ORGANISERS of the Shine Your Light Christmas campaign say they have been “overwhelmed” by an unprecedented response from churches across all four nations, along with Ireland, with participation, scale, and impact exceeding all expectations.

Shine Your Light this year officially launched on 12 October at Wembley Arena, gathering 5,000 young people for a landmark moment of worship, prayer, and commissioning. The launch set the tone for a year-long movement that has seen churches of every tradition take the Christmas message far beyond church buildings and into public life.

Now in its third year, Shine Your Light set out to mobilise 200,000 Christians to share the gospel in streets, shopping centres, workplaces, and public spaces, with a hoped-for reach of two million people. With reports still being submitted, organisers estimate that the message of Christmas reached over three million people nationwide.

Between 12th and 14th December, more than 2,000 events were registered across the UK, delivered by local churches and church partnerships. Events ranged from small, relational street outreaches reaching around 100 people to major gatherings reaching thousands.

High-profile events this year included:

• The Salvation Army Royal Albert Hall Carol Service, attended by 5,000 people
• Community Carol events at Warrington Rugby Stadium & Aston Villa Stadium
• Large-scale youth, civic, and workplace-based Christmas gatherings

National media exposure further extended the reach of the campaign, including a feature on BBC Songs of Praise on December 14, watched by around one million viewers.

Founder of Shine Your Light, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede, said the campaign had been “blessed beyond all we could ever imagine.”

He said, “Throughout the year, we sensed the Holy Spirit momentum building. Attendance at our daily 7 am and 7 pm online prayer rooms grew steadily, with hundreds gathering regularly, and our 72-hour prayer vigils were supported by churches and thousands of individuals from all four nations.

“BBC contacted us because they wanted to showcase what God is doing when local churches unite in mission.”

Two national partners also opened unique evangelistic opportunities this Christmas. In partnership with Spring Harvest, a specially recorded carol service will be broadcast into prisons over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, reaching 56,000 prisoners. Through Green Pastures, the same service will also be shown in many homeless shelters.

Alongside public carol singing, prayer, and testimony in town centres, organisers report a renewed confidence in evangelism among lay Christians.

“We’re hearing remarkable stories of people who previously felt unable or unwilling to share their faith stepping out in new ways,” Pastor Oloyede said. “One woman in Witney, Oxfordshire, who has been disabled for decades, felt God prompt her to start a TikTok channel sharing testimony and Bible verses and answering questions about faith. This year alone, she has gained more than 8,000 followers.”

Churches also report growing openness among the public. Prayer gazebos and street outreach initiatives have seen hundreds of people asking for prayer, many saying they would never feel confident enough to enter a church building.

“By encouraging churches to go beyond their walls,” Pastor Oloyede added, “new and strategic connections are being made.”

The campaign has fostered unity, with Christians from different denominations meeting for the first time to pray together and explore ongoing collaboration in their communities. Shine Your Light runs national evangelistic initiatives each Pentecost and Christmas, while also working year-round to equip lay people in prayer and witness.

This year also saw several new and significant settings for public Christian events, including the first-ever carol service held at the UK headquarters of Jaguar Land Rover. Increasing numbers of Christians report growing confidence to ask employers for permission to host explicitly Christian events in workplaces, factories, and retail environments.

Campaign Conclusion – Churches Take to the Streets

The Shine Your Light Christmas campaign concludes this weekend, with the Redeemed Christian Church of God is mobilising over 900 churches, deploying teams from more than 800 parishes to railway stations, shopping malls, and community centres across the nation.

Organisers say this final nationwide mobilisation reflects the heart of the movement: ordinary Christians are bringing the hope of the gospel directly into everyday public spaces.

Local Impact Stories

Major Scott Cunliffe, Bangor Salvation Army, described an intensive and wide-ranging outreach programme using Shine Your Light resources.

“Throughout December, we’ve been out in the community almost daily,” he said. “From outdoor carol services and social clubs to a Christmas movie night advertised only on Facebook, we met many people we’d never encountered before.”

Highlights included carol services at a bowling centre, civil service offices at the Department of Education, nursing homes, shopping areas, a golf club, and historic venues across Bangor and Newtownards. The corps also packed and distributed over 350 Christmas shoeboxes for children in need.

“Bangor has an extraordinary missionary heritage,” Major Cunliffe added. “Every time we take the gospel outdoors, we’re standing on the shoulders of those who went before us.”

Christmas outreach concludes on Christmas Day with carols at a Parkrun for over 400 runners, followed by a final service at a special learning centre.

Elder Mark Davies of Paignton Baptist Church said his congregation joined Shine Your Light for the first time after a year of exploring mission in everyday life using Frontline resources from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity and the 24-7 Prayer movement.

He said: “The Shine weekend fitted perfectly into our wider Advent programme and helped us take our witness onto the mixed-use street where our church is located.”

Around a dozen members led outdoor carols, focused on one-to-one conversations, invited people into an ‘Open House’ coffee space, and served the local community. Alongside this, the church visited around 350 homes on the ten streets nearest the building with invitations to Christmas services.

“What attracted us to Shine Your Light was its flexibility,” Mr Davies said. “It enhances what God has already called a local church to do, while encouraging people to step out in faith.”

Looking Ahead

Summing up the campaign, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede said, “We thank God for every story we hear of new believers coming to faith. Churches are reporting better-prepared and better-resourced outreach, growing confidence in sharing the Gospel, and a fresh unity across denominational lines. God is clearly doing something new in local communities.”

As 2026 begins, Shine Your Light will launch a nonstop month-long national Prayer Vigil from 5 January to 5 February, aiming to unite 2,000 churches in prayer for renewal, unity, and guidance in a divided world.

• Churches can sign up for free resources for the January Prayer Vigil, the Pentecostal initiative (22–24 May), and the 2026 Christmas Campaign (11–13 December) via www.ndopw.com in the New Year.

ENDS

For further information/interviews:
Adam May – 07736 949869 – adam@ndopw.com
Director of Communications and Engagement, NDOPW

Revd Paul Eddy – 07923 653781 – paul@pauleddy.uk
PR Consultant to Shine Your Light / NDOPW

Editor’s Notes:
[1] BBC audience: Songs of Praise
[2] LICC’s frontline resources can be accessed. Resources | LICC