Growing attendance a ‘real achievement’ in face of recession

ENGLAND

Despite the recession, British traders were buoyant about the new International Christian Resources Exhibition (ICRE), affectionately dubbed “the ideal church show” in tribute to the country’s long-established Ideals Homes Show.

More than 400 exhibitors took part in the event at Sandown Park, Esher, May 11-14. Their displays—from Elvis Presley’s Bible to a drink dispenser that literally produces water from thin air—attracted almost 13,000. That was an increase on the 2009 show, which drew 12,433 across the four days.

Opening the event was Elder Fu Xianwei, chairman of the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China. Amid his country’s booming economy, “there are still many poor people who need Bibles,” Xianwei said. Bible Society gave a special presentation to promote its ongoing work in the country.

ICRE included a Retailers’ Day for trade customers and saw more than 3,300 people attend seminars--another increase from the 2009 event. Topical issues explored by a range of experts included supporting people who have been sexually abused and helping those with dementia.

With the 2012 London Olympics in mind, the organizers had set up CRE’s first ever “sports zone.” Visitors could view a range of sports ministries like More Than Gold, Christian Surfers and 2K Plus International Sports Media.

The addition of “International” to the event’s name marked it out from previous years’ regional CREs at Telford and Peterborough, and also reflected a multinational flavor, with participants from as far away as Slovenia, Poland and the U.S.

Elvis’ Bible was part of a display by London-based Museum of the Book, which uses personal Bibles of historical figures—like ’60s gangster Reggie Kray and hangman Albert Pierrepoint—to convey the gospel.

“We always look forward to CRE,” said Steve Legg, publisher of the British men’s magazine Sorted. “This year was the busiest ever—and it was great to meet up with new customers and lots of old friends.”

The magazine revealed details of a survey with Christian Vision for Men (CVM). It found that although most men had visited a church in the past two years—mainly for weddings and funerals—many would feel more comfortable visiting a ladies’ lingerie shop. Sorted and CVM are helping the wider church with efforts to reach out to men.

The event was “the best we’ve ever attended,” said Mary Fleeson, artist with Lindisfarne Scriptorium, the popular art shop and gallery based on Holy Island, Northumbria. “We gained many new customers, secured several trade orders—and enjoyed meeting up with repeat visitors.

‘The atmosphere buzzed for much of the time,” she added. “There were few lulls in the main hall. Two fellow exhibitors who attend primarily to advertise also said their leads were of a better quality than those at recent trade fairs.”

Fleeson and her husband, Mark, were at ICRE to launch a series of fair-trade church banners, produced in conjunction with two other organizations working in the Philippines.

Echoing his “happy exhibitors,” event director Steve Briars said: “In the face of a major recession, many secular exhibitions have dramatically reduced in size or ceased to exist. For CRE to have grown over the past three years is a real achievement.”

ICRE Award winners included Christian Book of the Year: The Vicar of Baghdad by Andrew White (Monarch Books) and Reference Book of the Year: The World of the Bible by John Drane (Lion Hudson).

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