CARE NORTHERN IRELAND
Presentation Brochure Hey there,
My name is
Ian Bingham
You may know as an organisation that works within renewed and lives tra n sformed .
, and I am the Head of CARE Northern Ireland.
CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) the political sphere. Our vision is to se e politics
Whether we like it or not, politics affects all of our lives. The decisions that are made in Stormont and Westmi nster have a direct impact on how we live our lives within society. is especially the case w hen it comes to ethical and moral issues .
This
There are so many challenges that we are facing in our contemporary society – assisted suicide , the cost -of -living crisis, gambling harms, online safety, immigration , human trafficking, abortion and living in a fast -paced technological age to name a few . At CARE, w e want to help Christians formulate a Biblical language and framework for effectively, and graciously, communicating the truth of the Bible into these modern -day issues . We want to equi p, teach, train, resource and mobilise the church to be ready and able to engage with the se issues , as well as ensuring that there is a Christian voice speaking up on our behalf in the discussions and debates that happen around these issues in the Chambers at Stormont and Westminster. One of the key aspects of my role is to engage with churches and church leaders across Northern Ireland . This involves speaking in churches across the province , as well as at Christian events/conferences . Therefore, I want to offer myself to you and your church. This brochure outlines our range of presentations. As you can see, we offer a wide selection of presentations on a variety of topics and issues. Please flick through , and if you would like me to come to your church or group to deliver one of them , simply get in touch with me using the contact details at the back of this brochure. Alternatively , you can scan the QR code to book quickly and efficiently online. A ll of our presentations are free of charge so there is no cost to you or your church/group. H opefully you will find something in this brochure that may be of interest to you and your church. I look forward to hearing from you soon . Every blessing and thank you for your support.
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Contents Parenting in a digital world Living for Jesus in a
4 –5
modern technological age
6 –7
Abortion and Northern Ireland. The Story so far assisted suicide
A Christian Response to Tackling Northern Ireland’s Helping
8 –9 10 – 11
gambling addiction
12 – 13
families who are struggling
14 – 15
Human trafficking and modern slavery in Northern Ireland
16 – 17
RE and assemblies in NI schools?
18 – 19
I was a stranger and you welcomed me (immi gration & racism in NI)
20 – 21
What’s next for
The changing face of
gender identity and transgenderism
An Overview of CARE Counter Culture - following Jesus in an increasing Godly influence at the heart of government
22 – 23 24 – 25
ly secular society
26 – 27 28 – 29
cross mean to me?
30 – 31
Bespoke presentations on issues of your own choice
32 – 33
Booking Information and QR code
34 – 35
What does the
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Parenting in a
digital world
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Parenting in a digital world Target audience:
Parents, grandparents, kids and youth leaders, teachers, teenagers, anyone who has contact with children , anyone addicted to their phone/gaming *
Duration:
1 hour **
Our children and young people are growing up in a world that we can’t see or touch. It’s a virtual world but it has huge repercussions in the real world. They face issues online , especially on social media, have a huge impact on their health and well -being. Parents often find it hard to know how to how to help their children through these issues.
, that
In this presentation, we will explore some of the issues that children and young people face online, how p are n ts deal with these and discover some practical tools to help parents navigate through this digital world. We will also look to see if there is any advice in the Bible that can help and share how CARE has led the way in ensuring our children are protected in the online world. * P art of the presentation deals with the issues of pornography , online sexual exploitation and sextortion would be unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15 . Discretion is advised. This can be adapted if needed.
which
**C an be adapted to suit your needs
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Living for Jesus
in a modern
technological age
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Living for Jesus in a modern technological age Target audience:
Teenagers, adults, youth leaders, parents, grandparents, anyone with smartphone or device, anyone interested in new technologies
Duration:
1 hour *
a
The world is changing at a rapid rate. Modern technological advances have really helped to make life much easier for many of us. However, as this technology continues to develop faster than we imagined it may leave us feeling daunted, ill -equipped and out of touch . The Metaverse, deep -fake technology and Artificial Intelligence are no longer only resigned to fantasy in Hollywood movies - they are today’s reality ! How does a Christian live for Jesus in this world of rapidly developing technology ? In this presentation, we will highlight some of the latest technology explore how Christians can embrace it and harness it for good, but also pitfalls that some may fall into if it is not used cautiously and carefully. there is any guidance that may help Christians to navigate through
,
that is currently a round . We will highlight the dangers and We will look to the Bible to see if this new technolo gical age .
* C an be adapted to suit your needs
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Abortion and Northern Ireland
The story so far
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Abortion and Northern Ireland. The Story so far Target audience:
Adults and young adults
Duration:
1 hour **
*
The 31st March 2020 is a dark day in Northern Ireland’s history ! On this day, The Abortion ( Northern Ireland ) Regulations 2020 was introduced . That meant that after nearly 1 60 years of protecting the lives of the unborn , the UK government decided that abortion should be legalised in this country and subsequently imposed this abortion law in Northern Ireland. Worse still, the legislation that was passed means that Northern Ireland has some of the most liberal laws on abortion in all of Europe! In this presentation, we will unpack the history of Northern Ireland’s abortion journey and highlight what the current legislation means . We will examine the impact of this law for Christians in Northern Ireland and explore what the church can do . We will also introduce you to the work of Open – a pr actical ministry of CARE’s which provid es pastoral support to anyone who ha s gone through an abortion , as well as training for church leaders who would like to be better equipped for dealing with this issue in their congregations. * Due to the nature of the subject content, this presentation is **C an be adapted to suit your need
unsuitable for
anyone under the age of 15.
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A Christian response to
assisted suicide
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A Christian response to Target audience:
Adults and young adults *
Duration:
1 hour **
a ssisted
s uicide
At CARE we believe that all life must be protected, fr om beginning until it s natural end. Currently across the UK, there is a huge push to introduce laws that would make it legal to help someone end their life. While acknowledging that this is a very difficult and emotive subject, especially if a loved one is suffering terrible pain, we believe that ending life early is not the best solution. We advocate for better palliative care in order to help those who are suffering through the last days of their life. In this presentation, we will examine the issues surrounding assisted suicide , highlight what is happening around the rest of the UK and explore what we , as Christians in Northern Ireland , can do as this debate enters our shores. We will share what we , at CARE , have been doin g legislatively on t his issue and we will also look to the Bible to see if there is guidance that may be rele vant around it all.
* Due to the nature of the subject content, this presentation is
unsuitable for
anyone under the age of 15.
**C an be adapted to suit your needs
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Tackling Northern Ireland’s
gambling addiction
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Tackling Northern Ireland’s gambling addiction Target audience:
Adults , young adults, teenagers and addiction
Duration:
1 hour *
anyone who is struggling with a gambling
The latest statistics tell us that there are up to 42,000 people in Northern Ireland who are considered ‘problem gamblers’. That is four times higher than England! With the rise and availability of online betting, the ga m bling industry is booming. Make no mistake about it, Northern Ireland has a real gambling problem. Consequently, there are people within your town, city or even your own church who are currently st ruggling in this area and are at risk of becoming addicted to gambling . In this presentation, we will examine some of the reasons why people gamble and the subsequent issues th at come from those , as well as highlight ing the work of CARE in this area . We will also e xplore current debates around gambling legislation and look at what Christians and the church can do to help those who are finding themselves trapped in a cycle of gambling.
* Can be adapted to suit your needs
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Helping
families who are struggling
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Helping families who are
struggling
Target audience:
Adults, young adults, teenagers , p arents, grandparents, youth leaders, teachers , community workers
Duration:
1 hour *
pastoral teams,
kids and
Poverty . When you hear that , you may think of starving kids in Africa , or overcrowded slums in India. Ho w ever, you may not think of your neighbour across the road. But in reality , there are many people within NI who are living in poverty – relative poverty. Over the last few years, we’ve all become well accustomed to the phrase , ‘the -cost -of -living -crisis’. T hings are very difficult for many families currently. The Covid pandemic , global food shortages , Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a volatile oil market ha ve caused huge ripple effect s around the world. Fuel prices have soared, gas/electricity has rocketed, everyday food items have drastically increased in price , and inflation has risen sh arply . All of this means that families are struggling. Many families are facing an awful choice – eat or heat? Food banks are reporting their busiest ever period . P eople desperately need help! So , how can the Church help? In this presentation, we will explore what the cost -of -living -crisis has meant for people , how we at CARE are trying to bring legislative change to help people in poverty , as well as considering how churches can he lp. We will also offer practical advice and signposting for those who may be struggling. * C an be adapted to suit your needs 15
Human trafficking and
modern slavery in Northern Ireland
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Human
trafficking and
m odern s lavery in Northern Ireland
Target audience:
Adults, young adults, teenagers, youth leaders, teachers, community workers, local volunteers *
Duration:
1 hour **
Recent figures released by the Home Office reveal that the number of people who have potentially been trafficked into Northern Ireland in the last 6 years has increased by 1000%! 634 people (that we know of) were trafficked into Northern Ireland in 202 5. This is a very real issue in our country. It is often overlooked because it is unseen. However, if we look closely, we can see it is happening right under our noses, on our own doorsteps, in villages, towns and cities across the province. In this presentation, we will unpack what is meant by ‘human trafficking’ and ‘modern slavery’, as well as identifying ways that they are happening in Northern Ireland. We will look at the stats and identify how what we , at CARE , are seeking to bring about legis lative change in this area . W e will ask what Christians and church es can do to help , and look to the Bible to see if there is any guidance in there. * Due to the nature of the subject content, this presentation is
unsuitable for
anyone under the age of 15.
**C an be adapted to suit your needs
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What’s next for RE and assemblies in NI schools?
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What’s next for RE and assemblies in NI schools? Target audience:
C hurch leaders who go into schools to take RE lessons or assemblies teachers, school leaders , anyone who sits on a Board of Governors
Duration:
1 hour *
, Christian
In November 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that t he content of RE lessons across NI schools was illegal and must change. Linked with this was the issue of acts of worship at school assemblies . The ruling sent shoc kwaves throughout schools leading to some (quite outrageous) claim s on social media
.
In this presentation , we assess the Supreme Court’s ruling on RE and how it impacts Christian teachers, governors and clergy across NI. Often local clergy are invited into a school to take RE lessons or school assemblies (or both) but what does this ruling mean for them? What are you allowed to say and what are you not allowed to say? Also, many Christians sit on Boards of Governors of schools. What does the ruling mean for the direction of travel for the school? How can Christians protect this vital subject but stay within the new legal framework? We will look at what the ruling said, what’s currently happening in this space, as well as giving some practical suggestions about how to approach teaching RE and taking assemblies and how to stay legally compliant within the new framework . * C an be adapted to suit your needs
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stranger and you welcomed me I was a
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A Christian reflection on i mmigration, refugees, asylum seekers and racism in NI
I was a stranger and you welcomed me Target audience:
Adults, young adults, church leaders, community workers, any on e who works with migrant communities
Duration:
1 hour *
youth workers,
elders,
Does Northern Ireland have a major racism problem? Over recent years, we ha ve seen some horrendous acts of raci st violence towards different eth n ic minority groups across the p rovince . There were riots in Belfast and Ballymena, families have been put out of their homes, businesses vandalised and prot ests outside ho tels housing migrants . Much of the racist vio lence is stemming from the belief tha t we are allowing illegal immigrants who have arrived here on small boats to stay and access the same benefits as UK citizens - free healthcare, education, ho u sing and welfare . There is also the belie f that they are com in g here to impose the Islamic religion onto us . But is any of this true? Do we really have a problem with illegal imm igration ? And h ow s hould Chritians an d the church view this issue ? In this presentation, we will unpack some of the key issues surrounding imm igration, asylum seeking and ref u g ees, as well as looking at the stats to get a picture of what things are really like . We will explore both sides of th is heated, and often toxic debate , and we will turn to the Bible to see if there is any guidance to help Christians and the church formulate an the stranger” on one hand, while also protecting our own people * C an be adapted to suit your needs
opinion and consider how and country on the other.
to “welcome
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The changing face of
gender identity and
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transgenderism
The changing face of gender identity and transgenderism Target audience:
Adults, young adults, teenagers, youth leaders, teachers, anyone who has contact with children or young people *
Duration:
1 hour **
One of the hottest topics that Christians and churches are currently dealing with are the issues of gender identity and transgenderism. There is a very clear agenda in society which is seeking to undermine Biblical creation and biological sex. There is a v ery worrying and concerted effort in the media to glamorise transgenderism, resulting in confusion for many people as they start to question their own gender. Even our children are now starting to use phrases like ‘non -binary’, ‘transitioning’ and ‘gender -neutral’. In this presentation, we will unpack some of these key terms, as well as identify current cultural trends. We will explore the problematic issue of pronouns and how Christians deal with this in the workplace, in families, as well as in church life. We will look to the Bible to see if t here is any guidance about how to approach this issue, as well as considering practical issues that churches should consider. * Due to the nature of the subject content, this presentation is
unsuitable for
anyone under the age of 15.
**C an be adapted to suit your needs 23
Christians and
politics
An
overview of
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CARE
An Overview of CARE Target audience:
Adults, young adults, teenagers , anyone who has an interest in work and/or the world of politics
Duration:
1 hour *
Christian charity
At CARE, our vision is to see politics renewed and lives transformed. For over 40 years, we have sought to bring truth and grace into politics . We believe that Christians have a better story to tell, revealed in the Bible and modelled by Jesus . Everything we do is filtered through this . But who are we and ho w do we fulfil that vision? In this presentation, we will give a brief outline of CARE . We will consider our beginnings over 40 years ago as a response to the increasing secula ris ation of society and a deep desire to bring a Christian voice into political life. We will look at the 3 main aspects of our work – En gaging the church, Equipping politicians and Empowering future leaders and think about how each of these serves our overarching vision. We will also consider how Christians and churches can partner with us in this journey.
* C an be adapted to suit your needs
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COUNTER F O L L O W I N G J E S U S I N A N I N C R E A S I N G LY S E C U L A R S O C I E T Y
CULTURE
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Counter Culture
– following Jesus in an increas
Target audience:
Adults and young adults
Duration:
1 hour *
ingly secular society
How can we live effectively for Jesus in a society that seems to be becoming increasingly aggressive and anti -anything to do with the Christian faith? What are some of the challenges that Christians are facing in our 21st century culture? And how can we bo th CHALLENGE and ENGAGE with the culture around us, living sep arate, distinct and holy lives that reflect the ways of Jesus on one hand, but still loving those with radically opposing viewpoints to our own on the other?
In this presentation, we consider
how Christians
are called to l
ive holy lives , distinct from the culture
around us. We will look at ho w to effectively cha llenge the culture by looking at the example of Sha d rach, M e sh ach and Abed n ego in Daniel 3, while at the same time engaging with th at very same culture by looking at Paul’s example in Acts 17. We will consider what it means for followers of Jesus and churches to live in this tension in our towns, communities and nation.
* C an be adapted to suit your needs
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Godly
influence
at the heart of
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government
Godly influence at the heart of Target audience:
A nyone who is eligible to vote, someone
Duration:
1 hour *
government with an interest in
politics
As A Christian, w ho should I vote for? Why should I even bother going out to vot e ? Sure , it makes no difference - they’re all the same anyway! A t CARE, we frequently hear these kinds of comments . But the reality is , whether we like it or not, p olitics affects the very fabric of our lives and how we live daily. Therefore, a s Christians , it is very important to have our voices and views heard and represented in the laws and legislation that are passed in Stormont and Westminster . Therefore, it is vital that we have Christians occupying these positions of power. But in order to get them there, we have to vote them in.
In this presentation, w e look at the example of Joseph in Genesis 41 to see why it is so important to have a Godly influence at the very heart of a nation’s government, and what impact this can have on the nation. We will then consider why it is so important for Christians t o get out and vote , as well as giving practical tips and pointers to consider at election time when trying to figure out where to place your vote. We will also look at some of CARE’s resources which are designed to help Christians engage with politi cs and make the decision -making process about who to vote for a little easier.
* C an be adapted to suit your needs 29
What does the 1.
cross
mean to me?
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What does the cross mean to me? Target audience:
Sunday service sermon
Duration:
20 – 25 minutes
*
Need a sermon rather than a presentation on a contemporary issue ? Do you need cover for a Sunday service while you are on holiday? O r maybe your church is vacant and need a visiting speaker to come along to speak? We ’ve got you covered. If you are looking for something with less of a focus on a specific co ntem po rary issue and m ore of a Biblical preach, then y ou may be interested in this sermon where we unpack the question of what the cross means to us .
It is aimed at helping both believer and unbeliever to consider the cross and the significance and ma g n itude of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf . Using verses from Romans 3 and John 3 , we consider how the cross is the greatest intersecting point in the history of mankind – the point at which the wrath of God, meets the love of God. We will also consider what the cross means to us personally and consider a re spo nse to that. * C an be adapted to suit your needs
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Bespoke presentations
on issues of your choice
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Bespoke presentations on issues of your choice Target audience:
Whoever you choose
Duration:
Whatever you wish
Perhaps you haven’t seen anything in th is brochure that has caught your eye. Or perhaps you feel that these issues wouldn’t suit your church or group. Maybe you would like CARE to come and speak to about an entirely different issue? Or perhaps you would like a guest speaker to preach at a Sunday service, a mid -week Bible study or a special event? Or maybe you need cover for a Sunday service while you are off on holiday? That’s no problem at all. We are theologically trained and have many years of experience of teaching, preaching and public speaking. We can accommodate whatever you need are here to support you and your church or group in whatever way we can.
and
If you have a particular issue , topic or Bible passage that you would like CARE to speak on, then simply get in touch with us using the contact details at the back of this brochure, or scan the QR code to book online. Just let us know the details , what you would like covered or the idea that you would like to pursue. W e would be only too happy to help. And if for some reason we can’t help you out, we will try our best to point you in the direction of someone who will.
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Booking information Booking a talk or presentation for your church or group is very simple. You can contact me directly using the details below, or alternatively scan the QR code on the next page and fill out the booking form. Please note, all of our presentations are free of charge so there is no cost to you or yo church /group . However, a donation to CARE is very much appreciated as we are fully funded by our supporters. Every penny is gratefully received as it helps us continue our work . If you would like more details about what we offer , then please feel free to get in touch. I am more than happy to help.
Ian Bingham Head of CARE NI ian.bingham@care.org.uk 07534911037 CARE Northern Ireland Facebook group Ian Bingham
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Ian Bingham
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Scan th is QR code to book online
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