Hope springs up 2010

HOPE will be springing again in villages, towns and cities across the UK after leaders of major Christian denominations and organisations came together in a commitment to mission.

Following the success of HOPE 08 - an independent report published last year showed that 83 percent of its locations believe the project made a tangible difference to their communities - key Christian leaders have signed up to be part of future HOPE mission.

Churches are still running projects and initiatives with the vision of HOPE and will continue to do so under the HOPE banner, with people working together in word and deed for the sake of the community.

Roy Crowne, former National Director of YFC, has taken over as Executive Director of HOPE. Evangelical Alliance General Director Steve Clifford will continue as Chair of the HOPE Board. HOPE will begin in its new form, under the leadership of Roy Crowne, from March 1^st 2010.

Roy said: "The appetite for mission in this country has never been this great, and the desire to work together for the sake of those outside the church community has found its expression through HOPE.

"HOPE 08 exceeded all our expectations, with churches in 1,500 areas signing up, and I think we will be able to double that as the next campaign gains momentum."

HOPE has reformed in response to wide consultation with church leaders. The Leadership Team met with General Secretary of the Baptist Union Jonathan Edwards, Church of England mission leaders Bishop Graham Cray and Revd Canon Paul Bayes, together with other agencies, church leaders and denominational leaders in January to give their backing to the project.

HOPE will continue with its core commitment to valuing both word and deed and Roy said he is looking forward to shaping the vision of HOPE for the coming years.

The Revd Canon Paul Bayes, the Church of England's National Mission and Evangelism Adviser, said: "In 2008, HOPE encouraged thousands of local churches to work together, unfolding the good news of Jesus in word and deed for their communities. Christians of all denominations and streams seized the HOPE moment, saw what God did with it, and asked for more.

"Now there's a chance to build the moment into a powerful momentum for mission, unity and service where you are. People need it. Let's not miss it!"

Bishop Wayne Malcolm, the senior pastor of Christian Life City Church, said that the continuation of HOPE is a bottom up, grassroots revival. He said: "The desire to collaborate and co-operate across denominational, ethnic and cultural lines, for the purpose of evangelising Britain, is unprecedented and clearly indicative of something authentic - I'm excited!"