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Christian Resources Exhibition Special Feature
Emotional return for organisers of Christian exhibition
The UK’s leading annual exhibition of Christian resources returns to Sandown Park in Esher, Surrey (Oct 12-14) – and readers of Keep The Faith can claim a free ticket worth £8
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Almost 18 months after doors closed on their last exhibition, organisers of the Christian Resources Exhibition, often dubbed the ‘ideal church show’, are gearing up for an emotional return to Sandown Park in Esher, Surrey (Oct 12-14 2021).
A comprehensive, three-day programme of seminars and workshops will help churches, old and new, respond to the many changes and opportunities brought about by the pandemic.
Fresh resources will be available in areas like new technology, social media, streaming, creative arts, home groups, mission, youth and children’s work. Expert advice will be on hand from more than 150 exhibitors, covering everything from church seating to heating, computers to communion wine. More than 4000 visitors are expected over the event’s three days.
With significant online congregations now plugging into traditional church services, Mission Worship Wednesday (13 Oct), featuring musicians like Graham Kendrick and Noel Robinson, will consider how we bring together physical and digital.
“We will equip visitors with fresh ideas and strategies to go again in a new season for church and community,” said Mission Worship’s Mat Owen. “Come and worship – and be inspired by what God has for us all as we reach out to a shaken world.”
“Hundreds of churches have harnessed new technology during the pandemic, reaching countless thousands who would never darken their doors on a Sunday,” said CRE owner, Steve Goddard. “A number of our specialist exhibitors, guiding churches with live streaming on a weekly basis, will help others take the next steps. While ‘old normal’ might feel comfortable, ‘new different’ is the future.”
Derek Clare, who formed New Day Audio Visual Specialists more than 20 years ago, thinks many churches are now reaching three distinct groups.
“Firstly, there are those in the church building,” he suggests. “Another group feel unable to return, but may well do so in the future. The final ‘congregation’ are people not previously reached, but who tune into services online. COVID-19 has been a disaster for the world, but created the biggest opportunity ever for mission.”
With finance a major concern during the pandemic, John Keskeys of Stewardship, will use a biblical framework to consider some healthy and unhealthy financial indicators in churches, with a view to helping them become more financially resilient in the aftermath of COVID-19. Alice O’Brien, from Dutch company GIVT, will speak on Digital Giving and the Hybrid Church (12pm, Wed 13 Oct). “With churches now existing physically and online,” said Alice, “we will explain how a unique digital giving solution is already being used by hundreds of UK churches.”
Aware that many potential visitors are keen to come to CRE but are COVID-cautious, the organisers have moved part of the exhibition from the main Surrey Hall to the Esher Hall below – allowing the creation of wider aisles. Other possible safety measures will depend on government stipulations at the time.
“Discovering resources online has been especially important during the pandemic,” said Steve Goddard, “but nothing is better than meeting the person behind the product. Face to face beats mouse to mouse, every time.”
• CRE National 2021 at Sandown Park,
Esher, Surrey • Opening hours: Tue 12 and Wed 13 Oct, 10am-5pm; Thu 14 Oct, 10am-4.30pm. • Visit www.creonline.co.uk for more information and to book tickets. Tickets cost £8 on the door, but are free for readers of
Keep The Faith who register in advance
Windrush: Looking back, looking forward at CRE National
With Black Lives Matter in the headlines, and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s call for diversity in church and society, CRE National 2021 (Oct 12-14, Sandown Park, Surrey) will run a unique, three-part series on the Windrush Legacy.
The initiative will be presented by Roy Francis, a former BBC TV Songs of Praise producer, music consultant, agent and author of Windrush and the Black Pentecostal Church in Britain (Filament Publishing).
“There are a lot of misunderstandings about Windrush,” said Roy. “CRE National is the ideal place to celebrate what Windrush
Roy Francis Christians brought to Britain, and the impact their inheritors – African Christians – are now having on the country.”
Part 1 – Windrush: Words and Song (11.30am, Tue 12 Oct)
The first presentation will look back at the music Caribbean Christians brought to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. Produced by Roy Francis and featuring the Ken Burton Singers, the presentation will show how choruses and songs made popular by the Billy Graham Crusades, ‘Gentleman’ Jim Reeves, American spirituals and Edwin Hawkins (in particular ‘Oh Happy Day’) influenced Caribbean worship, and remain a fitting legacy of Black Pentecostal faith today.
Part 2 – From West Indian to Caribbean Christianity (12pm, Wed 13 Oct)
A mixed bunch arrived in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s – ordinary workers, pastors, nurses, teachers, students and members of churches. They came to help rebuild Britain and brought their liturgy, music and songs. Les Isaac of the Ascension Trust and co-founder of Street Pastors will show how West Indians established their churches in Britain – and will assess their legacy.
Ken Burton
Part 3 – African Churches and their Worship (2pm, Thu 14 Oct)
Why are there are so many African-led churches in Britain today? What do they believe, what is their purpose, and why are they growing so fast? What is ‘Reverse Mission’, and why is it central to their theology? David Shosanya, former Regional Director of The London Baptist Association and a speaker, theologian and African minister, knows this church community intimately, and will offer many of the answers.
FREE CRE TICKET
FOR READERS OF KEEP THE FAITH
Entry to CRE National 2021 (Oct 12-14) costs £8 on the door but, as a reader of Keep The Faith, you will receive a FREE ticket if you register in advance. All you have to do is:
• Go to www.creonline.co.uk/tickets • Complete registration, entering the discount code KTF • Print out the ticket sent to you by email
And be sure to visit Keep The Faith at stand U13. See you there!
Bagging a better future for Indian ‘Untouchables’
Promise Bags is an Indian business giving holistic freedom to women trapped in caste-based discrimination, poverty and hopelessness.
“Our mission is to offer freedom to Dalit (or Untouchable) women, trapped in 3000 years of a caste system in which they have been treated with less dignity than an animal,” said founder and CEO, Elisha Chowtapalli. The company currently provides employment for 12 women in a safe, loving and caring environment. The women create beautiful and high-quality leather and jute bags, handcrafted with heart and passion, samples of which will be on sale at CRE National 2021.
“We produce 100 per cent genuine leather bags,” said Elisha. “Each and every small detail is taken care of. Our dream is to employ 100 women by 2025.” She brought a selection of Promise Bags to CRE National 2017 – and
sold out! This year she will show visitors a variety of products suitable for individual, family, church or business needs.
Forty per cent of profits from sales go towards a not-for-profit education project with Dalit children, started 13 years ago.
FROM EXCLUSION TO INSPIRATION: THE PCU STORY
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The perfect opportunity to raise awareness of their business and financial services for the Pentecostal faith community.
Elaine Bowes
That’s how Elaine Bowes of the Pentecostal Credit Union (PCU) sees the opportunity to exhibit at CRE National at Sandown Park (12-14 Oct).
“We are especially excited to be sponsoring – jointly with our partners Good to Give – Windrush: Exploring the Legacy,” said Elaine. “The theme is particularly important to us, as our establishment came about as a direct result of the financial and faith-based exclusion that Windrush migrants faced when they arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1971.”
PCU’s founder, Rev Carmel Jones MBE, addressed the discrimination faced by Black communities - and Pentecostal ministries in particular - after experiencing an episode of race-based exclusion in an Anglican church in 1955.
“When you come to our stand, you will learn more about his experience and how he was inspired, 25 years later, to set up The Pentecostal Credit Union,” said Elaine.
In addition to the Windrush legacy events, PCU will host a panel discussion at CRE (12pm, Thursday 14 October) under the title: ‘Exploring diversity and difference in the church’. With John 17:21 in mind, ‘That they all may be one…’, the panel will comprise of imminent and learned commentators and practitioners in the field of equality, diversity and inclusion in the church.
“We will focus on current issues of racial
FREE CRE TICKET
FOR READERS OF KEEP THE FAITH
For details visit www.creonline.co.uk/tickets Rev Carmel Jones MBE
diversity and include the 40-plus-year journey of The Pentecostal Credit Union in traversing this territory,” said Elaine. “We hope you will join us and our partners, Good to Give, and spend some time on our stand to see what we do.”
• PCU are on stand U7 at
CRE National 2021
