Speak network
Encyclopedia
SPEAK is an evangelical
Christian
network which connects people to campaign and pray
on issues of global justice. Through bringing change to situations of injustice
SPEAK aims to share their faith
in God.
SPEAK combines campaigning
and prayer because they believe that they make a powerful combination to bring social
transformation. SPEAK believes in networking because they believe that only when acting and praying in unity can people really make a difference.
SPEAK connects both individuals and groups. Local groups are the main network participants, and there are now over thirty groups in the UK
plus others in the USA, France
, Spain
, various parts of Africa and whole other networks affiliated to SPEAK in Brazil
, the Netherlands
and Sweden
.
In the local group context SPEAK aims to combine faith
and action. SPEAK seeks to share their faith in God, as well as campaign for change in where they believe that currently there is injustice, such as world trade
and third world debt. SPEAK wants to be a movement that follows Jesus
, as he is revealed in the Bible
, in a radical way in personal discipleship
, as well as striving for social transformation.
Involvement in the SPEAK network can range from using the "Pray and Post" cards to becoming a SPEAK link or running a SPEAK group in your university
, college
or local area.
As a Christian
group, SPEAK aims to base its action on the Bible
. Biblical passages such as Proverbs
chapter 31 verses 8-9, and Micah
chapter 6 verse 8 help to define the purpose of the SPEAK network.
The SPEAK network organises an annual weekend conference
known as Soundcheck, which is usually held in London
during February. The SPEAK Network also organises regional forums. These events are opportunities for people in local SPEAK groups to meet up with other people involved in the SPEAK Network.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
network which connects people to campaign and pray
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
on issues of global justice. Through bringing change to situations of injustice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
SPEAK aims to share their faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
in God.
SPEAK combines campaigning
Political campaign
A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided...
and prayer because they believe that they make a powerful combination to bring social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
transformation. SPEAK believes in networking because they believe that only when acting and praying in unity can people really make a difference.
SPEAK connects both individuals and groups. Local groups are the main network participants, and there are now over thirty groups in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
plus others in the USA, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, various parts of Africa and whole other networks affiliated to SPEAK in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
In the local group context SPEAK aims to combine faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
and action. SPEAK seeks to share their faith in God, as well as campaign for change in where they believe that currently there is injustice, such as world trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
and third world debt. SPEAK wants to be a movement that follows Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, as he is revealed in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, in a radical way in personal discipleship
Disciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
, as well as striving for social transformation.
Involvement in the SPEAK network can range from using the "Pray and Post" cards to becoming a SPEAK link or running a SPEAK group in your university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
or local area.
As a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
group, SPEAK aims to base its action on the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. Biblical passages such as Proverbs
Book of Proverbs
The Book of Proverbs , commonly referred to simply as Proverbs, is a book of the Hebrew Bible.The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" . When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms. In the Greek Septuagint the title became "paroimai paroimiae"...
chapter 31 verses 8-9, and Micah
Book of Micah
The Book of Micah is one of fifteen prophetic books in the Hebrew bible/Old Testament, and the sixth of the twelve minor prophets. It records the sayings of Mikayahu, meaning "Who is like Yahweh?", an 8th century prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah...
chapter 6 verse 8 help to define the purpose of the SPEAK network.
The SPEAK network organises an annual weekend conference
Meeting
In a meeting, two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal setting.- Definitions :An act or process of coming together as an assembly for a common purpose....
known as Soundcheck, which is usually held in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during February. The SPEAK Network also organises regional forums. These events are opportunities for people in local SPEAK groups to meet up with other people involved in the SPEAK Network.