Hope Leeds '11 - A message for church leaders

3^rd November, 2010

I am writing to invite your church to be part of a fantastic mission opportunity this summer. 

Building on the success of Hope ’08, which saw over 100 young people and 40 churches engage in locally rooted mission initiatives in six locations across the city of Leeds, youth and church leaders from across the city have come together to empower the local church to impact local communities once more. 

Hope Leeds ’11 is managed by the collaboration of the following workers and organisations:

Rev. Glenda Down - Youth Minister, Moortown Baptist Church

Duncan Stow – Team Leader, Leeds Youth Cell Network

Nic Sheppard – Diocesan Youth Advisor, Ripon and Leeds Diocese (Church of England)

John Rogers – Youth Minister, Guiseley Baptist Church

Hannah Dey – Youth Worker, Chapel Allerton Youth Project (Ecumenical)

Mark Hodgkinson – Team Leader, Salvation Army Leeds South Outreach Team

Our aim is to support churches who see a need in their local community but who lack resources or who would benefit from support to effectively turn that vision into action. Attached you will find all the relevant information to help you discern whether Hope Leeds’11 is something your church might benefit from being part of.  

We will be hosting a ‘launch night’ aimed at the young people who may take part in the summer initiative on Saturday 27^th November at Harehills Baptist Church 7.30-9.30pm, which you are warmly invited to attend in order to give you a flavour of who we are. We will be hosting a brief reception for church leaders before the start of the event which will enable you to meet some of the team and ask any questions. 

If you would like to have an informal conversation with one of the management team about whether this might be something your church could be part of, then please do drop us an email or call the office. If you intend on coming along to the launch event on the 27^th could you please RSVP to the email address below before Tuesday 23^rd November. You are also more than welcome to bring any of the young people you work with (Year 9+) to the launch event (flyers available on request). 

We look forward to what God might do in and through us as we seek him together.

On behalf of Ben Jones, John Rogers & Duncan Stow