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Pruning for a Bumper Harvest
‘… every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful’
John 15:1-3.
A fruit farmer I met recently showed me how his prize pear trees are pruned. A few years ago, he had almost given up on them, but he decided to prune them back aggressively to give them one last chance. The following year they produced a bumper crop.
There is a strong sense that God has been pruning his Church, and now we are approaching harvest time. We don’t like being pruned – but let’s pray that God will pour out his blessing through the Church in this coming season. And that there will be a bumper harvest!
Roy Crowne
HOPE Together's Executive Director |
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Free festive giveaways
Families toy shopping this festive season will receive two great giveaways telling the Christmas story. HOPE Together, Bible Society and Speak Life are working with The Entertainer toy stores to help customers appreciate the reason for the season.
The Entertainer chain is the UK's largest independent toy retailer. Each store has a nativity scene in its shop window at Christmas and this year, the nativity scenes will feature the popular Early Learning Centre Happyland characters as Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the Wise Men and the Shepherds.
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Telling the Christmas story
To tie in with The Entertainer nativity scenes, Bible Society is producing a special Happyland edition of its booklet The Christmas Story. Each family shopping for Christmas in The Entertainer stores will receive a copy. Copies are also available from the HOPE shop.
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 Christmas HOPE magazine
Shoppers will also be offered a copy of the Christmas HOPE magazine, with a centre-spread featuring the Happyland characters telling the Christmas story. This 32-page magazine is packed with topical features to inform, challenge and entertain readers. The cover features Tom Hanks, ‘the man behind the honours’; the new Cats movie; Alisson Becker - the world’s best goalkeeper, and Street Pastors ‘keeping clubbers safe this Christmas’. And there’s much more inside to help start conversations about Jesus – the reason for the season. You can also order copies from the HOPE shop to give away with invitations to your Christmas events. |
Happyland nativity
During the festive season The Entertainer stores will screen a specially-made Happyland nativity animation which is being made by the Speak Life team - the' film set' is shown below. The animation will be available on social media and to download for use in schools and churches.
Roy Crowne, HOPE Together’s executive director said, ‘We are thrilled to be working with these partners to offer a joined-up Christmas message. We hope that churches will take advantage of the amazing opportunity Christmas offers to visit local homes making Jesus known. We trust that these resources will help people to talk about Jesus and to invite people to celebrate Christmas at their local church.’
All the Christmas resources are available on the HOPE Together shop for individuals and churches to order. Stocks are limited so don’t delay in placing your order.
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Pray in 2020 on the 20th of each month at 20:20 for 20 minutes.
Pray … that God will give many opportunities to speak about Christ. (Colossians 4:3 NLT)
This is the invitation from HOPE Together to Christians of all denominations. ‘Already Prayer 2020 is catching the imagination of Christians around the world,' says Roy Crowne. '2020 is such a significant year and Prayer 2020 will be a key part of the year.' He is pictured below talking with TV presenters from Ethiopia and India about Prayer 2020. Find out more and download the Prayer 2020 logo here.
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The Next Wave of Evangelists
We have just launched Amplify 'The Young Evangelists Academy', for young people aged 11-17. We started the Amplify year with a residential in the Midlands. We then launched this incredible group of young evangelists back into their worlds to reach many of their peers for Jesus and stir their churches for evangelism! We are already hearing stories of healings and transformation and young people taking steps towards Jesus. Please pray for this amazing group as they are further invested in through monthly group mentoring, specialist mentoring and opportunities to share what God is doing on national platforms.
For more info and to put forward a young evangelist you know, please visit the website.
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 Hope Spaces – prayer spaces in
public places
In 2020, 24-7 Prayer and HOPE Together are inviting local churches to host creative, public prayer spaces. Will you offer your community a place they can meet God in prayer?
We have developed a Hope Spaces guide to give you everything you need to provide Hope Spaces in your community in 2020. Please email us to register your interest. |
Advance Summit – this weekend
Please pray for the evangelists gathering in Birmingham for the Advance Summit on Saturday – last minute booking is possible. |
Book a speaker
We’d love to help the churches in your area to prepare to make Jesus known together in 2020. Contact the HOPE office if you would like one of the HOPE Together team to speak at an event in your area. And as you make plans, let us know how we can pray for you. |
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With love and prayers from the HOPE Together team
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