Baptist church opens as a 'Hope Space' 

Clevedon Baptist Church opened its building for private prayer and reflection this week using the Hope Together mission initiative of Hope Spaces 

 
Hope Spaces are creative prayer spaces that provide different stations to invite local communities to experience God by talking and listening to him in prayer.
 
Clevedon Baptist Church, which is based in the centre of the Somerset town, will open its building seven days a week for a variety of two hour slots during the mornings, afternoons and evenings. It has created stations based around peace and justice, and rest.

‘We pray that it will be a space for people in our community, after these challenging few months, to come and pray and encounter the living God,’ the church said in a statement.
 
The building will be ‘a safe space, following the COVID-19 secure guidelines and social distancing rules’, it explained. Two members of the church will be there to welcome and give guidance to visitor, and it is open for individuals or households to explore.
 
Hope Together is encouraging churches to consider Hope Spaces, an initiative it launched at the start of the year alongside 24-7 Prayer movement.
 
It stated, 'When we dreamed of people meeting the God of hope in schools, work places, high streets, gardens and unexpected public places all over the country, we had no idea that the country would go into lockdown... and no idea that there would be a huge surge in people Googling 'How to Pray'.
 
'As churches open for private prayer, will you offer your community a place they can meet God – in your church building or a more neutral venue?'
 

Find out more information on Hope Spaces here