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News Update
Easter Week |
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‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ Galatians 6:9
How are you? It’s a question we’ve been asking HOPE practitioners and Mission Champions as we phone round to find out what churches are doing to make Jesus known in this unexpected season. We are finding that they need to talk. So many are working hard to support people in their communities, but the scale of need can be overwhelming. Let’s encourage one another and share the load.
This Easter weekend each of us has an amazing opportunity to tell friends, family and colleagues what Easter means to us. The #EasterChangedMyLife campaign (below) is just one way to do this. The Talking Jesus research tells us that one in every five non-Christian adults says they are open to an encounter with Jesus following a conversation with a Christian they know. Let’s give the people we know an opportunity to respond to Jesus.
Wherever you are celebrating Easter, rejoice that Christ is risen!
Roy Crowne
HOPE Together's Executive Director
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Easter changed my life social media campaign
Christians in Cumbria are inviting people across the UK to join them in sharing the good news of Easter by creating short ‘selfie-style’ testimony videos on social media with the hashtag #EasterChangedMyLife
The Bishop of Penrith, Emma Ineson, says, ‘We’ve all got a story. And for Christians, the historical events of Easter have changed our stories. The beauty of something like this is that you’re the only one who can tell that story.’
There are three simple steps to joining this campaign. Find out more here. |
Easter invitation
The size of virtual congregations looking in on livestreamed church services over the first two weeks of lockdown suggests that we can expect thousands of not-yet-Christians to be joining our Easter Sunday celebrations.
Let’s help those looking in on our Easter celebrations to start a journey of faith. Visit HOPE’s Easter page for a step-by-step guide to make the most of this unexpected opportunity.
We have prepared an Easter invitation, which you can download to promote your online Easter Sunday events on social media and a poster to use on church noticeboards (Plain version) (Version matching social media) or church members’ windows for passers-by to see on their daily walk. Download and print the poster and add the details of where to find your online service. |
 
 Good Friday Prayers
On Thursday evenings the whole country is encouraged to stop and applaud the NHS front line workers at 8pm. Inspired by this initiative, Christians are planning to pray at 3pm on Friday for God to intervene in this pandemic.
At 3pm on Good Friday Jesus said ‘It is finished’ from the cross. Christians across the country are encouraged to step out in front of their homes and pray for Covid-19 to end. Use the hashtags #GoodFridayPrayers and #ItIsFinished on social media. |
Hope for uncertain times
Four of the HOPE Together team have recorded short videos to offer hope in these uncertain times. Share the social media posts from @hopetogether or download them from our website to use in your social media and to send to friends. Watch the contribution from Yemi Adedeji, HOPE's associate director above. |
Reaching young people
HOPE’s youth director Dan Randall has put together a resources page to help you and your church to do youth work well in the online space. He says, ‘We have gathered the best missional online youth work resources that can help you reach and disciple young people in this COVID-19 season.’ Visit our online youth evangelism resources page here. |
Gospels to give away
Invite your friends and family to read Jesus’ story for themselves. We are offering Mark’s Gospel in packs of five which you can buy and post to your friends, or as single copies which we can post direct to your friend’s home address. Visit the HOPE shop to place your order and give a gift of hope to your friends and family members this Easter. You can then use the Discover Bible App to read the Bible with friends. Find out more about the Discover Bible App here. @discoverAppDBS. |
Sky TV visits HOPE Coventry
HOPE Coventry’s rapid and escalating response to the Coronavirus pandemic is being filmed this week by Sky News. The crew are following the progress of a food parcel as it goes – with the aid of HOPE Coventry’s volunteers -- from the city’s foodbank to the HOPE centre and finally to a needy home. The film, which will also include an interview with the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, is one of four reports being shot by Sky this week. They will be broadcast in the week beginning 20 April. Read more about HOPE Coventry’s response to Covid-19 here.
HOPE Coventry's food parcels include a Hope for All magazine - order the magazines from the HOPE shop, to include when you are shopping for people in your community. |
Church-by-telephone
A Welsh church-by-telephone is supporting Christians without internet access. The Presbyterian Church of Wales has set up the telephone system to serve Christians who are elderly and don't use the internet. Find out how to set up this service here. The South Wales Baptist Association (SWBA) have created a YouTube page called ‘Sing unto the Lord an Old Song’ – 29 of the best known Christian choruses from years gone by. These songs might bring comfort to elderly people – you could play a song a day down the phone. SWBA say, ‘You are welcome to enjoy them and share them in these extraordinary times. No need to report to CCLI or PRS.’ |
Tell us your hope stories from life in lockdown, and let us know how we can pray for you and support you.
Easter changed the world and is still changing the world today. Easter is the ultimate life-changer. Because Jesus lives everything is changed - forever
Have a wonderful Easter!
Love from the HOPE Together team
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