Hope City Magazine (2016 Edition) by Hope City

HOPE CITY CHURCH IS A MULTISITE CHURCH AND A PART OF THE C3 CHURCH MOVEMENT. HOPE CITY

6_JESUS WEPT

BY DAVE G ILPIN

21_ TRAINING DAY

11_ THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT...

27_ FROM CITY HEARTS WITH LOVE

14_ SOMEONE CALL THE FASHION POLICE

32_ PASTORS’ PASTIMES

16_ PUSH

BY JURG EN MATTHESIUS

20_ BORN IN THE HOUSE

39_ THE AUDACIOUS STORY 42_ PROPHESY OVER EUROPE BY JENNY GI LPI N

47_ SECRETS OF THE SENIOR PASTOR 52_ WHAT THE HOPE IS GOING ON? 54_ DREAM BELIEVER 58_ THE BRINGERS

ISSUE

JAN-DEC

2016

hello!

Welcome to our 25th Anniversary Edition of the Hope City Magazine. We started small in a tiny youth centre on the outskirts of Sheffield, England. Today we see over 2000 people meet together every Sunday across the Locations of Hope City Church. We are so thankful for what God has done through our remarkable ministries such as City Hearts; here’s to the future! If you’re new to Hope City then WELCOME! We hope you find us authentic and friendly and genuinely interested in who you are! In all we do, we try so hard to mix faith with reality; people have both a real ear to hear and understand the complexities of life, as well as a real knowing that God not only “gets it” but He’s already found a way out and a way through it if we trust in Him with all of our hearts.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past for I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” —Isaiah 43:18-19

God can do astounding things, unusual things, incredibly loving things, as well as things that maybe don’t mean a lot to other people, but mean a lot to you. He knows and speaks your love language more than anyone else does. The greatest miracle though is found in God becoming a baby, then a boy, then a man in the form of Jesus Christ and, in the knowledge that we would need help in our failings and sins, dying for us upon a cross. It’s through that death that we can receive not only total forgiveness for everything that’s fallen short in our lives, but also total empowerment through the Holy Spirit to live strong, faith-filled lives that make a huge difference to the world around us. This coming season belongs to you! Let’s rise up into our destiny and see His amazing plans come to pass before our very eyes.

DAV E A N D JE N N Y GILPIN Senior Pastors across Hope City Church

HOPE CITY

We've been expecting you.

If you have wondered where your God may be leading you to, it’s a place called Bethany. It’s a place where ‘Agape’ love collides with ‘Phileo’ love - where unconditional love meets brotherly love to create the sense of family that all of us are deeply longing for. And it’s from that bond of brothers that strength comes and the future is won. Jesus needed a Bethany – a safe place of celebration and love enabled him to come undone a little. There’s only two places recorded in the Gospels when “Jesus wept”, and this was one of them. At the family home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany, tragedy had struck and Lazarus had died. They knew that if Jesus had been there earlier He could have healed him, but He was delayed for four days. Jesus was so upset by all that had happened that He couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. He had been in a situation like this before, yet there’s no record of such emotion. Sometimes when you’re in life’s battles you just have to steel

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yourself to keep your head above water. Yet all of us need a place we can unwind, come ‘undone’, be vulnerable and vent a little. This was that time. Bethany was that place. Jesus went ahead and raised Lazarus from the grave, marking the moment with one of the great ‘I am’ declarations, proving that He was God in flesh. He declared before anything had happened, “I am the resurrection and the life”. Yet Jesus didn’t raise Lazarus just because He had the power to do so, it was because He really missed him. His love for Lazarus went beyond Agape love. It went beyond a love that bleeds, into a love that breathes. It went beyond a love that sacrifices into a love that saves. It’s true that without taking all of the conditions of our love for others and our demands for justice and for recompense, as well as our demands for others to be like us, Phileo love would just fragment into shreds. Our anger and bitterness would ruin all the love we needed in the first place. Yet it’s

also true that without Phileo love being laid upon the foundation of Agape, life would be full of amazing grace, but void of the affirming affection that our human hearts really long for. You need a Bethany. We need a Bethany – a place where Mary pours out adoration and admiration upon trust, where Martha serves because she loves to and where Lazarus kicks back because he knows the heart of Christ is for relationship and not servitude.

You’ll need to fight for this and draw upon the fullness of love. The closer you are to others the more open you become to the ebbs and flows of your own sense of rejection or acceptance, abandonment or celebration. It’s easy to be upset by others who don’t seem JES US NEEDED to love you as much as you love them. A BETHANY – A Agape covers all of this plus more. Never allow self-pity to ruin a good party. We’re SAFE P LACE OF born to love everyone a little or a lot CELEBRATION AND all more than we think they love us.

LOVE THAT ENABLES HIM TO COME UNDONE A LITTLE.

Let’s create a Bethany in Hope City Church. It’s a place of added value. It’s not silent. It’s filled with expressions of appreciation of each other. It’s filled with admiration and signs of mutual affection. It’s filled with such admiration, adoration, affirmation and affection, that people will be drawn back to its source, and not be tempted to chase the making of these essential human needs outside of God’s magnificent will.

When Phileo love collides with Agape love it orders such riches and strength that will not only transform our church, but our cities and nations as well. Jesus needed a Bethany and so do we. Let’s be creating it today! ▪ This message is available to watch at Davegilpin.com under the title of ‘Populous’. You’ll find much more from Dave Gilpin including articles and videos on his website.

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H O P E C I T Y

We asked people who have always championed Hope City if they could celebrate with us by writing a little something in appreciation of the church and our Senior Pastors (mixing it with a little bit of wisdom for us too!). Each of these champions have known us from Day 1, when we placed an advert in the Sheffield Star saying “Ozzy Church Starting Soon”. They’ve preached, lifted our arms and prophesied over all we see today. Now we’ve asked them to join in our celebration.

team and congregations. You are cutting edge, new day, taking the Church into a future blessed with thriving growth. I believe you will enter into a whole new phase to embark on these next 25 years where you will see a multiplication of everything that God has done in your past.

Sydney, Australia

PH I L P R I N G LE Dave Gilpin is one of the most wonderful people I have had the privilege of coming across and befriending. I am so thankful to God for Jen and her deep faithfulness to the call of God and joyful friendship. Chris and I so appreciate Dave, Jen and the

I see an army of new leaders rising up and released into building the mighty Church of Jesus. I see a new day of creativity, worship experiences and communication of the Gospel emerging out of your church. I see a river of life flowing into every community where your leaders go and plant new congregations. Yours warmly,

Phil Pringle Founder and President of C3 Global

Queensland, Australia

S TEVE P ENNY Dave and Jenny Gilpin have proven themselves to be visionary leaders of the highest order. Not only have they pioneered an exceptional church in Sheffield UK, but they have then replicated their church in many locations across the UK and into Europe and beyond. Their leadership is strong yet relatable, creative yet inspirational; but most of all resilient and expansive. Having shared the last twenty five years with Dave and Jenny and their great team. Marion and I ▸

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can only stand back and applaud two great legends of the faith, who have captured a dream, and stayed the course, and now there are countless lives who are better for having crossed paths with these two ambassadors of heaven. May your next twenty five years be so much greater again. All the best,

Steve Penny International Speaker

Adelaide, Australia

DA N N Y G U GLIE LM UCCI David, Jenny and Ryan. What an inspiration you are and have been to all of us that know you. Your willingness to step out of the boat , take risks and go where others have feared to go .We are enlarged in our worlds because of who you are. Please don’t stop, we love you and need you to keep being you.

birth order like Jacob, or simply gives them supernatural salvation like Jonah. It’s obvious that God intervened because He had a plan, not just any plan, but a world-altering plan of significance. God never went to that kind of effort without a reason, and their stories play out that reason. While we have ALL been rescued to help rescue others, some have been rescued for world altering significance. I first met Pastor Jenny Gilpin in 1999 at a Women’s conference. I walked up to her, we smiled at each other and started chatting like old friends. We talked about our children, the ministry, our husbands, the call of God, and then she told me her story.

Lots of love,

Jane

Senior Pastor, Influencers Church, Atlanta

Danny

Edge Church, Australia

Chesterfield, UK

PAUL BENGER

JA N E E VA N S Reading the Bible, I’m constantly struck by how many times God intervenes at the beginning of someone’s life - rescues them from death, like Moses, changes their

Jeannie and I, along with our Church have benefited so much from our friendship and are so thankful for you all that these words seem such an inadequate medium. Thank you for your love, faithfulness, vision, creativity and perseverance. I have no doubt it continues to change the world! All our love,

Paul

Christian Life Church, Chesterfield

From that first day I knew I was speaking with someone whose destiny was to change history, to influence those around her and propel them towards life. When I met Pastor Dave Gilpin, I was even more convinced and together they have consistently, creatively and passionately lived out their purpose and calling building a strong and healthy church across countries and continents that is now celebrating 25 years of purpose, influence and growth! I can’t wait to see what will unfold in the next 25 years!

Love you loads,

Atlanta, USA

reached many people far from God, you have inspired and envisioned so many of us and have pioneered the way to a better tomorrow.

I am so thrilled that you are celebrating 25 years of Hope City. What you have achieved is nothing short of miraculous. It is absolutely extraordinary. As I think back over the last 25 years, the church landscape here in the UK has totally changed and you have played such a key role in that. By creating a fun, vibrant and powerful church that has continually produced passionate followers of Jesus and

Newport, UK

RAY BEVAN What an absolute privilege to have played a small part in helping Hope City Church to fulfil its calling and destiny in God. I genuinely do believe the best days are ahead. Having just transitioned the Church here in Newport over to the next generation of which I’ve been (got to keep reminding myself), the pastor for the past 26 years, I realise, for the majority of that time, I’ve been digging down. Perhaps, this is what has happened in Hope City over the past quarter of a century. A whole bunch of radical, uncompromising, lovers of God shoulder to shoulder, sleeves rolled up, digging down. I believe the foundations of Hope City are so strong, it can carry the weight of the amazing thing God is about to construct in the future. Can’t wait to be invited back! Do you still have really old people come and preach for you?

Ray

International Speaker

▪

“I do’ (Get my hair permed)

Dave finally allowed to dress himself, aged 20.

SOMEONE CALL THE

Think that our Senior Pastors have always been the suave, sophisticated, effortlessly cool couple that you see today? Think again...

Kanye Gilpin.

Dem Shorts couldn’t get any shorter. HOPE CITY

Mullet Man

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obvious who Chris Martin modelled himself on.

Dave thanks all 25 people for helping him achieve his degree.

Proper Christian girl.

Teenage life circa 1970

You see? The remnants of blonde hair you see today ARE real!

Some things in life only move when you push them. This is the revelation that Jurgen Matthesius had when he moved his family to San Diego, California from Australia to pioneer what is now the 3,000 strong c3 Church in San Diego. Here’s an extract from his latest book. We moved to San Diego in the summer of 2005, sent by our pastor in Australia, Dr. Phil Pringle, with the sole purpose of starting a city-influencing church here in beautiful Southern California. We began as five people (me, my wife and three sons), and in eight years have grown to almost three thousand people gathering in our weekend services. Some look at this and say, “Wow, God has really blessed you,” and He most definitely has. But I must tell you that nothing has come easily. I have felt like we had to fight and PUSH each and every step of the way. It has seemed like we had to fight for each and every individual that has come to be part of our church. It has seemed at times that we have lost more battles than we have won. But still we persist. As the apostle Paul said when he was strengthening and encouraging the church.

“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” —Acts 14:22

The battle is not won on the sidelines. It is HOPE CITY

won on the field. Each one of us is called to take the field and establish the kingdom. This only happens through PUSH kind of prayer. It must be forceful, focused, and effective prayer. We push to see the kingdom come first in our own hearts and lives. Then it flows into our families, our communities, and throughout the world in which we live. Because the kingdom of darkness really exists, spiritual warfare will be encountered. But fear not, for

“greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” —1 John 4:4 NASB

Prayer is the weaponry we have been given to push back the powers of darkness and thwart their wicked agenda. Through the medium of prayer we are able to rise triumphantly in each and every circumstance:

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” —2 Cor. 2:14

Many would prefer to believe that prayer is nice but not necessary, much like sequins on a motorcycle helmet. So many see prayer as a nonchalant activity rather than powerful

P RAY U NTI L S O M ETHI NG HAP PEN S BY JURGEN MATTHES IU S

productivity, as incidental as opposed to intentional, kind of an “In case of emergency break glass” approach when it comes to prayer. Yet Jesus “often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16). It is the only thing the Bible mentions Jesus doing “often.” With just three years of public ministry from His launch to His crucifixion, the clock was ticking, and He didn’t have a whole lot of free time to kill. He prayed in solitary places often because it was the most productive activity for Him to engage in, fuelling and clarifying all that He did. Too many believe that God’s will automatically happens without the medium of prayer. Yet the Bible illustrates that this is not the case. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus is confronted by a leper with a desperate request. “If You are willing, You can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). Jesus then stretches out His hand and says, “I am willing; be cleansed” and immediately the man was healed from leprosy (1:41). If you take the time to look closely at this incident you will discover some helpful truths. First, Jesus said that He was willing, and yet just the fact that it was Jesus’ will did not change the condition of the man. It was only when Jesus reached out and touched the man and spoke “Be cleansed” that the man was healed. The

will of God flows from the proclamation of His Word. When we connect God to a leprous world and speak the Word of God, His will flows, and the leprosy of our human condition leaves! We actually pray from a place of victory, not toward a place of victory!

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” —Matt. 11:12

I love that scripture for so many reasons. The New American Standard version says that “violent men” lay hold of it. The word in the original Greek for violent here is the word biaste, which literally means “a violent man.” The word suffers is the Greek word biazo, which means “to force.” They are related words. It literally means that the kingdom advances upon the shoulders of men who are aggressive, not passive—people who push rather than passively accept less than their perceived God’s best. These people are not ignorant of God’s will, they are not happy to receive anything and everything that comes their way, and they want to lay hold

of the kingdom of heaven and only what comes from there. The greatest battle you will face in this life is connection with God. Jesus had to leave the crying of the crowd, the demands of the multitude, and the solace of His companions in order to keep His connection with God the Father strong. Prayer is the greatest gift extended to us from heaven because it is direct access to and complete fellowship with God, the Creator of the universe. Your flesh does not like prayer because it is not used to prayer. You have fed your flesh and its desires from the time you were a nursing infant, so a spiritual appetite must be something that is developed. You will never find so many distractions as when you set aside time to pray. But you must battle daily for connection—this is how we get our daily bread from heaven. Remember, man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Deut. 8:3). Prayer is accessing the limitless wisdom of God; prayer is an invading of the impossible; and prayer is the way your spirit recharges, confidence and courage replenish, and vitality is restored to your soul. Fight the fight to get connected. It’s worth it! ▪

Akin // Leeds

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Joel & Emma // Hope City Kuala Lumpur Lead Pastors

CHURCH KIDS

B O RN I N T H E H OU S E X

Some kids are born blessed. Growing up in the House of God with the people of God is an advantage not everyone gets. These are some kids that got it! Ryan Gilpin

Born in the ‘90s

Born in the ‘00s

Born in the ‘10s

Keith

Alfie

Austin

Amy

Luka

Ffion

Josh & Beth

Zoe

Zachary

Olivia

Joel

Elissa

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TRAINING DAY

In the beginning it was known as Strike Force UK, it was then renamed The Leadership Academy but we know it today as Hope City Academy. Even with all of its branding changes, one thing has remained â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the commitment to unearthing, uplifting and infusing the power of the Holy Spirit as well as unwrapping destiny and revealing the pure nature of our God and His hope to a generation

We asked eight students from throughout our short history to tell us how one year of leadership training changed their lives. â&#x2013;¸

ON E YEA R TO CHA NGE YOU R L I F E

“I COULD TELL THAT GOD HAD SO MUCH MORE IN S TORE FOR M Y LIFE THAN WHAT I COULD S E E, AND THAT ACADEMY WAS THE K EY TO UNLOCKING IT.” HOP E C I T Y ACAD EM Y

Class of 2010 K AT HARDI NG

Doing the Academy was a bit of a no-brainer for me. While I was at uni, I could tell that God had so much more in store for my life than what I could see, and that Academy was the key to unlocking it. The two years on the Academy (2010-2012) was a launch pad into my destiny in so many ways: it expanded my capacity, accelerated my leadership, grew my heart for God and His house - and it was LOADS of fun! Now, being part of all God’s doing in Hope City Newcastle & Sunderland, there’s rarely a day that goes by that I don’t think back to something I learned in lectures, or on the practical side of those two years. Life is certainly an adventure and I’m so glad I decided to grab hold of it through the Academy.

Class of 1993 CO LIN DAV IE S

A lot has happened since 1993, the year that I decided take a faith step and to enrol on the very first full time Hope City Academy, or Strikeforce UK as it was called back then. There are points in life which you can truly call milestones. They’re markers to signify a change in momentum and a meeting with destiny. For me, Strikeforce was such a season. It wasn’t just about the great people or excellent teaching, it was about a personal adventure of faith that awakened a pioneering spirit within me. In all honesty I don’t believe I have settled for mediocrity since. I remember for example learning fundamental lessons from Judges 6 about trusting God and as a direct result seeing His hand of provision in tangible and miraculous ways. These and other lessons have become part of me over the years and undoubtedly helped to shape my life, my leadership and my perspective. Life changing indeed.

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Class of 2007 LOIS WILLIS

Hope City Academy really did change my life! Those two years from 2007 to 2009 transformed a young, dysfunctional girl from the village into a passionate, whole, aspiring leader with the world at her feet. The academy opened my eyes to who I was in Christ and what my future could look like. I have never laughed so much as I did in those two years, we created so many memories and forged friendships for life (plus I found my husband – not bad) I look at my life now, having the privilege of pastoring and leading some of the Church’s next leaders, and I know the only reason I am here is because of all that God in me did through the academy. Hope City Academy really did change my life.

Class of 2007

Class of 2015

E D N E WTO N

The Academy made me a bigger (no height jokes please), better and bolder person. The lectures were so much more than ‘just lectures’ and framed the way I saw God and myself. I had always achieved highly academically and had a heart to help people, but I was disorganised, at times chaotic and I never knew there was any leadership within me. My capacity was stretched again and again during my two years of Academy, giving me the ability to carry more than I could have imagined and gradually I learnt to organise myself…it was a miracle!! I still laugh sometimes when I consider that I now look after the finances and HR of City Hearts!! I am so thankful to the leaders who believed in me, entrusted me with responsibility (as the Kids Leader) and were committed to drawing out leadership and potential that I could not see.

T ILL B E N N E R

Coming over from Germany was a huge step of faith for me. My upbringing had made me very self-sufficient which had taken me a long way; but in meeting God I discovered that with Him, I could go so much further. By flying to England - stepping out into the unknown, I was challenged to rely on God. Hope City Academy has been all about allowing Him to have free reign to shape me and work in my life. Giving over control was difficult but I now feel at peace - even in the situations that would have normally made me panic. I used to focus entirely on being prepared for every eventuality but God has drawn me to spending more time with Him which has drowned out all worry. I’m already capable of carrying more than before and I can’t help but be amazed as to how much I’ve changed from the person I once was. The best thing is that what used to exhaust me a year ago is now so light and easy. ▸

Class of 2007 JO WI LLI S

Hope City Academy for me was a place where I could outwork the dreams God had placed upon the heart of a young man many years before. With a huge passion for the House of God, I learnt how to harness that desire to see people meet Jesus in a real way, and how to make that become the norm, not the anomaly. It stretched my capacity, raised my expectation, stoked my faith and intensified my desire to become the man God called me to be, and be part of a church outworking the mandate they were always meant to fulfil. I could not recommend a better way to spend one (or two!) years of your life. It’ll do more in you than you could ever anticipate!

Class of 2001 M A R K FO ST E R

Hope City Academy is a greenhouse environment of leadership and culture. I think back to hilarious moments, powerful encounters, and personal breakthroughs - housed in the structure of The Academy. Way more than gaining knowledge and leadership theory, that gave me great principles to action; I caught a culture that caused me to become a better leader. Far greater than being educated in leadership, I was saturated in it. Two years ofpercolating produced so much in me. It nailed down my direction, passion and vision. It solidified my purpose. It fired me out into the immeasurably more than I could hope, think or imagine.

Class of 2015 LO LOS

As a current Hope City Academy Student, I’m blown away by all that I’ve seen God do so far in the lives of my fellow course mates and in my own life. In a few short months the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is just going back to basics. I believe God’s working on getting my heart right and renewing my thinking. Academy has stretched, challenged and placed me outside of my comfort zone; totally at God’s mercy, and I love it! I’m still a work in progress, but totally expectant for the rest of the year and beyond! ▪

HOPE CITY

Apply today at hopecityacademy.co.uk for this September intake

SAY NO TO BEIGE.

NO.

HOPE CITY

Warning: Some of these stories may cause distress due to their tragic nature; City Hearts works on the outskirts of the darkest parts of humanity, bringing light, restoration and hope.

LIFE STORIES

Just over ten years ago, City Hearts was born from a desire to help women get set free from life-controlling issues such as anorexia and self-harm; to diligently love women back to life. The police regularly called on us to care for women released from brothels involved in sex trafficking. This has led to help hundreds of survivors of human trafficking and we now operate around fifteen safe houses and flats. We have extended our provision to mums and babies, as well as men rescued from slavery. This is the mission. Our mission. Together. We can do this.

Ever since I can remember I’ve had a deep desire to help the most broken people, the people who can’t see how they will manage the next few hours, never mind the next few days, The people who have been told that they are beyond help. So often the world doesn’t have the answers, but we have faith in an all-powerful God and we know “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). It is a privilege to work with people who need to experience the hope that only God can bring, and to see them flourish as they enter into the plans and purposes God has for them.

LY DIA B ECK Case Worker

E LE N A’ S S TORY I arrived at City Hearts in 2015. I had never been to school, never learnt how to read and write, didn’t know how old I was, and I had never celebrated a birthday. I was brought up in tragic circumstances; my parents were murdered by my uncle when I was just 6 years old. My little brother was given to an orphanage when he was just a baby, so I didn’t know if he was dead or alive. I lived with my grandparents until I was around 10 years old, but sadly they passed away. My life was in constant danger, running away from my uncle who wanted to kill me for my inheritance of land and money, which I was meant to inherit at the age of eighteen. My uncle managed to capture me, attempting to poison me before forcing me to work in his house ▸

LIFE STORIES

from City Hearts with love

as a child labourer. I was also regularly beaten whilst there. One day my uncle took me to a couple, where money was exchanged for me. I was taken in by this couple, who also forced me to work for free. And as before, I was regularly beaten

gradually gained freedom back through the help of staff and the counsellors at City Hearts. I can now read and write in English, I help others attend school, and go to sewing classes. I am living the life I always deserved, now able to wear a smile.

“IT WAS THE FIRS T TIME I EVER EX P ERIENCED THE FREEDOM OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS ” by the man. I was then sold to another family to work for them. Each day in this house I was beaten, locked in my room, and only allowed out of my room to do work. Finally, I was sold once more and brought to the UK in 2014. Sadly the cycle continued and I was forced to work for a couple, once again enduring torture every day. Finally, I was rescued by the wife who left me in a city centre; thankfully someone noticed me and took me to the police. The police age assessed me to be around 18 years old. When I came into the care of City Hearts, it was the first time I had ever experienced the freedom of the great outdoors. I struggled with depression and sleeping; even the slightest raised voice would make me break down and cry, but over the year I have

HOPE CITY

LAY LA’S S TORY I was brought up in a Muslim family, living and working in Albania. I started dating a man who was not a Muslim and my family were not happy with the relationship. I wanted to continue in the relationship, so we decided to leave for France where we could get married, returning to Albania once the marriage was legalised. We were traveling in a group to France, but had to go through Belgium first. In Belgium I ended up separated from my fiancé, consequently being forced into prostitution by the people I was with at the time. I continued my journey to France, where I stayed for three months.

I was forced into prostitution whilst there, and was then brought to the UK on the back of a lorry with several other women. I was made to stay in a house with three other women; there were also two men who stayed in this house in London. Every day there were several men who came to have sex with me. The men also forced me to go with them and travel around the UK; I was made to have sex with men all around the country.

years ago I could hardly speak a word of English, but I now volunteer for City Hearts as a friend to other pregnant Albanian ladies in the community, who have been in similar situations to me.

TOI’S S TORY I was living with my mother and father in Vietnam. My father died when he was out fishing, leaving my mother to raise me alone. My mother became sick and died, leaving me to be supported by the local church at the age of ten.

One day while I was travelling with the men, another woman and I managed to escape and flag down a policeman to tell them what had happened. We were found When my father died, my mother had in the West Midlands area. I arrived at City been too sick to Hearts in a highly traumatised state. As “ SH E N OW VO LUN TEERS work, consequently borrowing money I was recovering from FO R CIT Y H E A RT S AS A to support us. When an infection, I found B E FR IE N DE R TO OTHER she passed away, the out I was pregnant as gang who she had a result of rape, and PR EGN A N T A LBA NIAN borrowed money was very concerned LA DIE S IN T HE from demanded the for my baby. During CO M M UN IT Y ” land which I had the time at the City inherited to pay Hearts safehouse I off the debt. The priest and nuns who gave birth to my daughter. were supporting me refused to hand over I am unrecognisable now from the point the papers. When I reported what was when I arrived at City Hearts in 2014. I try happening to the Police, they refused to hard to be a good mother to my daughter, help me because I was a Christian. The have finally settled in an amazing house gang kidnapped me and cut off my finger. which I have set up myself, and I am now After this the priests and nuns handed studying to become a social worker. Two over the papers for the land through fear

for my safety. The gang claimed that the land did not cover the value of the money my mother owed. They then locked me in a warehouse and made me work. My trafficking experience began at the age of eleven. I spent one year working in the warehouse until the gang sold me to another gentleman, who transported me in a lorry over to the UK. I was locked in a house and forced to grow Cannabis. Eventually I escaped and Police put me into foster care. However, one day I was out alone and got lost. I was picked up and re-trafficked. Again I was locked in a house to grow Cannabis. I eventually managed to escape from the house where I was being held and reported my trafficking to the Police in June 2015. The immigration officer at Birmingham Central Police Station referred me into the NRM (National Referral Mechanism); I was later transported and accommodated by City Hearts. I have now been referred to a Solicitor and have been supported in applying for Asylum. I have also received English tuition and been referred to a GP to arrange counselling. I hope I will be able to build a good life here in UK. ▪ To support our work or for more information please visit cityhearts.co.uk

At the beginning of 2016 we were one Church in 12 Locations, three of which were overseas. Our vision is to grow each Location to be incredibly influencial impacting both their city and their region. Our goal is to increase our Church to 25 Locations by 2020.

To achieve this we need to raise hundreds of leaders. We need to see the bringers bring thousands into the House of God. We need to see hundreds of musicians arise, hundreds of business people arise, hundreds of volunteers and hundreds more Partners in the Vision. TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS!

HOPE CITY

Danny Barnett // Leeds

THE

PASTORS’ PASTIMES X

We thought it would be good for you to get to know our pastors a little better. Here are some of their faviourite things to do when they’re not preaching up a storm.

SHEFFIELD

LEEDS & YORK

LIVERPOOL & LANCASHIRE

COLIN & B ETH BLOIS

CHRIS & GOSIA DENHAM

DAVE & LISA STONER

Colin is a coffee snob, stationary geek and brilliant on the slopes.

Chris likes to shoot aliens with his son Joel on the Xbox.

David loves drawing, discovering new music and cooking.

Beth changes nappies, feeds hungry mouths and sings nursery rhymes. When she has a spare minute she also loves to sleep!

Gosia likes looking at other people’s houses on Rightmove.

Lisa reads a lot of John Grisham novels and loves to watch Miss Marple on TV.

HOPE CITY

NEWCASTLE & SUNDERLAND

BIRMINGHAM

LONDON

SIMON & RACHAEL TAYLOR

SATS & EMMA SOLANKI

Simon’s a bit of a Hobbit at heart! He loves the great outdoors but in reality he can’t stand the cold! However he does love to go camping.

Satish loves listening to good music, playing the guitar and all things competitive, but most of all enjoying a hearty meal.

Rachael has grown up in a houseful of boys and has caught the football bug! She finds watching football relaxing but we all know how tense it can be watching Newcastle United!!

Emma’s favourite thing is their daughter, Jemima, but she also loves painting, cups of tea and watching superhero films!

TEBO

MPANZA & WALTERS

BECKY

Tebo is known to be a fan of ‘Good Vibes’, slow jams and coffee/latte art. He also loves his native South Africa, especially Cape Town and of course to wear all black. Becky loves to go the gym as well as shopping. Becky also has a slight obsession with tea and enjoys catching up with people.

ACCRA

FRANKFURT

ANDY & KAREN GORMAN

STEVE & SIOBHAN BULLOCK

JOEL & EMMA BURDEN

Andy loves to relax outside, particularly by the poolside; however his favourite thing to do by far is hanging in his hammock between the palm trees of Ghana.

Steve likes to take in the sights of Frankfurt, enjoys walking and cycling.

Joel enjoys a good flat white whilst sitting in a cafe, pretending to look busy (really browsing Instagram).

Karen loves to potter! She enjoys nothing more than being completely alone where she can read, sing, pray and watch British TV!

Siobhan enjoys swimming, reading and playing with the children.

KUALA LUMPUR

Emma absolutely loves sleeping! She also enjoys pedicures and making sure she’s up to date on the news! ▪

HOPE CITY BRUSSELS C O M I N G

YOU MAY NEED TO LOVE THESE AND LEARN FRENCH. HOPE CITY

2 0 1 7

Katie Harris// Hope City Sheffield

H O PE CIT Y CHURCH JUS T GOT

HOPE CITY

BUSI N E S S L I FE “ I B E LIE V E T HE KEY TO S EEING S UCCES S IN M Y B USIN E SS IS TO KEEP MY HEART FIRMLY PLA N T E D IN T H E HOUS E OF GOD – HONOURING H IM BY SE RVING THE CHURCH FAMILY WIT H M Y T IM E, LOVE, DETERMINATION AND PASSIO N . IN RETURN I’VE DIS COVERED I’M LOV E D, ACCE P TED AND BELIEVED IN. FROM T H IS PLACE O F S TRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE I CA N B O LDLY S TEP INTO MY WORKP LACE A N D CO N T IN UE GATHERING MOMENTUM IN PR E PA R AT IO N FOR WHAT GOD WILL DO NEX T!”

Jonno Andrassy is the sales director for Continental Europe within the company he works for. His family is a vital part of Hope City Liverpool.

HOPE CITY

2007 - Present

THE

A U D A C I O U S S T O R Y X

Eight years ago, we sent out 20 of our finest people to re-purpose Hope City Manchester under the leadership of Glyn & Sophia Barrett to create what is now the largest church in Manchester - !Audacious Church.

This is the story of how it all came to be.

In the winter of 1990, Dave and Jen did a small preaching tour of the UK in order to work out where to begin Hope City Church. The Hillsborough disaster had prompted them to start somewhere in the industrial cities of the North. Upon arriving in Sheffield they felt their hearts moved, not knowing that the disaster actually took place in that city. After preaching in a few other places in Yorkshire they went to Ashton Under Lyne in Greater Manchester to speak at a church called ‘Endeavour’. It was led by Bryn and Beryl Barrett and Glyn, their, son was the youth leader. That night the Spirit of God

moved so powerfully and so many leaders were filled with the Spirit. In Easter 1991 Hope City began in Sheffield and within a few months the youth group from Endeavour came over to help do a special outreach. Glyn then decided to go to Sydney Australia to attend Bible College but returned half way through to do his practical at Hope City. After marrying Sophia, they returned to Hope City as associate pastors in 1995. Glyn was made the regional youth leader for the Assembly of God group of churches and an annual youth camp called ‘Meltdown’. Glyn was then made the youth director for the Assembly of God in the

UK, ‘Meltdown’ became ‘Audacious’ and gathered youth from across the nation. In 2002 Hope City Manchester began at the Jarvis Hotel in the centre of Manchester, attracting a small number of people. After a short time, a computer warehouse was secured on the inner ring road of Manchester and became the permanent residence of Hope City Manchester. It grew to around 100 people, led by Simon and Rachael Taylor. In 2007 Pastor Dave asked Glyn if he’d like to preach in Manchester. He felt immediately called to it. The Church could become an independent church under his ▸

HOPE CITY

leadership. They jumped straight into action and selected premier team of people to be sent from Sheffield in Easter of 2007. !Audacious church began effectively with 200 people attending in September of that year. Since then, and over the past eight years, the church has rocketed on. Over 7000 people have made decisions to follow Christ through the ministry. They have acquired a facility that seats 1500 people and have plans for a complex that will be both world class and a landmark for the city of Manchester. Glyn and Sophia, we salute you and we are so proud of all that you have achieved in such a short time. You are an inspiration to so many. We are your greatest fans.

H A N N A H A DK IN S I came to be a part of Hope City Sheffield when I was 17 years old. I had been invited to go along to the youth group and was immediately drawn in by the number of people my age who openly welcomed me! I remember my first impression of Hope City Church was “I never knew church could be like this” - BIG, creative, cool, relevant, quirky and fun! It blew every mindset that I had about Church and being a Christian, especially as a teenager, out of the water! Over the 5 years that I was a part of the Church I continuously had that same thought as we pushed through, as a Church, what was seen as “normal.” I saw the Church pioneer and run ministries that genuinely changed the lives of thousands of people. It was at Hope City that I learnt, by observing the leaders around me, to fully rely on God. A level of faith and desire to see God move powerfully was imparted into me that has wrecked me for anything else! I caught a thirst for the supernatural touch of God over those 5 years and it was during my time on Hope City Academy that I knew I was called to be in ministry. During my time on Academy, I also met my husband,

Wayne, and we were married at Hope City in 2006. It was at Hope City where we learnt the power of servant hood and the impact of praise in our lives. We are forever grateful for the foundation that was built within us by Pastor Dave and Jenny and the team of leaders around them.

CH RIS & LINDS EY E T HERTON Hope City Church and the OUTSTANDING ministry we were a part of has literally changed our lives. I don’t think we’d be where we are now if it wasn’t for the revelation and impartation we received during our time there. The passion and creativity of the house has moulded and shaped us into our future. You still continue to inspire us with everything you do and long may it continue. Thank you for giving us such a strong foundation to build on here in Manchester. I also guess it’s worth mentioning that Hope City is where we met! So pretty big deal, ey?! Congratulations on 25 years! WOW!

LIN DA ADAM My two sons and I attended one service at The Hope of Sheffield Christian Church and knew we’d found our spiritual home!! Ps Dave and Jen’s passion for pointing the way to God & building His church is exemplary, and we caught that passion. Their guidance, teaching and discipleship were invaluable for the future of our family and although we’re now in different parts of the country, our foundational faith & spiritual growth was directly attributable, for the most part, to their ministry and to that of Ps Chris & Gosia Denham. I thank my God every day for that.

DAVE & ANNE ADAMS Hope City is a Church called to do Great Exploits for God. Every Great Exploit

must have a beginning. We honour Pastors Dave & Jenny for the courage and faith demonstrated in their move across continents to plant the Hope of Sheffield Church. Hope has always had a clear vision from the start and we were very blessed to be a part in the early days of the church. Great Exploits demand a continuation Hope has always run with the vision. As the Hope of Sheffield came of age and became Hope City we have been delighted to see the vision spread both nationally and internationally. Great Exploits pave the way for a great future, they become Great Expectations. As we look together to the future beyond the 25 years be prepared to see even more Great Exploits which the Lord has prepared for his people.

LY NDS EY DEAVIL L E Well what a special time Matt and I had at Hope City, thank you Dave & Jen for two years that transformed us and propelled us. We loved being in such a dynamic faith environment serving amazing pastors. It was an exciting place to be, we often never knew what each day would bring, with such creativity, vision and genius! I loved the honour of working in the finance office with the beautiful incredible Dawn Davies. It was an absolute joy, so many memories of fun, laughter and of course hard work. When we moved to Sheffield you welcomed us with open arms, all your generosity, honour and kindness took our breath away. You taught us so much about the possibility of church, you helped us believe, to think outside the box, be empowered and to always expect more. For this we are eternally grateful and you will always hold a special place in our heart. ▪

PASTOR JENNY GILPINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

PROPHESY O

While at the C3 Europe conference in Amsterdam, senior pastor of Hope City Church, Jenny Gilpin prophesied over Europe. It was beautifully powerful and captured the hearts and minds of everyone within the room. The prophesy has since reverberated around the globe. HOPE CITY

OVER EUROPE I was thinking lately about the Australian heritage from which I come. It was a land that was colonised and settled by convicts - men and women who were thieves and robbers, the dis-possessed and downtrodden of society. They were the unwanted and the unimportant, shipped off as a mass exodus, exiled out of their own land. God had a great intention and a great future for that land, as He always does for mass movements of people. Australia, 1606, Capt. Pedro Fernandez de Quiros named this huge land mass - Terra Australis Esprit de santos - The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit many years before it was colonised by the dispossessed; and it has become a place of incredible outpouring and blessing of the Holy Spirit. And so we see the mass exodus of people, - a movement of humanity across Europe right now - an exodus which many see as a threat and frightening. But instead God knew in His heart and purposed in His heart the migration of humanity long before it came to be. Instead of a threat, God says this influx shall instead bring an outpouring of the Holy Spirit across the continent of Europe that is indeed unprecedented. God would want His people not to be mesmerised by the ‘monster’ as it were, but instead to see what he will do in the morning. There is indeed territory to be taken the other side of this mass movement of people.

God moved the people of Israel, because He saw before them the land of Canaan. He saw King David; He saw the lineage of His Son Jesus. He saw the redemption and salvation of the people He loved. And we stand here today loved and touched by God, because God chose to move His people - to ‘let them go’. And so dear church we stand back and see the hand of God moving humanity across our patch. And with God’s perception we see the hand of God reach out and the heart of God poised to touch our continent again. May people not be consumed by threat, nor be consumed by the hugeness of the ‘fight’, both of which have large appetites. But fill your spirits with recognition that our God again is moving in a very detailed, planned and unprecedented way.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and also in Me.” —John 14:1

For I desire to have a place in your hearts.... trust instead of trouble; a sense of future instead of despair, and an overwhelming faith that I your Father have an overwhelming plan for your continent. It truly exceeds that which your heart and eye has imagined. The Goliath of threat dies today in this place, and the eyes of our understanding instead are opened to see the beautiful land beyond. ▪

Jeff Barnett// Hope City Leeds

Karl Downes // Hope City Sheffield

HOPE CITY

Over the past 25 years, Pastor Dave has had a number of different personal assistants. Well, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve given them the chance to spill the beans! Here are some of their faviourite stories. â&#x2013;¸

every letter personally (and there were thousands), folding letters immaculately, positioning address labels perfectly, running round the Megacentre creating a snag list as long as your arm and then some, hanging ‘Dagarte’ artwork (sometimes still wet but always level) around the place or going AWOL for three days, the only thing you could rely on was that the day you thought you might be having was never going to happen.

1993 - 1996

To say that ‘problem-solving’ is a skill you need when you work with Ps Dave is like saying that the ability to run fast is a skill you’ll need when being attacked by a hungry tiger. If you can’t do it, then you’ll probably die. The same goes for lateral thinking. (And a sense of humour.)

DAWN DAV I E S Before we moved to Matilda Street (the first home of Hope City Church) we didn’t have an office so I worked from home in our 2 up, 2 down terrace house. I worked in the attic which was extremely hot in summer and freezing in winter. The paper even struggled to go through the photocopier we had because of the extremes. So in summer I used to work in my bikini to keep cool – Dave never knew this until a few years ago when I finally confessed! He couldn’t believe it and thinks it’s hilarious. There’s also the time we had a burglary and me and Jen G found a pile of human excrement the size of a football which had seeped into the letterhead pile – not a pleasant clean up job!! But that is more about Jen than Dave.

2002 - 2007

H AZ E L H AG U E

2007

B E T H BLOIS One Sunday morning Pastor Dave was preaching and was joined by a little fella on stage. A fly. As soon as I saw it I knew we were in trouble. Pastor Dave began twitching on stage and became very distracted, in this moment I was frantically wishing the fly away. But it went no where. A frustrated & distracted Dave finished his preach and promptly informed me that from this moment on we must always have fly spray on hand at all times! Thankfully we joke about it now, and I took great joy seeing Emma Lillystone - another one of his PAs running around the stage with fly spray chasing any blue bottle fly that dare show its face on our stage!

Dave was always encouraging staff to be spontaneous so one day, before he arrived for the staff meeting, a number of us selected a hat to wear (all VERY different) 2007 - 2010 and walked along the corridor as if it was SA R A H DUNYS the most natural thing in the world. Dave passed the first one, looked but said nothPs Dave makes everything seem so easy. ing, past the second one, looked, turned No. Actually he makes everything SOUND with a puzzled look on his face and only so easy. As if anyone can do anything. when he bumped into a group of us with Which is true in some hats in abundance did ways, and a great way the penny finally drop “. .. IN SUM M E R I of approaching the and his regular one USE D TO WO R K IN MY majority of life. Henry liner revealed itself Ford’s way of saying it B IK IN I IN M Y AT T IC yet again. ‘AWW YOU you think you can GUYS’. TO K E E P CO O L, DAVE isor“if you think you can’t, N E V E R K N E W T H IS you’re right.” Ps Dave Whether it was coffee takes that thought to UN T IL A FE W YE A R S at McDonalds, Starbucks or an airport AGO WH E N I FIN A LLY something of an extreme when he says lounge and getting CO N FE SSE D!.” “anyone could do brain lost in the moment, surgery, they just need insisting on a month to read a book on it”. to month page diary so he could see what was happening over the weeks, signing HOPE CITY

There was one instance that springs to mind when all of these requirements of my job were demanded; it was the day I was asked to source a satellite. Ps Dave was about to start work on a new video project that would be TV quality, so he wanted to get it on the TV. It was a bright Wednesday morning, and I was just going through my emails when Ps Dave came flying into my office (switching on the big light as he burst in) “Sarah, let’s get on the TV. We just need to buy a satellite. There are hundreds of unused satellites floating around up there,” he said, pointing to the ceiling. I grabbed my notebook and wrote down SATELLITE, “Yep, ok. A satellite. To get us on TV…” “Actually,” Ps Dave interjected, “we could just borrow one.” He nodded to himself. “Yes, we could just borrow one from a TV company while they’re not using it”. “Boss, leave it with me,” I replied. “I will get us on TV.” And with that, Ps Dave jumped up, straightened a picture on the wall and swirled out of my office. I picked up the phone and called TBN.

2010 - 2013

EMMA BURDEN I started working for Dave back in 2005 as his resource manager. Within a month I received a call telling me I would accompany the film crew of his new TV Pilot idea and we’d be leaving in three days for London. The brief was to discover how generous the British Public were by asking them for money in various personae to see if the approach, location and appearance of the ‘Dave in need’ would effect how generous people were towards him. The experiments were to take place all over London including outside Harrods, the

Bank of England and Covent Garden. We stayed in a hotel directly above the tube line which rattled every time a train went under us. Six of us crammed in the room on the first morning for a briefing meeting and to rough Dave up to look like a homeless beggar. We we wetting tea bags and smearing them on his white t-shirt, ripping clothes and everything mis-matched. Some brown eye shadow was smeared on his cheeks so he looked like he needed a shower and his glasses had a plaster holding them together.

“ H E H AD N OW A D M I T T ED TO T WO C OU N T S OF B R E A K IN G T H E LAW” We headed out to Covent Garden. I was in the second car and it was probably the scariest drive of my life trying to keep up with him around the one way busy streets of central London.

now admitted to two counts of breaking the law. Unsure of what to do we started walking towards the river to get some B footage shots. We passed a policeman on the way and stopped him to ask how we find out where our friend has been taken. He replied “oh the begging Vicar? He’s at Charring Cross!”. We couldn’t believe news had got out so fast! I walked up to Charring Cross to see what we could find out. The queue was long, so long that I ended up sitting on the floor waiting to move forward. After about 3 hours he emerged from a door behind me. You’ve never seen relief like it to see a familiar face! He was let off with a caution on his record and told not to film in Westminster without a permit in future! He was a Cheeky Beggar that day and it kick started his dream to get into main stream

media. Eventually we parked up and made sure the hidden cameras that we had poking out of bags couldn’t be seen. He had a huge sign saying ‘Give Me Money’ or something along those lines and he sat himself down on the cobbles of Covent Garden with a paper cup on the floor.

2013 - 2015

E LOIS E EDWARDS

Dave and I would road trip across the UK to the different locations of Hope City Church nearly every weekend with a selection of young adults and students to keep us entertained. They were the most I was watching from a distance and within incredible adventures and experiences about 15 minutes up walked two ‘Bobbies that I will forever remember. Whether it on the Beat’ otherwise known as policewas playing the latest Jonas brothers song men, dressed in their loudly or allowing Dave black uniforms with the “A N YO N E CO ULD DO to interrogate you about dome hats on. They knelt B R A IN SUR GE RY, your life; there was nevdown and we all thought T H E Y J UST N E E D TO er a dull moment. I will ‘uh-oh’. Not wishing to forever hold the trips join him in the van/cell R E A D A B O O K O N IT” dear in my heart because we stayed back and kept these shaped, defined rolling. His mic was still on as he was told and modelled me into the woman I am tohe had the right to remain silent and was day. Dave believes in you so much that it led to the Police van with the sign seized as makes you believe in yourself. evidence. The moment the van door was closed we lost audio. 2015 - Present We later played it back to hear him explaining that he wasn’t actually begging but instead he was filming for a TV pilot. Well as we didn’t have a permit he had

SO RCHA ROONEY (She may need our prayers!) ▪

HOPE CITY

Tebo & Becky // Hope City Birmingham Lead Pastors

WTH WHAT THE HOPE IS GOING ON ? X

Check out what’s going on in our ministries.

HOPE CITY

WORSHIP In the past, worship in Accra has mainly been about performance, rather than an active communication between us and God. A lot of Ghanaian Christians see the praise and worship in church services as the time for showing off vocal abilities, dance skills, and clothing!! This is not to say that Ghanaians aren’t real with God. Here in Hope City, it’s different because we love to connect with God’s presence and flow with the Holy Spirit - this makes worship real.

Asante Jonas / Accra

I love Neon Youth because I have made amazing friendships. It’s also great doing life with other youth; it’s such a great place and I want all my friends to come too!

Mark Storey / Newcastle

PODCASTS Podcasts are the perfect antidote to #FOMO! Whether it’s your friend talking about an amazing preach they just heard or maybe that essential point title you missed because you were still trying to write down everything else just said, podcasts mean that you can listen or re-listen to all the amazing messages being brought right across Hope City Church.

Rachael Bird / Lancashire

PARTNERS Becoming a Partner in the Vision helped me to become a real member of the church family. I am not only watching how church develops but am taking an active part in working out the Vision. I love partnering with my pastors, the whole Frankfurt team and the worldwide Hope City Family.

Claudia Steul / Frankfurt

MULTISITE My first experience of Hope City was in Birmingham, I attended their launch service on a Friday night and instantly I thought this is the church I’ve been looking for! Edgy, friendly and most importantly it felt like home. I had been praying for a church that I would be able to stick with until I finish Uni and now over 5 years later I am still in Hope City, just in a different location and it still feels like home. Each congre-

gation brings its own flavour but I love the consistency you find across all congregations; you always feel welcome and valued even if it’s your first time at church.

Prisca Duah / London

C3 MOVEMENT I love the fact that being a part of C3 movement has allowed us as a church to join an extended family. I now have a family all over the world whereby I could walk into any of the C3 campus’ and feel like I was home, which is pretty cool! By aligning our vision with Ps Phil & Chris Pringle’s heart for the lost, we are seeing lives all over the world won for Jesus Christ, which essentially means my family in Christ is growing by the day. Crazy hey?!

Becky Walters / Birmingham

WTH

WHAT THE HOPE IS GOING ON IN HOPE CITY CHURCH?

CONNECT Sunderland Connect is always jam-packed with fun-loving people, filling our basement office with laughter and awesome family vibes. I love how every Connect, we come together to build family – it’s a home away from home! It’s so good to lift up powerful prayers and hear amazing stories of how God is working in each other’s lives.

Kay Leong / Sunderland

WHIZZ KIDS We love seeing our Whizz Kids growing in God and having loads of fun every Sunday. It’s important to us that they find their identity in Christ, understand that we are a church family, that God has amazing plans for their lives and that He loves them with an everlasting love.

Tricia Russell / Sheffield

BAPTISMS I love baptisms! There is nothing more beautiful than seeing people coming to

Christ and taking the step of publicly declaring their faith and declaring that Jesus Christ is their Saviour, in front of their friends and family! It’s emotional. The last time I asked someone why they wanted to get baptised they just simply replied “I wasn’t looking for Him, but He found me.” It is such a privilege to get to witness people make the best decision of their life and see the power of God completely transform their lives!

Jess Ho / Sheffield

SHE IS I look forward to the She Is Conference every year - it’s an opportunity to come away from everyday pressures and distractions and immerse myself in the presence of God, receive excellent teaching and focus on hearing God speak into my life and my future. It’s booked in my diary as soon as the dates are released. I always try and get to the local She Is events as well, where we have time to chat, relax, have fun and get to know one another better.

Mary Tailby / Leeds

PROJECT HOPE The most special thing about Project Hope Leeds is that we see families we support united with their children and families being able to keep their children. Also the opportunity to spread hope wherever we go.

Gosia Denham / Leeds

DINNER PARTIES Dinner Parties are my absolute favourite time of the month! I say this because anyone and everyone can come to this easy going environment to just chill and meet other new people. I find that I can invite anyone knowing that a good time will be had and new connections and relationships will be made.

Anne Marie / KL

THIS NEW REPUBLIC Young Adults really represent the heartbeat of our church. I love that we’re building an authentic community through great friendships and a shared passion to see an unstoppable move of God through our personal lives and in to our own world. This New Republic is bringing us together to impact this generation in a way that really counts and to have fun doing it!

John Clarke / Liverpool ▪

DREAM

HOPE CITY

FOCUS ON SHEFFIELD

BELIEVER Good things come to those who wait; especially those who wait in faith, which is exactly what the Sheffield location of Hope City Church has been doing since it received the Dream to create a 1,500 seater auditorium on the main corridor coming into the city. Hope City Sheffield Pastor Colin Blois explains ‘The Sheffield Dream’ There’s a certain sound, a certain melody but more precisely a certain symphony that can only be heard when every part of the orchestra plays their part. Until every bow is held, every instrument tuned and every seat filled, that sound, song, concerto is only ink on a page or figment of a dream.

Apart from the church auditorium, together with various spaces for church, business and community use we are planning to incorporate a nursery on site, run a conferencing centre during the week and operate a full time coffee shop. No doubt there will be more detail as we develop the community and business vision for the site and the business plans for investors.

A critical part Our prayer is that over the next 24 months a sound would arise from Hope City Sheffield as each of us together begin to realise the dream God has given us TO CREATE A CHURCH and believe that God, through us, will bring it to pass. To create a church so large in size SO LARGE IN S IZE THAT that the melody of the gospel would begin T H E MELODY OF THE to be heard across Sheffield and South YorkGO SPEL WOULD BEGIN shire, the UK and the world. To do so we need to build a 1500 seater venue and conference facility that can become the new home of Hope City Sheffield and a beacon of hope for the 2 million people within a twenty minute drive.

TO B E HEARD ACROS S SH E FFIELD AND S OUTH YO R KS HIRE, UK AND THE WORLD.

At this point it’s important to remind ourselves that dreams don’t work unless we do. So here’s some insight into the work done so far and the next few stages of our journey. Our new building will sit on around one hectare of land just off the Sheffield Parkway on the new Waverley Community. We have worked internally, collaborating with our different departments and ministries to create a design. The Designs are now being professionally drawn and costed on our behalf so that we know in practical terms what the project will cost for both building and fit-out.

of the process and where we need your prayers for breakthrough is the sale of our current building. We also recognise the miracles don’t always arrive in the shape and size that we expect. In the light of this we are also undertaking some initial feasibility work with a view to retaining the Sheffield Megacentre and converting it for the most part into student accommodation. If our initial work proves to be promising then we would look to source private investment to make this a possibility.

In amongst all of this we are looking to attract external grant funding and investment, talking to our bankers, building a team of professionals and undertaking a review of some of the facets of the Megacentre in Sheffield to strengthen our readiness for investment. We would appreciate your continued and intentional prayer as we seek to take this new ground. Whilst we know we have never been this way before as a church community, we also know that God is by nature, faithful to bring favour and provision into a project which will see many lives changed by the good news of the Gospel. It’s time for us to sing. ▪

Karen Bianchi // Hope City Sheffield Family Pastor

HOPE CITY

Yang // Hope City Newcastle

THE S HEFFIELD BRINGERS

Reuben

Charlie

WH O A R E YO U BRINGING? Have you ever wondered how everyone got to church in the first place? Almost everyone was brought by someoneâ&#x20AC;Ś So to prove it, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done some charts showing who brought who and what happened when they came. Some got saved, so many returned to their faith, others found their faith rebooted, while others simply found their home. HOPE CITY

n Jorda

Jack Matt

Anna

John

B ECK Y I came to church because of Charlie Stone. I met her at the CU in my first week of University after promising myself that I was only going to go once, and give it a miss from then on. I met Charlie towards the end of the meeting and she was just so full of life and spoke about Hope City Church in a way I’d never heard someone speak of Church before. It was her passion for the place that convinced me to come and check it out. From the first Sunday I was there I felt completely at home.

Becky

It was as though I was on the guest list to the greatest party in Sheffield! I had never felt a welcome like it. Totally accepted and invited. One Easter Sunday when visiting home in Liverpool, I convinced my older sister and younger brother Anna & John to come with me to Hope City Church in Liverpool. Having grown up in church but straying from our faith in God, that Sunday became the best Sunday ever. We’re still so in love with what God’s done in our family! Thank you Charlie.

WH O AR E YO U B R IN GIN G?

T H E S U N D E R L A N D B R IN GE R S

Hayley

Anna

TIWA

Tiwa

I have been attending Hope City Sunderland since I started university, I first heard about the church through the CU where members of Hope City were there promoting the church. I just remember that they were super bubbly and they were dressed so cool. I also happened to meet Anna at this event, so we exchanged numbers and decided to pop along to church together the Sunday after. We completely loved it and haven’t regretted our decision ever since. The church has been amazing since joining, everyone always has such positive energy which makes you want to invite people to church; it’s like a big old happy family. Anna and I both invited Hayley after TNR conference.

HOPE CITY

T H E AC C R A BR I N G E R S

T H E N EWCAS TLE BRINGERS

Amanda

Beth

Steph

Luke

BETH

Basil Joel

I met Steph at a Freshers’ event. She told me about Hope City and invited me to come along. I felt so much more confident knowing that I knew someone who was there already and as soon as I walked in the building it felt like home. I invited Luke to a Freshers event we were hosting as a Church and he loved it, he even told me he felt like he was at home. I’ve been part of Hope City for over a year now and am really involved in the Creative and Administration teams. I love it!

David

Sammy Oko

Joanna

Lucy

Tom

Jeff Danny

Akin

THE S HEFFI EL D BRING ER S (CONT)

Dobee

TH E L E E DS BR IN GE R S

Rut

Ste

THE LIVERPO O L BRING ER S

W HO A RE YO U BRIN GI N G ?

Colin & Beth // Hope City Sheffield Lead Pastors HOPE CITY

P H OTO CR E DIT S Smart Banda, Nikola Auterska, DagartĂŠ, Joe Hensey, Joe Dunys, Antonio Franco, Jeff Barnett, Joanne Lee, Keith Kaselampao, Kay Leong, Wannie Chisala.

HOPE CITY