HOPE Together takes HOPE08 vision forward

The Message is excited to be one of the organisations backing HOPE Together, building on the momentum generated by HOPE 08 in seeing UK churches doing more, together and in both word and action for their local communities.

Launched last week, HOPE Together is a continuation of HOPE 08 which saw 1,500 areas find ways of being good news and bringing hope outside of their church buildings.

The initiative aims to help the Church build on mission activity and become even more outward-looking over the next four years, leading toward an all-out year of mission in 2014.

Roy Crowne, Executive Director of HOPE Together, spoke to over 40,000 people at the launch which took place at the ExCel Centre, London on 23 July.

He said: “Our dream is that we would see what the Lord Jesus sees – he doesn’t see the differences in tradition or styles of worship but he sees His Church, the body of Christ. His prayer is that we would unite in the purpose and the mission of God – that mission is to cause our church to be outward focused, to express acts of kindness and then to communicate the love of God in the good news of Jesus Christ.

“We may differ in the things we do but we need to celebrate diversity and understand that we have strengths when we work together – find a way to work together for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the sake of those outside of the kingdom.”

Message CEO Andy Hawthorne was one of the founders of HOPE 08, alongside Soul Survivor leader Mike Pilavachi and then-YFC head Roy Crowne.

They set up HOPE 08 to be a catalyst to encourage and inspire churches in villages, towns and cities to do mission in order to demonstrate God’s love by doing more, doing it together, and doing it in word and action, and working with Government bodies, police and the media within communities.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS9_Pg80QzQ[/youtube]

Find out more about HOPE Together on their website.