Building Hope ~ Sharing Faith

HOPE is working towards a year of mission in 2014 – the whole Church, reaching the whole nation for a whole year – together in word and action.

Easter marked a turning point as we move towards 2014 - a year of mission.
Reports have been coming into the Hope Office from all different denominations that churches have taken to heart the challenge to be outward-facing, welcoming and serving local communities. All over the country churches are using key mission moments like Easter to share the hope we have in Jesus in relevant ways. Thousands watched The Passion in city centres including Brighton. See www.soulbythesea.info  Churches gave away Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns with invitations to Easter Sunday services – and churches were packed. Roy Crowne, HOPE’s Executive Director says, let’s continue to serve and pray for the people who heard about Jesus for the first time this Easter. Keep asking God for that amazing harvest he has promised (Galatians 6:9-10).


HOPE – The Heartbeat of Mission in a rural context

‘Congratulations on the publication of The Heartbeat of Mission – what a good resource for churches of all kinds to use,’ says Canon Dr Jill Hopkinson, National Rural Officer for the Church of England. More than 18,000 copies of the book have gone to church leaders and families at Christian events over Easter. Get a copy for your home group here. If you’ve already got a copy, don’t keep it to yourself. Pass it round the different ministry leaders in your church, so everyone can catch the vision and plan for mission in 2014.

HOPE posters

Have you had a copy of the HOPE poster yet and have you seen the latest HOPE video? Thousands of posters are being distributed by ministries and denominations. The aim is for every church to display the poster and show the video so Christians around the country can catch the vision for 2014 and a year of mission. HOPE practitioners have been sent copies of the poster which folds out from a brochure explaining HOPE’s vision. Contact the office if you can distribute the poster to the churches in your area.

Mission Moments

HOPE is highlighting significant mission moments in the calendar and building towards a year of mission in 2014. The aim is to keep mission on the church’s agenda throughout the year – working together, being good news with words and actions in a rhythm of mission that builds on what we already do as part of the church year. Find out more here.

YOUR LOCAL STORIES

Put your story on the map. To help view the spread of Hope a map has been started. HOPE is about local churches making a difference in villages, towns and cities. Send your news so your story can be added to the HOPE map.

Planning New Year’s prayer in Cornwall

Christians in Cornwall started the first week of 2013 with a 24/7 prayer week. Young people wrote out prayer requests and blessings on a huge scroll which was then sent to Plymouth and on into the rest of the nation. Already they are planning for the end of the year and a New Year's Eve watchnight prayer gathering. Find out more here and let Hope know what you are planning.