HOPE (October 2026) 

By Aoife Gray

​Hiya, for my first blog of my intern year I want to tell you about the recent HOPE event at Bedford Pentecostal Church on Friday 23rd October. HOPE youth Bedford brings together youth aged 11-18 from different churches across Bedford into one church to have fun, learn more about their faith and worship.  The HOPE event is an amazing opportunity for them to meet other young people from around Bedford, build friendships, have fun and grow in their faith.

The evening began with some chilled social time involving card games, table tennis, some pizza and drinks. There was then some energetic and inspiring youth-led worship. It was really great to see all the youth participating in the worship in a way they were comfortable with. 

Then the serious, competitive, for the glory of Christ Church game began! Two youth from each church had to wrap their youth leader in toilet paper, with the fastest winning. Each team was loudly supported by the rest of the youth from each church. Sadly, on this occasion we didn’t win, but it was lovely to see all the youth cheering loudly and having a lot of fun with their youth leaders getting tied up in toilet paper.

This year the focus of the HOPE events is learning more about the Trinity- the Father (23rd October 2026), the Holy Spirit (12th February 2027) and the Son (25th June 2027). The speaker of the evening, Marc James,  was interviewed before his talk and asked very important questions, such as: if Jesus came down tomorrow, what would be your last meal (steak). 

Marc then went on to talk about the Father, with the main takeaway being that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, that the Father himself loves us as we are, and we just have to come home. 
The talk was centered around the parable of the prodigal son who asked for his inheritance while his father was still alive, which, according to the culture of the time, was the equivalent of wishing his father dead and brought great shame on the family name. The son took this money and left, he then ended up losing it all and working with pigs. 

When he comes to his senses, he realises he could live better as the lowest on his father's estate. He decides to head home and ask for forgiveness, hoping to work for his father, but isn't given the chance. 

From far away, his father spots him returning, he has been watching for his return, and he runs to him overjoyed, because he was dead and now he is alive; he was lost but now is found.

Bible verses:

Luke Chapter 15 vs 11-32 The Prodigal Son

Galatians 4:6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit that calls out, “Abba, Father”.
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

Psalm 139 vs 14 “We are fearfully and wonderfully made”

The prayer guidance for this month is related to the HOPE event. We ask that the HOPE event throughout the year continues to grow in the number of youth turning up to the event, that they feel comfortable to worship in any manner they want to. We ask that more churches will attend these HOPE events. Please also keep in mind the wonderful team that puts time and effort into organising these events for the young people- in the set-up, welcoming, the refreshment and so much more. We ask that the speakers say what the Father is guiding them to say, that they reach the young people and give them even more love for the King. We ask that wisdom is given to the individuals who pray for/with the young people.
We look forward to seeing the HOPE event continue to grow.

 In case you've missed them, here are our old editions:
July 2026: My Intern Year
June 2026: HOPE Youth Bedford
May 2026: Youthscape Essentials Course
Apr 2026: Chatting with Hannah
Mar 2026: Youth Café
Feb 2026: 2025 Wrapped
Dec 2025: Christmas Memories
Nov 2025: What is Youth Alpha
Oct 2025: Our Youth Weekend Away