Reflections From Organisations

Ruth Gilson – The Girls Brigade & Steve Dickinson – The Boys’ Brigade

The themes of Change me, Change my friends, Change my world were central to this year’s Firm Foundations attended by over a thousand GB and BB members. The Festival didn’t formally close and young people were encouraged to take the message of the living hope of Jesus back to their communities.

During the year the BB has been celebrating 125 years of sharing Jesus with young people and local groups have been encouraged to be involved as part of their church with local Hope 08 initiatives. Over 12,000 hours of community involvement have been recorded ranging from a local clean up in Smethwick to making 125 Easter Cards for elderly residents in Tottenham. In Tewkesbury the BB joined in cleaning the town with other church groups. The local leader said,  

“Boys and paint are sometimes a messy combination but they set about their task with enthusiasm and quickly began to make a difference. As we moved around the town from one alley to the next, many locals stopped to ask what was happening and to congratulate us on the good work. One couple were so impressed that they went to the cake shop and bought doughnuts for all the boys.”

In GB girls of all ages have been delving into the theme of hope throughout the year. GB’s programme, the ‘SPES (Latin for ‘HOPE’) files’, is designed to bring hope to girls and in turn challenge them to bring hope to their family, friends and community. The girls have been in action throughout the year. In seeking to be Good News to others one group of girls decorated plant pots, planted them with spring bulbs and distributed them amongst local neighbours as a blessing; Another has taken on an allotment, growing produce and flowers for the community – in turn they managed to win a local community award!

The HOPE ‘08 experience has been very positive in both BB and GB, enabling us to continue our re-emphasis of our objectives to share the good news of Jesus.

Alistair L Cole - Chair, National Prayer Network of the Elim Churches U.K.

We are rejoicing at the very positive fruit that is being produced through HOPE08 initiatives.

I believe that the prime reason for this success is to do with the great volume of prayer that has under girded HOPE since day one.

I believe that HOPE has served to reinforce the powerful link that exists between prayer and mission. When these two great disciplines engage, there is potential for personal/community/ and national transformation.

Our prayer must be that more doors will be opened for the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel.