Hope Project – the big idea
An overarching goal: Hope Project desires to see something of the ‘Christ’ staying in our cultural festivals of Christmas and Easter in recognition of our nation’s history, this faith and the significance of it to the formation of our cultural values and freedoms. We engage with an understanding that culture and values are preserved through story.
Re the wider strategy: Our assessment of culture led us to propose THREE annual media efforts, of which two are currently happening. These are purposed to fill some identified gaps in our wider communications as Christian churches nationally. This is done from an understanding that public perspectives matter.
(i) Hope Project Easter – putting Christ back into Easter (since 2014)
(ii) Hope Project Christmas – putting Christ back into Christmas (since 2019)
(iii) HeLP Project – highlighting the help on offer from churches within their communities (Awaiting finance and necessary staffing to launch).
UPDATE RE APOLOGY PROCESS FOR MISUSE OF IMAGE
We have been blessed by the grace of those we wronged through the use and editing of an image in our Hope Project 2024 booklet. For an update on the processes that have been engaged with please CLICK HERE.
Easter 2024
The media effort included TV, web media and a national booklet delivery
The media: Including TV, web and the booklets, in 2024 the TV was streamlined. This is an intentional decision specific to 2024. Regarding web media, it performed very well, while the booklets (which are the most engaged with media) again went to most Kiwi homes.
Churches partnering in the delivery and in prayer: Churches in each of about 100 cities and towns appointed/found a coordinator for the volunteer-based delivery – primarily achieved through the city / town pastors’ group. The unity of NZ churches reflected in this is truly amazing. While we paid for the delivery in small towns (under 5000 people), an increasing number of small towns delivered themselves. (To note it, we pay for the delivery in all rural areas nationally).
The 2024 booklet is titled ‘Hope For All – A surprising good’: The easy-to-read 16-page booklet looks at surprises found in the Creation, in the way God works in our lives – and in Jesus himself as we consider who he was and is. We again expect a wide array of responses – most of which will be very positive, with people expressing every year that they have not only found hope through this – but that this was also a hope they were searching for!
To participate…
(i) Receive the monthly e-updates and pray – monthly updates are available via AllTogether.co.nz/updates
(ii) Donate – noting this is entirely donor-funded – via AllTogether.co.nz/donate
(iii) Volunteer – to help with the pre-Easter booklet delivery in your own town and city by either contacting us (AllTogether.co.nz/volunteer) or through connection with church leaders involved in your local town or city’s pastors’ group.
Amazing engagement
At all levels, Hope Project continues to see high levels of connection and engagement with media and also church communities. Please read our beautifully designed annual report on this page – or prior reports at ‘Hope Project The Journey‘
Finances
As a ‘united Church’ work, all aspects of our work are donor funded from local churches and their members. While financial involvement is low – with about 4% of partnering churches and 5% of those receiving prayer updates donating in any 12 month period, Hope Project has, year after year, seen sufficient provision to continue its work of imparting hope through story.
The team very-much consider this financial provision a miracle from God.
To support these efforts see AllTogether.co.nz/donate.
All the Information you need is here
