Who we are
Hope Church Harlow is a Christian Church with an emphasis on the Word of God and empowered by Holy Spirit.
We are part of Catalyst who are also part of the Newfrontiers global family of churches originally established by Terry Virgo and others originating in Brighton on the South Coast of England.
Within the Catalyst Network we are supported by the Bedford Hub lead by Phil Whilthew who is based at The Kings Arms Church in Bedford and the North London Hub lead by Duncan Hanton from Trinity Church, Colindale.
For us – it’s all about Jesus
We have Hope in Jesus and
We have Hope because of Jesus
Our Story
Clare and Ben have been part of Newfrontiers since 2004 and previously been in church leadership in various roles in various settings including two previous church plants / start up churches. They have lived in Harlow since they married in 2004 and have a heart to see Jesus glorified in our town. Marcus and Irene have similarly been in church leadership for many years and have started churches in different places. Our paths crossed at the screening of a Christian film in Harlow, leading to a friendship and encouragement in the plans and purposes Jesus has for each other.
In 2023, whilst evaluating relocating from Harlow, Ben and Clare connected with Catalyst Network where they had many friends. Though a move to the South West did not materialise a re-positioning by God into Catalyst took place and old friendships re-kindled. God was at work and conversation after conversation, and prayer time after prayer time, the topic of being part of something fresh to complement the existing great churches in Harlow for Jesus’ glory kept coming up!
In the Autumn of 2023 conversations started with other Christians and churches in Harlow, and over Christmas 2023 five of us decided to meet together every week to pray and seek God’s heart for our town and our part in making Him better known within it. We also had friends from Kings Church Upminster, The Well Church Basildon & Islington and Trinity Church Colindale, in Catalyst, come and spend time prayer walking, seeking God and enjoying coffee and cake with us.
There was an overwhelming sense that God was forming something new, so we continued to pray, fast and put out feelers. In addition we started meeting bi-weekly to worship, encourage, study the Bible and generally ‘do life’ together. God added others with church planting and leadership experience to us and we developed significant connections locally.
As the summer of 2024 came so did BBQs, socials, coffees, walks - both together with the small group now gathered and with others who could share wisdom and experience.
At the end of the summer it felt right to go to meeting weekly on Mondays. These have and continue to be superb times of doing life together with Jesus at the centre and we know God has so much more for us as we follow him obediently.
During this period God was speaking, he always is, and the phrases which he kept saying to us were regarding HOPE, both in and because of Jesus, and also being a lighthouse to the nearly 100,000 people in our town. This is where our name ‘Hope Church Harlow’ comes from along with the logo of a lighthouse.
Where we believe we are heading
If you’ve read ‘Our Story’ you will be aware we are in the early stages of our adventure with God!
If we could fast forward a couple of years, in faith we believe we will be a fantastic bunch of passionate Jesus followers, meeting both in homes and other locations, mid-week as well as having regular Sunday Gatherings.
We believe these will be times when we sing and worship Jesus; hear the word of God preached straight from of the Bible; our children and youth make beautiful craft, hear stories about Jesus and play games together. We will eat and drink together, we will welcome Holy Spirit and listen to the voice of God, we will pray and support one another as we do life together.
If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, or even just attracts you, please do drop us a message via the ‘Contact us’ page and come along to one of our times together.
Phil Whilthew, who we are really enjoying getting to know, from The Kings Arms Church in Bedford provoked the church there, and also ourselves with this advert from the early 1900’s attributed to the famous explorer Ernest Shackleton recruiting sailors for a dangerous, yet potentially historical voyage. Shackleton was blown away by the vast number of replies!
“You were born for adventure, you were born for purpose, you were born to do something purposeful and of eternal significance – and as Christians we believe that is to live a God First life!”
Paul, persecutor turned Apostle, in the first Century, wrote in his letter to the Philippian Church – Chapter 3 verses 13 & 14 - But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
For us in 2025 an Ernest Shackleton-like advert from Jesus could read something like this
Men and women wanted for joyous yet hazardous journey in knowing Jesus. Variable wages, though daily bread guaranteed. Suffering with Christ, taking up your cross, living in a world of great darkness, constant danger but a life of meaning and eternal purpose, grace and power constantly available and safe return guaranteed.
Missionary Hudson Taylor, Founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM) said in the 19th Century – ‘God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply’
We believe we are doing what God has asked us to do and are desperate to only take the steps He wants us to take and so in faith are trusting God to do an amazing work in and through us AND WOULD LOVE YOU TO BE PART OF THIS TOO IF YOU ARE READY FOR A NEW ADVENTURE WITH JESUS
We Need You
If you have just moved to Harlow, are considering moving to Harlow, know someone moving to or living here and are not connected to a local church in Harlow we would love to connect and explore journeying together to see Jesus more glorified.
In particular we are trusting God to give us new connections with people of all ages some of whom are musicians, and/or have a passion for hospitality/entertainment, and/or have a desire to communicate the bible both in word and actions as well as those who have a heart for children and young people.
We can be MORE together and we can make MUCH of Jesus together.
