HOPE - the Heartbeat of Mission is a 224-page directory that brings together more than 150 tried-and-tested mission ideas, resources and funding links.

The focus is on equipping churches for 2014 and a year of mission. HOPE came from a vision and conversation between Roy Crowne, Mike Pilavachi and Andy Hawthorne and focused initially on equipping and encouraging churches to take part in a year of mission in 2008. Next year will be similar but with a longer lead in period. This year is a year of prayer and preparation.

'We have gathered together some of the best and most innovative ideas to enable churches to work together to communicate God's good news in both words and actions,' said Mr Crowne, HOPE's director.

'There are ideas for everyone from small groups to large multi-church initiatives.

'We are praying that 2014 would be a catalytic year where churches will work together around the Christian calendar, festivals and new mission initiatives to bring good news to a lost and broken world.'

HOPE has the backing of the major Christian denominations and many Christian agencies.

The Revd Ian Bunce, Faith and Society mission networker of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and a member of the HOPE leadership team, said, 'It's a significant resource bringing together hundreds of missional ideas in an accessible way.

'I think its life will be beyond that of HOPE, as churches use it for ideas.' The book itself mentions that it 'is the dream of the HOPE initiative not just to one great year of mission in 2014, but that 2014 will be the launch pad of a new missional journey that will empower churches on a year by year basis.'

Mr Bunce mentioned that 91.7 per cent of projects in HOPE 08 had Baptist involvement, according to research from Theos.

'It shows how much the vision of HOPE - mission in words and action - was accepted by Baptists throughout the country.

Already 15,000 copies of HOPE - The Heartbeat of Mission have been ordered, and a further 6,000 will be given away at Spring Harvest. Some denominations are giving them  to church leaders to inspire action. Pastor Agu Irukwu, chair of the executive council of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)UK and senior pastor at Jesus House, London, said, 'Our faith and mission will only become authentic at the junction where our love for God is expressed in our love to our neighbours, without compromising the commission to proclaim the gospel unashamedly.

HOPE's resources come with a funding pledge to start the type of community projects Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, talked about in his first sermon in the post. Eighteen of the projects featured are backed with funding of up to £2,000 to start each new church-led initiative.

Young people are also taking a lead with HOPE Revolution Mission Academies running a youth training programme. This is an opportunity for youth groups to work through what mission is and looks like in a local context.

HOPE - The Heartbeat of Mission costs £5.99 (plus postage and packing) and is available from the HOPE shop

HOPE's website www.hopetogether.org.uk is a hub for churches to find out more about HOPE's annual rhythm of mission running through the church calendar.