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News Update
3 December 2020 |
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Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)
Watching this video, it is so encouraging to see how Alice, Euan and Anita, on the past year’s Amplify programme, have been reaching out to their friends and making Jesus known. As you’ll probably know, throughout my 28 years with Youth for Christ, and ever since, I’ve had a real heart for youth. It has been amazing to see how this Amplify group of young people have grown in confidence over the year. Young people don’t volunteer for Amplify – they are recommended by youth leaders and other leaders in their local church context – people who see the gift of the evangelist on their lives. Once on the programme, these young people are still very much part of their own local church, but with the added input of mentoring, support and teaching as they develop their gift. Please pray and ask God to highlight any young person in your congregation who might benefit from this special year, which will all be online in 2021. Check it out with them and get them signed up before the deadline on 13th December. We want young people to take a lead in making Jesus known to their generation and beyond.
Would you also pray with us as 200,000 copies of the HOPE at Christmas magazine are distributed to people in local communities this Christmas – especially those magazines being given to customers in The Entertainer toy shops. Ask God to speak through the features and to plant seeds, drawing people to find out more about Jesus at their local churches.
As we prepare for Christmas, may we all experience a fresh awareness of the light and hope Jesus brings into the world’s darkness
Roy Crowne
HOPE Together's Executive Director |
Celebrating Advent online
HOPE Together is hosting this Sunday’s online Advent service for the Church of England. The online weekly services are broadcast on the Church of England's YouTube and Facebook pages at 9am on Sundays or you can watch our service with the HOPE Together team at 4pm this Sunday 6th December on our Facebook page facebook.com/hopetogether. |
The Wellbeing Journey
We’re thrilled to be able to introduce you to The Wellbeing Journey. Our vision is to partner with local churches to see an increase of wellbeing across the nation. This series is aimed at both Christians and non-Christians and our earnest prayer is that everyone who takes part will discover and experience God’s plan for their greater wellbeing!
In this 8-part film series, each episode is around 20 minutes long and can be shown in a variety of settings, like an Alpha-style course, Sunday services, weekly small groups and informal friendship groups. They are presented by Simon Thomas (Blue Peter / Sky) and Joanna Abeyinka-Burford (BBC, Channel 5, Nickelodeon), who have travelled around
the country meeting and chatting with leading experts, teachers and contributors about key areas of wellbeing. Find out more and sign up to receive more details at www.wellbeingjourney.org |
Virtual Christmas Carols
We are thrilled to be partnering with Sports Chaplaincy UK this year to host Virtual Christmas Carols events on YouTube on Tuesday 15 December at 7.30pm and Sunday 20 December at 6.00pm with TV presenter Jay Lusted. Elements of the events are available for churches to use in local carol services. Visit their website for more details.
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Christmas video
We have teamed up with Chatterbox to provide a promotional video that you can customise, free of charge, to use on social media to invite people to your church services. Find out more here. |
Applications Closing Soon
Applications for Amplify, the Young Evangelists Academy, will be closing at midnight on Sunday 13th December 2020, so there are only 11 days left to sign up a young evangelist you know! Katie was on Amplify last year, here is her story:
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HOPE Survey
In the past week you will have received a survey from us asking you to update your contact details and to add some information about your church. We would be so grateful if you could complete this short survey. It will help us to serve you and your church better in 2021. |
 Prayer 2020
At the start of the year we invited you to join us praying on the 20th of each month at 20:20 for 20 minutes, ‘that God will give many opportunities to speak about Christ’ (Colossians 4:3 NLT). We have been thrilled at the opportunities that have opened up as churches have gone online and Christians working from home have got to know their neighbours. Reports are coming in from many different ministries and churches, that many people have been exploring faith for the first time in this difficult year. Our prayers are being answered in ways we could not have anticipated. Join us on Facebook Live on Sunday 20 December at 20:20 (8.20pm) for 20 minutes to give thanks to God for this unique year and all he has accomplished in it. |
Giving gifts of HOPE
When Angie Godsell’s husband Ken died she had an idea, which she says, ‘I couldn’t shake off.’ She explained, ‘I sadly lost my husband, after a long illness with vascular dementia, at the end of February. I was looking for a way to commemorate his life, when I heard about the booklet – Hope in Uncertain Times.’
‘I ordered 25 initially, but was so struck by the presentation and clear Christian message, that I thought it would be brilliant if every home in the parish I live in, could receive a copy.’
Angie ordered 1,000 copies of the booklet and had labels printed to put on inside front cover with a personal message explaining that the gift was to commemorate Ken’s life, ‘sharing the message, which was so central to his life’.
People in her village who usually give out Christian Aid envelopes, have agreed to help distribute the booklets to homes in their village and other villages nearby. The little booklet fits easily into an A6 envelope and makes an ideal addition to a Christmas card. Copies of Hope in Uncertain Times are available for just £1 each, 25-49 copies are 50p each and 50+ copies 30p each, from www.hopetogether.org.uk/shop |
The Christmas Story booklet
HOPE Together, Biblica and Hope for Every Home have worked together to produce an all-new Happyland Christmas Story booklet, which links with the specially-made Happyland nativity animation. Share the animation on social media, in schools and in church services. Give away copies of the booklet, which cost just 30p for orders of 25 or more. You can also download additional resources from Chatterbox here. |
Last orders for Christmas
If you are planning to order copies of the HOPE at Christmas magazine, Hope in Uncertain Times or the Happyland Christmas Story booklet, we can only take orders up to Tuesday 15 December to arrive in time for Christmas. |
 Talking Hope
Our last Talking HOPE show for 2020 is on Monday 14 December at 8pm on Facebook Live @hopetogether or on YouTube @hopetogetheruk. You can watch previous shows at YouTube @hopetogetheruk. |
Digital Marketing Manager
We have a vacancy for a Digital Marketing Manager. This is a part-time or freelance post. Find out more here and, to apply, send a CV with a covering letter to Roy Crowne at the HOPE office. |
Thanks for your prayers and support in 2020. Let us know how we can pray for you and support you.
Love from the HOPE Together team |