Fresh approach to restoring Hope as agencies involve residents of 3,000 Streets across the UK
9 October 2007
The Christian Enquiry Agency and Church Army have teamed up to develop a fresh approach to connecting with those outside of churches in support of next year's HOPE 2008 project.
A new website www.hopeinfo.co.uk has been launched as a focus for a year long conversation with the public about what it means to live hopefully. Members of the public will be able to text, email and submit their own messages and images of hope and inspiration as well as having the chance to sign up for weekly email reflections.
At the heart of the site, will be five films based on the five Hope '08 "high points": Fresh Hope, The Big Hope, Hope Where You Live, Hope Explored, and The Gift of Hope. The films have been put together by Watering Can Media who have previously produced films for a range of clients including Faithworks, Spring Harvest, Vodafone, O2, For Life, Catalyst Trust and Channel Four.
The site was created by the Christian Enquiry Agency (CEA) to be the public face of Hope '08.CEA Director Gareth Squire says;
"HopeInfo.co.uk is a contemporary, central source of inspiration and information about the faith that drives Christians to serve their communities.
"It also gives churches a place they can direct people to who are curious about Hope '08, but perhaps not quite confident enough to go to a church event.
Steve Clifford, Chair of Hope 2008, adds;
"HOPE '08 is so grateful to the Christian Enquiry Agency and to Church Army for rising to the challenge of providing a quality, credible site where those of no or little faith can explore HOPE. It's such a brilliant theme and we can, with confidence, direct people to this site so they have an opportunity to explore it."
Another dimension of the project is a letter going to residents of 3,000 households across the nation living on "Hope Street". David Coleman of Church Army explains;
"What better way for us to try to connect with people on the theme of hope than to engage the thousands of people who live on Hope Streets across the country in conversation - asking them what their hopes are."
Responses will be posted on the website and so form part of the ongoing conversation.
Hopeinfo.co.uk aims to start where most people are, and not make assumptions about prior knowledge of the Christian faith.Just as important, it is about listening at least as much as it is about talking – engaging people in a dialogue about a practical, lived-out, faith-in-action hope.
The website is backed by a range of church agencies as well as the HOPE'08 leadership team and a short introductory film about what the project is aiming to do is live at http://www.christianity.org.uk/movies/hopefilm.html and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/hopeinfo.
The first film "Fresh Hope" will be launched on 30th November.
