More than 100 Christian leaders from a cross-section of denominations, ministries and regions of the UK, gathered in London in September for HOPE’s Vision Day to ‘build towards 2018 and mobilise the whole Church in mission together – in words and action – for the whole year’.
The day was hosted by Rev Yemi Adedeji, HOPE’s Associate Director, with Roy Crowne, HOPE’s Executive Director, and Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, who chairs the HOPE Board.
To define the task ahead, HOPE, the Church of England and the Evangelical Alliance commissioned the Barna research group to survey people’s perceptions of Jesus. They asked people living in England what they know about Jesus? Do they know someone who actively follows Jesus? Have they ever had a conversation about Jesus? Roy Crowne said that the research will shape how HOPE moves forward to 2018 building on what we do to help the Church to be more effective in mission.
Prayer
HOPE and its partners are calling the Church to prayer on the first Sunday of 2016 – Sunday 3rd January to pray through the themes from the Talking Jesus research.
Initiatives
Initiatives that HOPE is developing to support churches in mission include ‘Higher’, a Manchester-based youth-led schools mission event in 2016; HOPE Revolution training launched in Summer 2015 for 70,000 young people; Try Praying, encouraging churches to ‘use and lose’ a simple seven-day practical guide to praying; the Wisdom House book of eight discussion-starters for churches to use in conversation with people in their communities; Sing Christmas community carols events in stadia and pubs; and parties to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016.
