PRESS RELEASE

A national campaign asking Christians to unite in sharing the real meaning of Christmas through flash-mob-style public carol concerts has been backed by over 75 church leaders from many of the key Christian denominations and organisations around the UK and Ireland.

At present, more 1000 events are planned, ranging from small gatherings of a few people to medium-sized community initiatives and large-scale celebrations in stadiums involving hundreds of participants.

Representatives of the major Christian denominations in the UK, as well as evangelical and ecumenical organisations, local churches, and networks, have urged Christians to bring their carol concerts and nativity events outside church buildings and into high streets, shopping centres and town halls over the weekend of 13 th – 15 the December.

Dr Nicola Brady, General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has given her backing to this campaign saying; We are delighted to add our voice to celebrate the thousands of Christians of different denominations and traditions coming outside to shine their light this year. It gives everyone the opportunity to hear the real meaning of Christmas as they bring the hopeful and joyful gift of our shared faith in Jesus Christ into the heart of their local communities across Britain and Ireland.” The movement has also received political backing from Marsha de Cordova, MP and Second Church Estates Commissioner for the Church of England, saying:

“Thank you to every person who has offered to host one of these events in their community. This year, the joy and message of Christmas needs to be felt across the country.”

Shine Your Light is a Christian grassroots movement, which last year saw over 78,000 Christians from over 700 churches take their Christmas events into public spaces in December 2023. This year, the campaign hopes to see over 100,000 Christians singing the real meaning of Christmas to over 1 million people, with large events planned in December at Trafalgar Square, Westfield Shopping Centre East London, Trafalgar Square alongside many Football Clubs. There are multiple events in public places in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Dr Jonathan Oloyede, Convenor of the National Day of Prayer and Worship which is spearheading this national call added:

“We are inviting Christians from the North, East, South and West of these Isles to join us in Shining Their Light in their communities this Christmas.

Imagine the impact of hundreds of thousands of Christians taking the message of Jesus into all public places and spaces…”

In the lead up to Shine Your Light, there is an advent social media campaign on Instagram @shineyourlightnextgen which has seen prominent influencers such as Bear Grylls and Gemma Hunt read the nativity story from the Bible to raise awareness of the campaign and the true story of Christmas.

To find out more or sign-up visit www.shineyourlight.org.uk

For further information, including additional photos and interviews with spokespeople, contact Claire Thacker at Jersey Road

E: claire@jerseyroad.agency
M: +44 (0)7542 913 599

Notes to editors
About Shine Your Light
Shine Your Light is a nationwide Christmas campaign taking place this year over the weekend of 13th – 15th December 2024. This Christmas, the vision is to mobilise over 100,000 Christians outdoors to reach 1 million people in the streets, offices, workplaces and public places with the
Gospel.

This UK and Ireland grassroots movement saw over 75,000 Christians from over 700 churches take their Carol services and nativity events into shopping centres, town halls, high streets and public spaces in December 2023. This was suggested by many leaders to be one of the largest
Christmas outreaches on behalf of the UK Church.

Shine Your Light is a united collaboration of many Christian Denominations, organisations, local churches, and networks; including The Salvation Army, Bible Society, Evangelical Alliance and hundreds of local congregations in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Last year’s campaign was endorsed by the Prime Minister, Downing Street among others. The weekend was highlighted by many media outlets including Good Morning Britain where hundreds of thousands heard that Shine Your Light was about proclaiming Christ at Christmas!
Find out more: www.shineyourlight.org.uk/
Facebook: National Day of Prayer and Worship
Instagram: @shineyourlightnextgen
YouTube: @nationaldayofprayerandworship_
X: @ShineLight2024