Hope invasion in York

Young people used drama and music to share the Christian faith in schools in York in the run-up to Easter.

More than 70 teenagers from the city’s churches took part in Hope Invasion. They visited 10 secondary schools for the last two weeks of the school term to lead religious studies lessons for school years 7 to 9.

They also performed dramas and put on live concerts during lunchtimes.

The group also took the message of hope to the streets of York, handing out freebies, doing creative evangelism, and chatting to young people who were invited to a free concert.

In addition to the concert, the teenagers offered football, face painting, gladiator jousting, nail art and a bungee run.

Several hundred young people turned out for the evening gig, which featured a number of bands including LZ7 and TWELVE24 from the Message Trust and a local band called ‘This Resistance’.

The Archbishop of York gave his support to Hope Invasion, using a video message to encourage young people with these words: “There is hope, and whatever your past, together with God, suddenly everything is possible.

“I pray that you’ll know that God is close at hand, closer than your own breath, and he will give you the courage to have dreams that will transform not only your lives, but the lives of all those you meet, for the better.”

Caleb Ellwood, HOPE Invasion coordinator and youth worker at Gateway Church, said: “We believe we could see a generation living for Jesus in this city.

“The young people we met were interested in finding out more about this hope we have for the future and we were so excited to be able to give them an opportunity to explore it further.

“I was so thrilled to see Christian youth taking risks to reach their friends for Jesus and even more excited when young people made a response to become a follower of Jesus.”
As the Christian message was presented young people were invited to attend one of twelve Youth Alpha courses taking place across York in the summer term, giving them a chance to explore the Christian faith further with others their age.

Over 100 young people registered their interest in attending a Youth Alpha.

Hope Invasion was held as part of HOPE Revolution, the youth movement of HOPE, encouraging young people to do more in mission, in words and action, together and building to a year of mission in 2014.