Shine Your Light dates for 2025 

The next Shine Your Light - a national evangelistic initiative which encourages Christians to take the Christmas story outside of church walls - will take place from 12-14 December 

Shine Your Light is a united initiative of denominations, prayer networks and streams (including Baptists Together), with a vision of taking carol services, nativity and other Christmas events from within church buildings out into shopping centres, village greens and community centres.

It launched in 2023, and last year saw double the number of churches participate with 1769 church and ministry events reaching an estimated 1.71 million people. Ninety-nine (99) Christians on average took part in each event. 

The initiative will take place again in 2025, and individuals and churches can register their interest here.

More than 100 Christian leaders from over 60 denominations, streams and networks gathered at Portcullis House, Westminster on 7 May for a Parliamentary Reception to celebrate the doubling in participating churches. Those present included Hany Abdelmasih, Regional Minister with London Baptists. 

They were also told of plans for Shine Your Light 2025, starting with a 72-Hour Prayer focus over Pentecost weekend, 6-8 June, and a weekend of Christmas evangelistic events from 12-14 December.

The event was hosted by Jim Shannon MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the International Freedom of Religion and Belief and organised by the National Day of Prayer and Worship (NDOPW).

Dr Jonathan Oloyede, convenor and founder of NDOPW/SYL spoke of how Shine Your Light was an opportunity for the Church to ensure that the Christian Festivals were 'reclaimed', and of the need for prayer, unity and mission 'to work intentionally closer if we’re to continue to see God's Kingdom grow in these Isles'.

After the gathering, he said, 'Seeing over 100 Leaders in Parliament this week speaks of how much the Lord's hand is on this call for mission, unity, and prayer to come together. 

'We can no longer separate the three - but bring them together as one. Shine Your Light has grown since 2023, but there is more that we need to do as the Church to reclaim our confidence in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

'Praying at the heart of Westminster is a symbolic sign of the ripples needing to go out. 

'As we prepare for Pentecost in a few weeks’ time, let us start praying for our communities that they would be open to the move of the same Holy Spirit which fell at Pentecost.'

Mr Shannon said, 'Being able to sponsor this Shine Your Light Parliamentary Reception was an honour for me. 

'Seeing many Christians from across the whole of the Isles in Parliament was exactly what the spirit of Shine Your Light is about. 

'I commend the boldness of Christians taking a stand to make sure that God's light is visible in our world of darkness. 

'I am expectant of greater things in 2025 if we can multiply the passion in the room to every community in these Isles. I am praying for what God might do next.' 


For more information, visit: shineyourlight.org.uk

Register at: shineyourlight.org.uk/registration/