A serious evangelistic outreach for the Christmas season formally got underway this week on the Royal Albert Hall.
The Salvation Army got the Shine Your Light 2025 campaign began with its Celebrate Christmas carol concert at the celebrated venue, joined by over 5,000 guests.
The evening included dance and choir performances, the Christmas message, and a stirring rendition of ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ accompanied by the Salvation Army’s International Staff Band.
Commissioner Paul Main, UK Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army, said: “We were delighted to welcome the leadership of Shine Your Light, together with ecumenical and civic guests, to the Royal Albert Hall for our ‘Celebrate Christmas’ carol service.
“It was a beautiful approach to begin Advent in worship centred on the Christmas story, and to encourage everyone to shine the sunshine and love of Jesus into their community.
“As leaders of The Salvation Army for the UK and Ireland, we’re excited to see how the Shine Your Light initiative will enable the excellent news of Jesus to spread across the nation this month, as God’s people step out in faith and shine brightly of their communities.”
The Salvation Army carol concert was just one in all many evangelistic events that may happen across the UK over the festive season as a part of Shine Your Light 2025.
Over 60 church denominations, Christian networks and charities are getting involved in Shine Your Light this 12 months.
On 10 December, Spring Harvest will hold a carol service at Westminster Chapel in London that can be recorded and broadcast in prisons and homeless accommodation across the UK.
The carol service can be available to look at on the Spring Harvest YouTube channel from 19 December, together with free resources for churches which have registered to participate in Shine Your Light.
Jo Moir, Head of Spring Harvest, said: “This celebration is greater than a single gathering in a single location – we imagine it’s going to echo with hope and joy across the Isles.
“Our heart is to see the message and music shared far beyond Westminster Chapel: into prisons and communities throughout the UK, urban and rural.
“We look forward with great expectation as we shine our light into every corner of our nation this Christmas.”
Shine Your Light and Spring Harvest are partnering with The Prison Fellowship to indicate the carol service in prisons across the UK on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when an estimated 57,000 prisoners will hear the Gospel.
Countless more people will have the ability to look at the published with the assistance of homeless charity Green Pastures, which can show the recording in a whole lot of accommodation centres across the UK.
Over 2,000 churches are expected to participate in Shine Your Light this Christmas, with a special focus this 12 months on reaching young people and sharing the Gospel within the workplace.
The campaign can be featured on BBC Songs of Praise at 1:15pm on Sunday 14 December. The programme will include footage of local church members in Bedford singing carols on the streets, and an interview with Shine Your Light founder, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede.
Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary of Churches Together in England (CTE), is encouraging churches to become involved.
He said: “Christmas is a novel opportunity to share the excellent news of Jesus Christ. Shine Your Light encourages churches to benefit from this moment to share Christ’s message of joy, peace, and hope.
“At CTE, we’re encouraging as many churches as possible to interact with this 12 months’s campaign.”
For more information, registration, and free resources visit www.shineyourlight.org.uk
