Imagine all over the country in communities large and small, churches working together, bringing Jesus’ story alive through word and action. Imagine lives turned upside down and despair turned inside out.
Hope Survey – help us to help you
Hope activity is increasing and continuing in many areas across the UK. There is a growing desire and more opportunities to work together and share Christ’s love with our towns, villages and cities.
Please complete a short online survey and share what you are doing with us or tell us how we can support you. It would really help us and it is just 10 questions long. Thanks!
Hope in your area Survey
Christian Unity
The week of prayer for Christian Unity, 18-25th Jan, provides an opportunity for churches to demonstrate a unity, that is sometimes hidden by denominational differences, through the act of praying together. It’s a time to focus our prayer on the desire that we share; to communicate God’s love to all the world. Jesus’ desire is that all may in complete unity to let the world know that the Father sent him and He loves them (John 17:21).
Roy Crowne says: “Starting with prayer and asking God to help us to unite in purpose, is vital. Unity for unity’s sake does not work, but unity for mission, for the sake of those who don’t believe, changes lives and fulfils Jesus’ prayer for his people.”
Prayers for Unity
CTBI Resource: Week of prayer for Christian Unity
Hope for Easter
OUT NOW! Time to get prepared and excited about an outward-facing Easter. Easter is the mission opportunity we are highlighting in 2011. The Hope for Easter book profiles creative mission ideas and ways you could utilise the opportunities Easter brings. It includes group study material and Easter reflections from Christian leaders. Easter evangelism doesn’t have to be a problem any more. Get your small group or church a copy of Hope for Easter.
Buy it online now for £4.99
Christian Publishing and Outreach have just released a series of Easter Hope posters, invitations and banners that would be ideal to use alongside Easter outreach events or programmes as publicity. There is also a Easter Hope outreach booklet by Andy Hawthorne that can be pre-ordered. www.cposhop.org.uk
Hope Together DVD
A new promotional DVD for Hope is now available The Hope leadership team and denominational leaders share what Hope is, why they are excited about Hope for 2011 – 2014 and how all can be involved.
A copy should arrive with your church or Hope representative this week so look out for that. You can watch it on the front page of our website, download it or email office@hopetogether.org.uk if you want one posted to you.
Local Story: Folkestone Winter Shelter
Churches in Folkestone are working together to care for homelesss people throughout the winter months, from December through to the end of February. The Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter is run by seven churches by over 250 volunteers and in various churches across the town. FCWS grows each year and was formed in 2009 following the death of three rough sleepers in the area.
Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter
Families First feature on FCWS in Jan issue – ‘Soup, Soap and Salvation’
Social Media
As Facebook fanatic or terrific tweeter you can ‘like’ our HOPE Together page on fb and follow HOPEtogether on Twitter. Keep up to date with events and stories of Hope and share your own with us. Let others know too.
Hope Training
Laurence Singlehurst, from the Hope Leadership team and the author of ‘Sowing, Reaping and Keeping’, will provide inspiration and advice on mission and evangelism at our first Hope training day. The event in Harpenden on the 12th February will cost £25 and include a creative workshop to get mission ideas flowing. To book places email office@hopetogether.org.uk or call 01788 542782. There are plans to do more Hope training about word and action mission and we are open to regions or churches that could host a session for their area.
Prayer
The word about Hope is spreading fast and we have a large number of areas where churches are coming together and committing to action under the Hope banner and building towards 2014. Denominations and organisations are enthused too.
Please pray that this vision will continue to spread and that we can see God move powerfully, through us, in our towns, villages and cities. Pray that the Church will be inspired to work together for the sake of the Gospel and seek God’s guidance on how you can share hope in your location. Sign up and be part of it and do more together, in word and action.
God bless you, from the Hope Together team.
