A Celebration of Hope

Hope is in the air!!! This summer, the mountains of South Wales will resound with the music and message of hope and celebration. From July 27 to August 2 the Horizon to Horizon Evangelistic Association, will hold Texas 2 Wales – Celebration of Hope 2008 in Risca, Newport, and Brynmawr. The group comes from “deep in the heart of Texas” (San Antonio) and features messages of encouragement by Phillip Hefner, former member of the Air Force One Advance Team, and energetic music by the Joyful Noise Band from La Vernia, TX. Phillip Hefner was featured speaker in last year’s Festival of Hope in Brynmawr and considers Wales a new “home away from home.” He was a member of the Air Force One Advance Team and present with President Bush on that fateful day of 9/11. He now serves as the Associate Pastor of Universal City United Methodist Church, a graduate of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism and has recently worked with the Will Graham “Greater Johnson County Celebration of Hope” in near Fort Worth, TX. The Joyful Noise Band is an energetic group of 9 young men and women who lead worship at La Vernia United Methodist Church. They have traveled extensively throughout Texas bringing their vibrant style of music to people of all ages. They are living examples of the love and hope that God offers to all who are seeking to fill the emptiness in their lives and express this through the new sound of music sweeping the United States.

Why are they here? “We live in one of the most affluent societies in the world, but even with our riches and our ‘stuff’ people are empty and lonely,” Phillip says. “In many societies in the United States and the UK, people are looking for something and have already decided that the church is not the answer. Much of the reason for this is that the church has not grown with society. We no longer speak to people because we still speak in a way that was popular 50 years ago.” “Horizon to Horizon and the Joyful Noise Band are here to show that there is an answer to the loneliness and emptiness and that that answer is in the very same God that we have decided isn’t the answer. We are here to show that the answer lies in a relationship with God and NOT in religion!!!” “We are here to proclaim that being Christian is FUN… and a celebration of something found!!! My hope is that everyone will come and join with us as we sing, dance, celebrate to some really awesome music and then open our hearts to what true Christianity is about – a relationship with someone who loves us more than we could ever imagine.”Phillip and the band will be appearing at;

The Manor, Thistle Way, Risca, NP11 6PL – Monday 28th July
The Risca Rugby Club, Off Tredegar Terrace, Risca – Tuesday 29th July

Rogertone AOG, Tregwilym Road, Rogerstone, Newport – Wednesday 30th July

Bethel Community Church, 40 Stow Hill, Newport, NP20 1JG – Thursday 31st July & Friday 1st August

Tent Outreach, Welfare Park, Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent – Saturday 2nd August