HOPE14 unites and grows youthwork in Leics

Nineteen churches, as part of Hope 2014, joined forces to put on a weekend of activity for the young people of Hinckley and Burbage, writes Jon Grant

The Hinckley and Burbage Hope 2014 Youth Festival was held between Friday 19 to Sunday 21 September 2014 and consisted of multiple events aimed at 13-18 year olds spread all over the Hinckley and Burbage area. More than 100 young people attended at least one event and 1000 people interacted with the event over Facebook before and throughout the weekend.

The weekend ‘kicked off’ with a ‘club evening’ complete with music, games, pool, X-box and a tuck shop at St John’s Church in Hinckley.

Several of the towns paid youth workers were present to begin the important work of building relations with youngsters who had no church background, and this continued throughout the weekend.  

On the Saturday there was a Youth Cafe at the Pathways Centre at Hinckley Baptist Church, a football cage set up at St Peters Catholic Church, a skate ramp at St John’s Church, and Acting and Zumba classes at Higham Way Baptist Church.

None of this would have been possible without the support of the wider Baptist family in terms of financial giving and prayer support

The Youth Cafe was repeated on Sunday as well as a Rugby Master Class and Free Water Sports activities at Hinckley Wharf. The whole weekend was summed up with a social evening at Hinckley Methodist Church on the Sunday night which included a “grill a Christian” (or grill a Youth worker, Reverend and volunteer schools worker) which led to some in-depth questions and coherent communication of the gospel.

The aim of the weekend was to build relationship with the ‘unchurched’ young people in Hinckley and Burbage, as well as to promote a message of unity between the local churches. Since the festival there has been an increase at some of the local youth clubs and an increased interest in the local monthly Christian Youth Service, known as Infuse.

Furthermore relationships between the churches, especially the local youth workers have been strengthened paving the way for even more effective work in the future. None of this would have been possible without the support of the wider Baptist family in terms of financial giving and prayer support. Thank you!

The Revd Jon Grant is minister of Higham Way Baptist Church, which received a small Mission Project Grant for this outreach