Christmas HOPE
Christmas HOPE is a 28-page glossy give-away magazine. It was piloted at Christmas 2016 when 100,000 copies were given away by churches to people in their communities. A new Christmas HOPE magazine will be available in the autumn with lots of new stories and features for 2017.
The 2016 Christmas HOPE magazine included topical features focusing on Christians in the news like Bake Off celebrity Mary Berry and TV adventurer and explorer Bear Grylls. There was a cartoon re-telling of the nativity story, which was relevant for all ages, plus a behind-the-scenes look at one of Britain’s top football teams from the perspective of the team chaplain.
The aim of Christmas HOPE is to give churches a top-quality give-away to use door-to-door in their neighbourhoods. Churches that use HOPE’s rhythm of mission find that regular contact, and a culture of hospitality and generosity helps to build relationships. HOPE is committed to giving churches resources so each member has something to say, something to give and an invitation to offer through a rhythm of mission: Easter, Harvest and Christmas. With Christmas HOPE as something to give, the aim is that Christians will find it easier to say something about their faith and to invite neighbours to Christmas events.
Christmas HOPE Editor Catherine Butcher brings her experience editing top consumer titles for BP and the Co-op, circulating to millions of homes. She has also edited Britain’s best-selling Christian magazine Families First.
Copies of Christmas HOPE can be ordered from the HOPE shop www.hopetogether.org.uk/shop
Message from Francis Brienen, Deputy General Secretary (Mission)
Dear Friends,
It is my pleasure to let you know that following the very successful publication and distribution of a Christmas magazine for churches in 2016, HOPE are producing another one this year. Last year the interest in this magazine was very high, as churches found it a very useful magazine to hand out to visitors or to distribute in their communities as a way of making contact and sharing the message of Christmas. Over 100,000 magazines were given out last year and this year HOPE will produce at least the same number if not many more. This year the Christmas magazine will be the first of three, with another one produced at Easter 2018 and one at Christmas 2018. HOPE are offering these resources for free to serve local churches in their outreach.
Churches that order over 5,000 brochures can even have the brochures customised with the details of their services on the back.
With thanks and best wishes,
Francis
