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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Banging a gong for the countryside
The UK’s 15,000 rural churches will find valuable help at CRE Midlands – thanks to an organisation set up by the man behind the most famous gong in history.
J. Arthur Rank, legend of the British film industry and a devout member of the Methodist Church, set up the Rank Foundation following an illustrious career producing famous films like The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), Henry V (1944), A Matter of Life and Death (1946) and a series of comedies starring Norman Wisdom.
The Arthur Rank Centre, which has been situated at Stoneleigh Park for nearly 50 years and specialises in helping churches outside urban conurbations, will exhibit at CRE Midlands.
‘Visitors to our stand will discover a arrange of resources and training programmes,’ said Rev Claire Maxim, a Church of England rector who took on the role of chief executive 18 months ago. The centre is the base for national rural officers for URC, C of E and Methodist churches and acts as a network hub for rural officers and agricultural chaplains.
‘We will tell people from rural areas what we can do for their churches,’ explained Claire, ‘whether they have problems with buildings, worship or liturgy, for example. And, of course, we carry clout politically with advocacy on legislation from a Christian perspective.’
The organisation’s magazine, Country Way, is another important resource, containing articles of specific interest to rural churches. Developing the creative and entrepreneurial skills of rural church leaders is the focus of a leadership training programme – and a series of conferences are organised for anyone involved in rural mission and ministry.
Visitors to CRE Midlands will also discover how to make Rural Mission Sunday 2020 – Sunday 19 July – a special celebration of the life and work of rural churches.
• The Arthur Rank Centre are on stand P12 at CRE Midlands
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Photo: Hawkshead in the Lake District.
Turning ‘scary’ evangelism on its head
A major video-based training course, designed to envision and equip Christians to share their faith naturally, will be available at CRE Midlands 2020.
The initiative goes back to 2007 when Tim Moyler (pictured) ran a version of a Living & Telling course developed first by David Wilson of Agapé UK.
‘I was hearing story after story of young people going to university and falling away from faith,’ said Tim. ‘I was passionate that this wouldn’t happen to my own kids and other young people in the church. I adapted the course for school leavers. It was just a small group but one of them is now in the leadership team of a church plant in Exeter, another leading a national movement amongst students in the UK.’
In the autumn of 2008, Tim, who lives in Woodbury in Devon, connected with Dave Pegg and together they ran Living & Telling in Exeter. Although pitched at primarily college and university students, it has always attracted people of all ages and is now aimed at churches and groups who are looking to equip Christians to become more confident in sharing their faith.
‘Discipleship is evident throughout the whole course,’ explains Tim. ‘Living & Telling can help people discover a whole new adventure and sense of fun. Instead of it being something scary and off-putting, we turn the whole thing on its head. Living & Telling can help people do that. It really does encourage as well as equip Christians to look at discipleship and sharing our amazing news in a fresh way.’
Tim will lead a seminar on Living & Telling at CRE Midlands (3pm, Wed 5 Mar).
‘The exhibition is where we will chat with the very people for whom we made the course,’ said Tim.
• Agapé UK are on stand B13 at CRE Midlands 2020
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Phishers of men: don’t become an easy target
Clever computer criminals want to take your money, your identity and even your church – that will be Dave Carlos’ stark warning to visitors at CRE Midlands 2020.
When it comes to cyber security, Dave has a lifetime of experience. An interest in home computers in the early 1980s resulted in his appointment as editor of Home Computing Weekly. The cover story on his first edition introduced readers to the way the early Prestel system had been hacked.
Eventually he started his own PR company, advising producers of computer games, before moving to CRE exhibitors Agape and Care for the Family. However, a request from a local group in Fleetwood determined his current role.
‘I devised a talk on computer security and presented it to a number of organisations,’ he recalled. ‘That same presentation has been revised substantially over the years and I can even provide a link to watch it online.’
Dave also works with Lancashire Police, giving presentations to groups, churches and companies.
‘I was accepted as a cyber volunteer and now also help to train new police officers!’ he explained. ‘Our work came to national attention when we were runners up in the prestigious Lord Ferrers Awards 2019 as Team of the Year for Volunteers in Policing.’
Dave’s CRE Midlands seminar – Cyber Security and Digital Safety in Your Church (date and time tbc) – will help church representatives and home computer users grasp basic safety measures when online.
‘There are so many devious criminals wanting to take over your computers, your money and even your identity, that it is a subject of crucial importance,’ he said. ‘Everyone using a computer and going online ought to be aware of the many pitfalls and how to protect themselves.’
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