Hope Bedford

Just three days after churches in Bedford opened their ‘Hope Space’ on a local high street, the first young woman who walked through the doors was asking to be baptised!



Local Christians had worked together to rent a local shop, next to Primark and Costa, with the aim of creating a space where people could come to experience God themselves – and they did! When they were able to open the space to the public as lockdown restrictions eased, this particular young woman got talking to a church volunteer, who then arranged an online Bible study with her, which led to the woman giving her life to Jesus.

Creating space for encounters with God.

20% of practising Christians, who came to faith as adults, reported that a spiritual experience was a key factor in their coming to faith. With this in mind, Hope Together, in partnership with 24-7 Prayer and the Church of England, encouraged churches across the country to set up their own Hope Space, inviting their local communities to experience God by talking and listening to him in prayer.

Stephen Elphick, of Hope Bedford, said, ‘We just want people to come into the presence of God and ask questions.’ To encourage this, their creative Hope Space included a quiet place with running water, decorated with poems and Bible quotes, for people to rest and meditate in, a gospel-themed video running on a loop, and a stand outside with free copies of Hope for All (a conversation-starter magazine with stories of celebrity baptisms and more.

You don’t have to have a shop to set up a Hope Space, however. Your church could run one in a gazebo in a garden, a park or on a high street, or in a place of work or a school – anywhere in your village, town or city that’s easily accessible to members of the public.


 

Making this happen where you are

Hope Together has produced a number of resources to help you set up your own Hope Space, which are available to buy from the Hope shop.

"At this time, when huge numbers of people have been Googling 'How to Pray', we have an amazing opportunity to be inviting people to encounter the God of hope!"

Roy Crowne, Hope’s president