Hope 08 was a united Christian social justice

Social justice

Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...

 and evangelism

Evangelism

Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....

 campaign that planned to transform Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

 during the year 2008.

Background

The idea for Hope 08 came after the success of local urban renewal campaigns in previous years such as Message 2000, Merseyfest, Chesterfest, Festival:Manchester and Soul in the City in London in 2004. Hope 08 aims to unite churches and Christian organisations on a national scale for a campaign that will (at least under the banner of Hope 08) last for a year, rather than a few weeks as in case of Soul in the City etc...

Founders and Supporters

Hope 08 was conceived by three founders: Youth for Christ

Youth for Christ

Youth for Christ is the name of a number of previously unaffiliated evangelical Protestant religious campaigns which led to the creation of Youth for Christ International in 1946....

 director Roy Crowne, Mike Pilavachi

Mike Pilavachi

Mike Pilavachi is a British charismatic Christian evangelist and author of Greek Cypriot descent. He is the co-founder and leader of the Soul Survivor charity based in Watford, United Kingdom. He is also the Senior Pastor of the Soul Survivor Watford church, based in North Watford, which he set up...

 (of Soul Survivor) and Andy Hawthorne (The Message Trust

The Message Trust

The Message Trust is an award-winning Christian charity working to improve the lives of young people in Greater Manchester, UK and beyond through the Eden Network....

). These three men are working with Steve Clifford (Pioneer Network) and a small leadership team to turn the vision behind Hope 08 into a reality.

Hope 08 has the support of several well-known MPs, senior Police officers, the Church of England

Church of England

The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...

 and the UK Roman Catholic Church, the Elim Pentecostal Church

Elim Pentecostal Church

The Elim Pentecostal Church is a UK-based Pentecostal Christian denomination.-History:George Jeffreys , a Welshman, founded the Elim Pentecostal Church in Monaghan, Ireland in 1915. Jeffreys was an evangelist with a Welsh Congregational church background. He was converted at age 15 during the...

, the Evangelical Alliance

Evangelical Alliance

The Evangelical Alliance is a London-based charitable organization founded in 1846. It has a claimed representation of over 1,000,000 evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom and is the oldest alliance of evangelical Christians in the world....

, the Baptist World Alliance

Baptist World Alliance

The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...

, the Alpha course

Alpha course

The Alpha course is a course which seeks to explore the basics of the Christian faith, described as "an opportunity to explore the meaning of life" . Alpha courses are currently being run in churches, homes, workplaces, prisons, universities and a wide variety of other locations...

and over 100 organisations and denominations.

Mission statement

From the official website:

Our dream....

In over 500 villages, towns and cities across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland churches will work together like never before.

In urban centres the church will engage in town & city wide mission initiatives that will impact the whole community. In 100's more neighbourhoods there will be localised events and activities that will bring words of truth and acts of service to thousands of people across the UK.

By working in partnership with the police, local authorities and primary care trusts as well as other local churches, your church could help provide services to address issues such as debt dependency, hunger, homelessness and drug and alcohol addictions. There will be many schools and university missions, fun days, bbq's, kids clubs, estate clean-ups and much, much more...

External links

• Hope 08 official website
• Hope 08 and Just 10 in the North East
• Hope 08 Video
• Hope: Take it to the streets CD review