Hope Project – the big idea

An overarching goal: Hope Project desires to see something of the ‘Christ’ staying in our cultural festivals of Christmas and Easter in recognition of our nation’s history, this faith and the significance of it to the formation of our cultural values and freedoms. We engage with an understanding that culture and values are preserved through story.

For recent data: The 2022/23 Bible Engagement survey by the Bible Society showed that 77% of New Zealanders can now identify that Easter is associated with Christ, while 32% do not. However, only 11% of New Zealanders spend time at Easter reflecting on their spirituality. Certainly the value of the Hope For All booklets going to 1.35m homes (with the TV / TV OnDemand / Social media engagement in addition) has immense value for the sustaining and strengthening of this cultural recognition, as also an understanding of our faith.

Re the wider strategy: Our assessment of culture led us to propose THREE annual media efforts, of which two are currently happening. These are purposed to fill some identified gaps in our wider communications as Christian churches nationally. This is done from an understanding that public perspectives matter.

Hope Project Easter – putting Christ back into Easter (since 2014) is one of these media efforts.