HOPE FEST 2013 - UNITED KINGDOM

Over every Easter weekend, Hope UK celebrates its annual camp known as Hope Fest. It was held between 29 March and 1 April for this year. Almost 340 people celebrated the goodness of God and learned about the topic Dunamis-Unleash Your Potential. Apart from the elders of Hope UK who were the main speakers, everyone was blessed by Ps Marcus and Stefanie Rose of Hope Germany who shared their valued life experiences through their teachings. (View photos) 

In addition to the main teaching, the campers also had a choice to learn from various topics in workshops. This was a good time to not just learn from the instructors but from one another. Interest groups were networking groups where people who were involved in the same ministries or shared the same interest could learn from one another.

In line with the theme of Hope Fest last year-Missio Dei (Mission of God), many shared inspiring testimonies about their decisions to go out for mission. A brother shared how the Lord used him who was a shy person with no experience in leading a life group even to pioneer a church in Newcastle-Sunderland. Because of his obedience to the vision, this second-year university student is currently leading over 30 people. His life is a perfect demonstration of the principle of potential-someone who had a humble beginning but the Lord unleashed his potential and used him mightily for His glory.

The audience was also inspired by a couple who stepped out by faith to pioneer a group in Milan, Italy. Despite their financial limitation, the Lord miraculously provided for them to make the first visit to the city. As parents of 3 children with full-time jobs in London, their plan was to fly to Milan regularly to support the starting of the group.

One of the highlights of the event was water baptism which was usually done in a heated swimming pool. However, this March happened to be the coldest March in the last 50 years in the UK, and the pool was covered with a layer of ice. We then used a portable pool which was laid on a snow field. It was the first water baptism ever in snow!

This camp truly gave a sense of spiritual family to people in Hope UK-a family of churches that desire to obey the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Through teachings, testimonies, life stories, not only everyone believes that this mission can and will be done, but they can also be a part of this mission because of the great potential God has put in them.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (JN 12:24, ESV) 


Written by Pastor Prakich