31 Oct 2024, 11:32Sharon Platt-McDonald BUC Director for Adventist Community Services, Health and Women's Ministries
Inspiration, Connection and Blessings at Christian Resources Exhibition 2024
Attending the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE), held this year at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, from 9-10 October, was an exhilarating experience.
CRE is the largest event of its kind in Europe. The 200-plus exhibitors enable extensive networking, witnessing opportunities, and everything you require for a thriving ministry, spiritual nurture and even better church buildings. *1
Attending the annual CRE has been a high point for me over the years. It showcases a vast array of Christian products and provides engaging talks, presentations, varied workshops, drama, and time for worship. The buzz in the atmosphere is palpable as people of all denominations gather in one place to share God in diverse ways.
What you will find at CRE
Amongst the myriad of booths I visited were the following:
• Church furniture • Books and Bibles • Heating suppliers • Architects • Admin resources • Clergy clothing • Church supplies • Musical instruments • PA/sound systems • Lighting suppliers • IT/Tech support • Financial advice • Community support • Outreach resources • Conference venues • Gifts • Youth work ideas • Children's work ideas • Worship resources • Pastoral care • Prayer resources • Fundraising support • Training and education • Funeral services • Bereavement resources • Mission opportunities • Preaching aids and more…
A feast of products
Such was the scope of enticing products, publications and other resources that my friend and I made a few trips to her car to offload bags of goodies. We made the stewards smile as we returned each time to be rescanned before entering the building.
Needless to say, I still managed to leave the exhibition weighed down with several bags of purchases and freebies, enough to last me for 12 months and to share with others.
The multiple products were used as I led the BUC morning worship on Tuesday this week, using some of the scripture cards I had purchased at CRE. Following worship that day, I displayed a range of inspirational, prayer and scripture cards, which staff and visitors were free to take away. I felt justified for the expenditure.
Intentional publications
Among the intriguing publications was a dyslexia-friendly Bible edition by the Bible Society.
Several featured books highlighted the need for a better understanding of Christians' emotional, mental and psychological wellbeing. They dealt with a range of approaches to a better understanding of and supporting believers struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges.
I was drawn to 3 particular publications which were a 'must have' for my current Health Ministries focus on brain health and mental wellbeing:
Mental Health And Your Church – A Handbook for Biblical Care by Helen Thorne & Dr Steve Midgley Zeal without Burnout – Seven keys to a lifelong ministry of sustainable sacrifice by Christopher Ash Why Do I Feel Like This? – Meeting God in the Emptiness by Rachel Lane
Other books addressed pain, loneliness, and suffering from a Christian perspective. I purchased one, Suffering And Singing – Knowing Cod's Love in the Pain and Despair by John Hindley.
Gender-related resources were also very popular, with a range of publications ministering to men's and women's needs. I was intrigued by one particular book, Pause – How to Enjoy God, Find Hope, and Bear Fruit Through Midlife and Menopause by Sarah Allen. I deemed it a worthy purchase, which I will use alongside my existing resources with my presentations on menopause.
Unique features
I was captivated by 'Grace on Wheels', a mobile beauty spa van. Speaking with its owner, Marianna, revealed the miraculous way God provided the means and opportunity for her to launch this business as a unique ministry. She reports:
"I am concerned about women who don't have deep pockets… How can we make them feel special and loved? As a Christian, I want to take Grace on Wheels to these women and their children who, due to the circumstances of life, have been deprived of the ability to pay for treatments." She continues:
"My heart is to reach out to victims of domestic abuse, violence, homelessness, human trafficking and also women in detention and prisons."
New products
An Adventist couple, Hubert and Julia Smith-Samuels, was exhibiting this year. Under the caption Send N Pop, their stall provided unique products for interactive games, engaging discussions, and fun activities.
An intriguing pack of discussion cards titled: 'PLAYGROUNDS – The Intimate Discussions We Should Have But...' Packed for couples to address… Its descriptor reads: "Twenty questions to enhance, expand, exhilarate and explore the intimate landscape of your relationship, bringing and enjoying things old and things new."
Blessings galore
Attending CRE has yielded many blessings over the years. It provides excellent opportunities to witness, make new friends, attend Christian guest houses and venues, and invite other Christians to worship in our Adventist churches.
This year, my friend EJ Anderson-Grey and I were blessed to receive fruit trees from ChurchEcoMiser® Mr and Mrs Dunphy.
You never know what you will leave with at CRE and what seeds will be planted!
Next year's CRE will be held 15-16 October 2025 at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey,
when CRE will celebrate its 40th anniversary.
It would be great to see Seventh-day Adventist organisations and churches host stalls at that event. Let's be salt and light as we endeavour to share truth with the masses.
Attending the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE), held this year at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, from 9-10 October, was an exhilarating experience.
CRE is the largest event of its kind in Europe. The 200-plus exhibitors enable extensive networking, witnessing opportunities, and everything you require for a thriving ministry, spiritual nurture and even better church buildings. *1
Attending the annual CRE has been a high point for me over the years. It showcases a vast array of Christian products and provides engaging talks, presentations, varied workshops, drama, and time for worship. The buzz in the atmosphere is palpable as people of all denominations gather in one place to share God in diverse ways.
What you will find at CRE
Amongst the myriad of booths I visited were the following:
• Church furniture • Books and Bibles • Heating suppliers • Architects • Admin resources • Clergy clothing • Church supplies • Musical instruments • PA/sound systems • Lighting suppliers • IT/Tech support • Financial advice • Community support • Outreach resources • Conference venues • Gifts • Youth work ideas • Children's work ideas • Worship resources • Pastoral care • Prayer resources • Fundraising support • Training and education • Funeral services • Bereavement resources • Mission opportunities • Preaching aids and more…
A feast of products
Such was the scope of enticing products, publications and other resources that my friend and I made a few trips to her car to offload bags of goodies. We made the stewards smile as we returned each time to be rescanned before entering the building.
Needless to say, I still managed to leave the exhibition weighed down with several bags of purchases and freebies, enough to last me for 12 months and to share with others.
The multiple products were used as I led the BUC morning worship on Tuesday this week, using some of the scripture cards I had purchased at CRE. Following worship that day, I displayed a range of inspirational, prayer and scripture cards, which staff and visitors were free to take away. I felt justified for the expenditure.
Intentional publications
Among the intriguing publications was a dyslexia-friendly Bible edition by the Bible Society.
Several featured books highlighted the need for a better understanding of Christians' emotional, mental and psychological wellbeing. They dealt with a range of approaches to a better understanding of and supporting believers struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges.
I was drawn to 3 particular publications which were a 'must have' for my current Health Ministries focus on brain health and mental wellbeing:
Mental Health And Your Church – A Handbook for Biblical Care by Helen Thorne & Dr Steve Midgley Zeal without Burnout – Seven keys to a lifelong ministry of sustainable sacrifice by Christopher Ash Why Do I Feel Like This? – Meeting God in the Emptiness by Rachel Lane
Other books addressed pain, loneliness, and suffering from a Christian perspective. I purchased one, Suffering And Singing – Knowing Cod's Love in the Pain and Despair by John Hindley.
Gender-related resources were also very popular, with a range of publications ministering to men's and women's needs. I was intrigued by one particular book, Pause – How to Enjoy God, Find Hope, and Bear Fruit Through Midlife and Menopause by Sarah Allen. I deemed it a worthy purchase, which I will use alongside my existing resources with my presentations on menopause.
Unique features
I was captivated by 'Grace on Wheels', a mobile beauty spa van. Speaking with its owner, Marianna, revealed the miraculous way God provided the means and opportunity for her to launch this business as a unique ministry. She reports:
"I am concerned about women who don't have deep pockets… How can we make them feel special and loved? As a Christian, I want to take Grace on Wheels to these women and their children who, due to the circumstances of life, have been deprived of the ability to pay for treatments." She continues:
"My heart is to reach out to victims of domestic abuse, violence, homelessness, human trafficking and also women in detention and prisons."
New products
An Adventist couple, Hubert and Julia Smith-Samuels, was exhibiting this year. Under the caption Send N Pop, their stall provided unique products for interactive games, engaging discussions, and fun activities.
An intriguing pack of discussion cards titled: 'PLAYGROUNDS – The Intimate Discussions We Should Have But...' Packed for couples to address… Its descriptor reads: "Twenty questions to enhance, expand, exhilarate and explore the intimate landscape of your relationship, bringing and enjoying things old and things new."
Blessings galore
Attending CRE has yielded many blessings over the years. It provides excellent opportunities to witness, make new friends, attend Christian guest houses and venues, and invite other Christians to worship in our Adventist churches.
This year, my friend EJ Anderson-Grey and I were blessed to receive fruit trees from ChurchEcoMiser® Mr and Mrs Dunphy.
You never know what you will leave with at CRE and what seeds will be planted!
Next year's CRE will be held 15-16 October 2025 at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey,
when CRE will celebrate its 40th anniversary.
It would be great to see Seventh-day Adventist organisations and churches host stalls at that event. Let's be salt and light as we endeavour to share truth with the masses.
