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October 7th, 2007

Hope 08

Christians in the UK are planning a big ‘thing’ that will be happening called ‘Hope 08′. It is going to be held in 2008, thereby coinciding with its own title. Brilliant! There is a website about Hope08 called ‘Hope08.com‘ which explains what it is about. Now there is a new website, about to be launched, called ‘Hopeinfo.co.uk‘, which is going to be ‘the public face of Hope 2008′. The front page has a video which culminates in a bus stop sign, but I’m wondering whether the site isn’t finished yet. Here is another video about the website, which explains it a bit more.

Now, here’s the thing. Over the years there have been lots and lots of large Christian initiatives. A few that come to mind include Mission England (1984 – remember that?), the Decade of Evangelism, and that one with Reinhard Bonnke called ‘Minus to plus’ where he posted a booklet to millions of homes over the UK and no-one really noticed. Posters have gone up for these various events, rallies have been organised and generally, when the choruses have been sung and the chairs have been put away, not a lot has really happened. That is of course a huge generalisation, but I do feel that compared with the hype not a lot generally results from these initiatives.

I think perhaps I am generally a bit jaded when it comes to large Christian events. I would never, for instance, take anyone who was not a Christian to a large Christian event because I wouldn’t trust the people on the platform not to utter some sort of nonsense or other. The people who run these things have blown it one too many times. Sorry if that is what you do, but that is what I feel.

It seems that Hope08 is about churches doing local things in their own local areas, but if so I am wondering why we need a special logo and name, because lots of churches are doing things in their local areas anyway and they manage this without a special logo and name.

On the other hand I really do want to support good and worthwhile things that are going on. I tend to think that small is better when it comes to Christian goings-on, but either I could be wrong or there could be exceptions. I still need a bit of convincing over ‘Hope 08′, so this is your chance, if you are involved in some way, to convince me and others of my ilk. In particular:

Thank you in advance.

18 Comments »



This is a single Cartoon Blog entry, posted by Dave on Sunday, October 7th, 2007 at 8:23 pm.

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18 Responses to “Hope 08”


  1. jody says:

    aaah, I just went through the whole range of emotions.

    recognising the title – belonging

    realising what you’re saying might be right – confusion

    questioning my involvement in hope08 – embarrassment at not really knowing what we are ‘actually’ going to do at our church

    okay, not entirely the whole range of emotions

    if my rev is out there – what are we ‘actually’ going to do?

    October 7th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
  2. Septuagent says:

    We went to an exciting event this morning called “Matins”. When it was all over and we got home I remembered that the sermon (by Canon Caroline Dick, Board of Social responsibility) informed us about a church based Credit Union in South Shields, church help for the homeless and unemployed in Hartlepool, and church support for farmers in Weardale affected by all the restrictions etc around foot and mouth disease and blue tongue. This seemed pretty much “real time”, but I doubt it will make any news headlines – but it is undoubtedly “Good News” for the people assisted. Not hope tomorrow, or hope yesterday – but actual hope today.

    I thought you might like to know that.

    October 7th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
  3. the word is out… « hope 2008 - hull says:

    [...] I think his questions bear reflecting on for all of us. Not because hope08 isn’t a good thing but because it’s good to have thought things through. Of course having thought them through we can pop over to Dave Walkers blog and post our reflections in his comments section; I’ll be thinking and praying through my response… [...]

    October 7th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
  4. John says:

    I do remember Mission England – I was a curate back then. We were sent the names of people who had made a response at the Billy Graham event in Bristol and I visited some of them. They were mostly a bit embarrassed by the follow-up.
    I think now that mission events are useful for encouraging Christians, and in the long run make churches a bit more confident about what they are doing and that does seem to make them easier to bring people to.
    The best sort of evangelism, though, is when you don’t really know you are doing it…

    October 8th, 2007 at 12:24 am
  5. Ian says:

    Hi

    I am the national coordinator for HOPE and I am delighted to read the comments and indeed the initial blog (although I am inevitably a bit less cautious about HOPE).

    The decsision as to what happens locally is one that will be taken by the local church and if even one new credit union or other similar response is made (where needed) then HOPE will have been a great success. HOPE and HYPE are only one letter apart but we are determined that the shall remain so, however there is a real benefit in feeling part of something bigger than what we are doing locally. At present over 900 locations across the UK have requested information and expressed interest in using the catalyst that HOPE is intended be to help them consider what they can do next year to better engage with their communities.

    Ian Chisnall

    October 8th, 2007 at 7:41 am
  6. Steve says:

    Hi,

    Mission England made me smile. I remember as a teenager at church hradually realising how many of the leaders in church (including lay) had started to follow Jesus at a Billy Graham event.

    I had always assumedthat was much the same everywhere, so it’s intyeresting to hear John say something different.

    I’m a little sceptical about the large events as well, espeially when it seem like a one off. I’m pleased that it seems to be fairly practical serving people though.

    On that level i’m excited about the idea that many churches may try some new way of serving and interacting with their community, and that if even one in a hundred like it and continue doing that, it will be a good number more churches involved in their community.

    I may have to find out more.

    Kind regards

    Steve

    October 8th, 2007 at 7:56 am
  7. Dave Rattigan says:

    Ah, memories of JIM come to mind!

    October 8th, 2007 at 9:57 am
  8. Matt says:

    Big events are good if they have the little events to support them. Big difference: Alpha/Emmaus etc. were not around in 1984.

    But a Mission England story. I remember someone taking your view (and then some) in a rural Anglican middle of the road vestry – “what’s the good – harrumph!!”.

    Two of the six people in the room identified themselves as Mission England “reawakened” converts.

    Matt

    October 8th, 2007 at 10:18 am
  9. Dave says:

    Yes, perhaps Mission England wasn’t a good one to include in my list. It was perhaps more ’successful’ than many other such initiatives.

    Ian – thanks for popping in and welcome. Please do stick around. Thanks for your perspective. I can see that feeling one is part of a greater and larger ‘thing’ is a good motivator for people. I do wish you all the best in your endeavours. By the way – a good pre-emptive strike with the ‘HYPE’ line!

    Dave – Ah yes – ‘Jim’. I knew there were some more of these things I hadn’t remembered.

    October 8th, 2007 at 10:39 am
  10. Kathryn says:

    Ummm….is Hope08 aimed at a particular cross section of churches? I simply ask because, though only a humble curate, neither I nor my vicar have received any news of it at all before your blog. Of course, the decision may already have been made that life in my parish is past hope…but all the same…
    Off to investigate the website, but kind of wondering whether there will be alot of response, if churches aren’t invited.

    October 8th, 2007 at 11:37 am
  11. Russ says:

    I quite understand your caution on this, Dave, and many of us probably identify with the sense that small is beautiful and large can be unwieldy, unfocused and risks exposing our friends to potentially embarrassing platform statements. Then again, I sometimes have no more confidence in my own ability not to make a complete pig’s ear of Christian living and discipleship on a daily basis in front of my own friends and family. I guess everything has its risks.
    What I think marks Hope08 out a little from previous endeavours is that it is simple: do more, do it together and do it in word and deed. And churches can interpret that pretty much how they like, in doing whatever is appropriate for them and they people they live amongst. Doing something with hope and prayer has always got to be better than doing nothing, and maybe the ‘buzz’ and resources available will help people be a little more excited, imaginative and adventurous than normal. If God’s in it, good things will follow.

    October 8th, 2007 at 11:54 am
  12. revjoc says:

    For me, Hope08 is about permission – a logo and a brand providing the necessary ‘umph’ to get outside of the church building and see what God is already doing in the communities where we are.

    It is permission giving
    idea illustrating
    theology thinking
    mission (need alliteration and cannot think of one…)

    Caution is good and understandable. But it’s quite exciting too, I think…

    October 8th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
  13. Liz says:

    Ah I remember Mission England; in the absence of a babysitter, my father dragged my unwilling young self to the glamourous environs of the Fairfield Halls Croydon, mistaking my protestations of “I’m starting a migraine”, for an attempt to fake illness in order to get out of it (to be fair to him it was at best a 50-50 call ;-) ).

    I can’t recall anything of what the speaker said, only that he shouted it out at us. Really shouted. This combined with some shocking problems with the pa system had the effect of booming noises bombarding my seizured head.

    I ended up in tears of pain and on the verge of vommitting profusely, before my dad would accept that perhaps I really wasn’t well and we left.

    On exiting the audiotorium, we were pounced upon by well-meaning prayers, who refused to accept that these weren’t tears of conviction, but a sodding chronic illness.

    It was at this point my father regained my good opinion, by swatting away their evangelical zeal with words to the effect of “oh for goodness sake leave her alone, she doesn’t need counselling, she needs medication”.

    October 8th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
  14. Steve says:

    Hi Kathryn,

    I think that Churches together is passing on information, and am aware of some local churches together groups looking at this – but could of course be wrong!

    Steve

    October 8th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
  15. Ian says:

    Regarding Kathryns comment – at the beginning of the process we approached every denomination and stream that we could think of to invite them to take part. For the CofE a letter was sent to each Diocese, targeting the person who it was felt was most likely to respond. The letters came from a National officer (Paul Bayes). Several Bishops have endorsed the initiative (http://www.hope08.com/Group/Group.aspx?id=57017) from a range of churchmanships but we are always keen for more. However the nature of engagement within each Diocese has been a reflection of each of these individual structures. Let me know which Diocese you are part of and I am happy to inform you regarding the way in which we think the ideas have been disseminated.

    October 8th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
  16. Rob says:

    Liz,

    I think “she doesn’t need counselling, she needs medication” should be your tagline and used at every opportunity.

    October 10th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
  17. webweaver.pttw says:

    revjoc,

    I found you alliteration

    mission mobilising

    and even remembered to use British English,

    from across the pond where it is still a sunny Thursday afternoon

    October 11th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
  18. Clive Purser says:

    Reading all the posts it leaves me bewildered. Is there any hope for us as a group of Christians if we remian so cynical about God and his power to change hearts and minds. Statistics are one thing but only God really knows what went on through Mission England or whatever. Our role is to get up and do something, Hope 08 might just enable us to do simply that. Come on let’s give God the credit nor get crestfallen because we can’t see the results straight away.

    November 29th, 2007 at 2:35 pm