UK CHURCH and Christian Network leaders gathered at London’s O2 area yesterday (OCT12) to hear plans for the Shine Your Light 2025 united churches’ campaign this Christmas – with a new focus on youth and using social media.

Pastor Dr Jonathan Oloyede, Founder and Convenor of the National Day of Prayer and Worship (NDOPW), told the gathered leaders – and will share with hundreds more via scheduled Zoom gatherings in the coming days and weeks—that following last year’s success with over 1,500 partner churches reaching over 1 million people via open air carol services and Christmas events, this year the vision is for 200,000 Christians to reach 2 million people!

With new partnerships with strategic Christian charities being confirmed weekly, organisers hope to reach those often forgotten at the festive season.  A new link-up with Spring Harvest will see a specially-recorded Christmas service broadcast to reach 58,000 Prisoners across the UK, and going into hundreds of homeless accommodation centres.

Shine Your Light, a united initiative of denominations, prayer networks and streams is now in its third year.  It helps churches take carol services, nativity and other Christmas events from within church buildings out into shopping centres, village greens, community centres – anywhere where the public will gather over December.

Whilst the focus of the four-nation evangelistic campaign is aimed for the weekend of 12-14 December, any church can register and benefit from free resources to help them spread the Christian message throughout December.  

The invitation comes at a time when a Bible Society report, The Quiet Revival suggests more young people than ever are open to the Christian message [1], with churches reporting Generation Z showing up at services unannounced.  For Shine Your Light 2025, organisers are keen to urge churches to intentionally focus on reaching young people – as well as those traditionally drawn to carol and annual Christmas events.  

Shine Your Light has launched a new Youth Social Media Campaign [2] for 2025, led and produced by Christian young people who will utilise Instagram, TikToc, LinkedIn,  Facebook and other platforms between now and Christmas Day.

Speaking at the afternoon event at OVO Arena Wembley ahead of the SKYLIGHT youth concert, led by gospel singer Emmanuel Smith [3] and attended by over 5,000 young people, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede told Church Leaders: “Last year, in market places, parks, shopping centres and malls, churches in towns and cities united across denominations to reach 1-million people.  This year we want even more people – 2-million to know that Jesus is the reason for the season.  We live in very dark and anxious times for many and only Christ can offer certainly, lasting hope and bring deep peace into people’s lives.

“From experiences shared by church leaders, as well as the Bible Society report, we know young people are searching for meaning and hope and, are open to the gospel. So, let’s join forces throughout December to make sure as many young people as possible hear how Jesus can transform lives.”

Pastor Jonathan went on to say that many churches already have Christmas programmes of carol services and events – but all too often, the message sent out has been ‘come to us’. 

He explained: “Shine Your Light resources church leaders to think outside the box. To ask whether some of their events can be taken outside church walls, out to where people gather naturally.  We’ll provide a range of resources on our website, and links to CPO who can produce professional publicity for events. This Christmas, let’s unite and pray that 2-million of our fellow citizens who would never usually hear of the real meaning of Christmas, will hear, read, sing about Him – maybe for the first time ever, or in years – and get an opportunity to respond to His amazing love.
I urge every UK church to become a partner church and together, let’s reach this nation for Christ.”

Free resources for churches include:

• a professionally designed and printed Carol sheet for events (P+P costs only)
• programme ideas
• music backing tracks to accompany printed downloadable carols, or
• a music score for each carol, and
• resources for churches to follow up contacts made at events

Promotional and Youth Video [2&4] to show in churches and to share on social media, and details how churches can register for Shine Your Light 2025 can be found at www.shineyourlight.org.uk 

Further resources about new partnerships, and the prison and homeless ministry will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Editor’s Notes

[1] ‘The Quiet Revival’: huge increase in young people attending church – Religion Media Centre

[2]  First Youth SYL social media promo can be accesses via www.shineyourlight.org.uk

[3] Skylight is an annual event aimed at bringing people together to experience Gospel music in its different forms and expressions. The Host (Emmanuel Smith) was a semi-finalist on The Voice UK 2019 and has travelled the world using his talent to inspire and impact people around the world. SKYLIGHT has previously been held at Indigo, at the O2, and for 2025, Emmanuel and his team decided to host it one of the UK’s iconic venues, the OVO Arena Wembley on October 12.

[4] SYL 2025 launch video can be accesses via www.shineyourlight.org.uk

Picture Note

JPEG quality pictures of the launch are available from Adam May or Paul Eddy, and include:-

Pastor Jonathan Oloyede speaking to church and network leaders at the launch in London.

Jo Moir, new head of Spring Harvest explains a new partnership to reach prisoners and homeless people this Christmas.

Emmanuel Smith addressed church and network leaders giving his backing to Shine Your Light 2025 ahead of his concert.

Some of the UK Church and Christian Network leaders gathered at the OVO Arena, Wembley to hear of the youth and social media focus for Shine Your Light 2025.

The Shine Your Light 2025 launch was held ahead of the Skylight Concert with Emmanuel Smith.