ex-offenders from the prison gate to house and care for them.
‘Taking a step of faith, we bought a property for someone else,’ recalled Pete. ‘The results were amazing! As we provided more housing, the re-offending rate reduced. Now we partner with 80 other churches across the UK and house more than 1080 people. Many of our partners look after ex-offenders and a good percentage stay out of prison and become good citizens.
‘The model is simple. Any church or charity with a heart to house the homeless are welcome to talk to us at CRE Midlands and we will guide you through the process. Many people we house go on to have faith in Jesus Christ. This is our modus operandi – saving souls. Our properties and staff work to that end.
‘For those who cannot work with homeless people direct, it is possible to invest in the work with a good return – and you can be certain your funds are working ethically.’
• Green Pastures are on stand P65 at CRE Midlands
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Stop spending on gear, start investing in skills
A large proportion of any church technology budget is best spent training the technology team – to get the most out of the system you already have.
So says Kieran Scotchbrook of CRE Midlands exhibitor Rock-Tech.
‘Training is a long-term investment, the fruit of which you will see year after year as skills are passed from existing to new members,’ believes Kieran. ‘Training will help your team run more smoothly. In turn, you will retain more members as they feel able to serve more effectively.’
Rock-Tech visit hundreds of churches across the UK, talking with local leaders about the technological challenges they face.
‘We do find issues with AV systems, but even more regularly we find a skill gap,’ says Kieran. ‘Giving your team knowledge and skills is the most valuable thing we can offer – more than the latest mixing desk, speaker system or microphone.’
Once core skills are learned, a technology team will be able to apply them, time after time, overcoming problem circumstances and Rock-Tech will be at CRE Midlands to introduce a number of free training courses to churches.
‘We also offer personalised training sessions in your own building (if you have one) or at our warehouse, helping you work through the elements that make your services unique,’ says Kieran. ‘Come and talk to us.’
• Rock-Tech are on stand C3 at CRE Midlands 2020
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The pod in search of a church car park
It may be just 8ft by 6ft – with bed, toilet and USB socket – but for a homeless person it’s a potential life saver. The Amazing Grace Spaces pod – officially an urban emergency sleeping hut – has a coded lock to protect the person inside.
And now the man behind the project, Stuart Johnson, is bringing one to CRE for the first time, keen to find churches prepared to donate a car parking space on which to locate one of his creations.
‘I cannot believe no one has come up with this solution before,’ said Stuart who is delighted two churches have already ordered pods. ‘They are not the final answer, but while someone is waiting for permanent accommodation, they know they are safe from bullying or injury or losing the few possessions they may have. They also give members of a church the opportunity to minister to them in a loving and caring manner.’
Amazing Grace Spaces, based in Llanwern, Newport in South Wales, can also provide help with more permanent accommodation.
‘We want a world where the homeless are not sleeping rough on the street,’ said Stuart, who will celebrate his 60th birthday during CRE Midlands. ‘Any person faced with homelessness gets a safe place to sleep, as well as the support they need to avoid becoming homeless again. Our mission is to develop and provide innovative, sustainable and affordable accommodation and emergency shelter. We partner with other services to ensure homeless people have access to support and a safe space to recover.’
• Amazing Grace Spaces are on stand P54 at CRE Midlands 2020
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Egg ‘with added Easter’ celebrates first decade
The Real Easter Egg is celebrating its tenth anniversary – and CRE played a big part in its successful launch.
In 2010, high street supermarkets refused to stock a product with the story of Easter in the box, so the Meaningful Chocolate Company brought its first Real Easter Egg to CRE Midlands.
‘We asked churches to crowd fund the project by placing orders,’ said David Marshall, founder of the company. ‘I had never been to CRE before – and what an eye-opener! Hundreds of stands offering important and relevant resources, thousands of active church members looking for ideas and inspiration. People wanted to taste the chocolate, inspect the boxes and meet the people behind the product – something you can’t do online. Orders flooded in.’
Ten years on, more than a million eggs have been sold and more than £275,000 donated to charitable projects.
To help celebrate the role CRE played in the success of the project, a special discount code has been made available. Buy 12 or more original eggs and enter the code CRE2010 and you will get £3 off your order total. Visit the Meaningful Chocolate website.
Photo: EGGED ON: The Real Easter Egg, greeted with enthusiasm, at CRE Midlands 2010
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Be part of a ministry that pulls on the heart strings
A brand-new Puppet Ministry Starter Set will be launched at CRE Midlands – presenting churches with a fresh and creative opportunity to communicate the Christian message.
‘In an age when children appear to be more interested in a “small glowingscreen” and what comes out of their headphones, there is something simple yet effective about a puppet,’ said Ian Jones of One Way UKCreative Ministries. ‘They connect with people of all ages – in church, mid-week clubs or school assemblies. We also visit care homes and get a good reception from people with additional needs.’
Along with samples of hundreds of puppets, One Way will showcase their resources at CRE Midlands including storytelling, gospel illusions and toddler group ideas. The Puppet Ministry Starter Set will be available at 25 per cent off the recommended retail price.
Ian has used puppets in ministry for more than 20 years.
‘We never imagined the impact our work would have,’ he said. ‘We stillhave 12 children plus a range of adults in the team and more than 50 children have passed through along the way. Even in this day and age youshould never underestimate the power of a puppet!’
• One Way are on stand P36 at CRE Midlands
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Stay tuned for another decade of music that ministers
Celebrating ten years of music for church-based occasions, artists from Ministry of Music will entertain visitors at CRE Midlands (Wed 4 March only).
Founder Mike Maidment, 58, points people in the right direction if they are looking for musicians for a youth event, school mission, worship service, cafe church or conference. With 35 artists and groups on his books, he has provided performers for more than 600 events.
‘Being in a band myself for 10 years helped me appreciate the problems faced by musicians and I also learned a lot about various types of venue,’ he said. ‘It helps me see how to satisfy even the most unusual request.’
During the past decade he has introduced new artists to the church circuit and provided engagements for many established artists. At Midlands CRE visitors will be able to chat about their particular needs, sample the wide range of artists and music available and listen to some of the ministry’s performers in action including:
• Andrew Robinson, a singer-songwriter and worship leader based in Bedford who has been leading worship and performing for the past 20 years in churches and events in the UK and abroad
• Out of the Ashes, a pioneering couple from Gloucestershire who use music as part of their mission to stand for joy and healing, energising weary Christians and rejuvenating ailing congregations with a message of love
• Bean Baker, an experienced, versatile artist with a fantastic voice and a heart to lead people in worship. He can perform a wide repertoire of original songs and covers for all types of events including an acoustic set aimed at a café-style gig
• Nicky Whyman, a singer-songwriter with a strong soprano voice and lyrical piano-led songs bringing hope and encouragement to audiences. Her personal testimony of being miraculously healed of multiple sclerosis further fuels her commitment and drive to inspire audiences
Canon J John said: ‘I am delighted that Ministry of Music exists to resource the church with Christian bands and artists for their worship and outreach. Be sure to seize these assets for your church and community.’
For Ministry of Music’s schedule at CRE Midlands click here
• Ministry of Music are on stand E31at CRE Midlands
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Modern slavery: Now hope begins at home
When Jared and Helen Hodson came across people living in slavery they did more than pray – they took vulnerable folk into their own home.
Seeing how much could be achieved, even with three sons of their own, they set up a charity, Hope at Home, to encourage others to do the same. At CRE Midlands they will explain how widespread trafficking is in the UK and how others can help in the rescue work.
‘More than 100,000 people are in modern slavery here in Britain,’ said Jared Hodson. ‘The Bible makes it very clear – we have a duty to help unfortunate people. We need people to pray, provide finance but also to use a spare room to provide short-term accommodation to help those who are rescued, recover. Many churches have an advice centre or provide food in a soup run but we are challenging them to take that care further by offering short term accommodation to these people at risk or who have been a modern slave.’
The charity was established two years ago but the family had been welcoming people into their home for the previous four years. The experience gave them valuable expertise and helped them create important contacts. It also opened their eyes to the desperate need to provide a ‘family’ and network of support for their guests.
‘We always ask our three boys, now teenagers, before taking someone in and they have never refused anyone,’ said Jared, who worked for a large hotel chain training staff in the UK and other parts of the world, a job which provided ‘lots of hospitality.’
Since 2017 he has been working full time for Hope at Home and his previous experience has been invaluable. Helen is an experienced community development worker and freelance writer and has worked with people of all backgrounds. The couple have surrounded themselves with an experienced team including an immigration lawyer, accountant, former police officer and magistrate as well as working in partnership with agencies across the country.
‘We would love people to visit our stand, understand the enormity of the problem and take up the challenge,’ said Jared.
• Hope at Home are on stand P5 at CRE Midlands
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