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.

For recent  data: The 2022/23 Bible Engagement survey by the Bible Society showed that 77% of New Zealanders can now identify that Easter is associated with Christ, while 32% do not. However, only 11% of New Zealanders spend time at Easter reflecting on their spirituality. Certainly the value of the Hope For All booklets going to 1.35m homes (with the TV / TV OnDemand / Social media engagement in addition) has immense value for the sustaining and strengthening of this cultural recognition, as also an understanding of our faith.

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.

Annual Report

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!

2024 Booklet

 

Click on image to read online or open PDF HERE

2024 Booklet 10

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.

Hear Dave explain in just 7 minutes (for 2024), why Hope Project Easter exists, including stories and 10 outcomes – HERE. (Or read a printable summary of ’10 stories’ and ’10 reasons’ HERE)
We hear many amazing stories – CLICK HERE for a ’10 benefits’ article that summarises what we see.

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

Will you help the Christian message be heard throughout New Zealand each Easter?

Please participate financially