Celebrating 20 Years of Hope Church: Prophetic Time Line
- Chris Kimbangi
- Jul 9
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 13
On the 4th & 5th July, 2026, we had the joy of celebrating 20 years of Hope Church. We did this through a Free Community Fun Day and a Special Celebration Service.
Ever since this church was started there was a heart for it to be at the centre of the community and for Jesus to be at the centre of the church. This was echoed in its original name, Centrepoint Church, but more than that, echoed in the DNA of the church which didn’t just want to be focused inwardly, but here for the whole community.
It has been very fitting to celebrate this 20 year birthday weekend, by serving our community with an epic Fun Day and with a Special Celebration Service.
The rest of this blog serves as a time line of the key prophetic words that have spurred on the members of this church over the 20 years. In his talk, at the celebration service, Chris gave further context to these.
2001 - Seeds being Scattered.
At Stoneleigh Bible Week 2001, where over 25,000 people were gathered, a prophetic picture was brought about dandelion seedheads being blown and the seeds going everywhere. A young couple in their 60’s, called Alan and Beryl, knew that this was for them, and so they were prepared to go from the Coign Church (now Welcome Church Woking) and had Guildford in mind.
Shortly after, the first Guildford pioneers gathered with Brian (affectionately known as Boggles) and Jill (the key leadership couple), Alan and Beryl, Kara and Laura. In 2002, Graham and Annabelle, Angie and Chris, and Sarah joined.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing. In April 2003, for a number of reasons, several left. The core group of 12 adults went down to 6. This was tough and they wondered what to do.
2003 - What looks dead is alive
A number of prophetic encouragements followed ...
The first was a picture of a tree being chopped down, but the stump remained. It looked dead, but around the stump green shoots would grow and flourish. What looked dead was actually very much alive in God.
The second picture was of a bull charging with it's tail up. There was a sense of momentum, the bull didn’t have it's head in charge mode yet but the church would regain momentum.
2005 - There is a place for you.
In 2005, after a few successful trial Sundays, Pam brought a picture to the church about a garden and how God, the great gardener, has created room in the Guildford garden for this church. With boldness, the church started regular meetings from January 2006 at the Cricket Pavilion.
In April 2006, the church was officially recognised and commissioned. A Board of Trustees was formed, with Alan as chair, and Brian appointed to full time leadership.
Through prayer, discussion and encouragement it became clear that just as Guildford is a strategic city, connecting together various parts of the county, so the church should have a city wide focus and reach, bringing Christ to the centre of it all. And that's how the name and vision came to be.
2013 - Copper, Silver and Gold
In February 2013, Guy brought a prophetic picture of us digging deep into Guildford like a mine shaft, uncovering three rich seams: copper (young people to be discipled and released in God's power), silver (the wisdom and value of the older generation), and gold (a reservoir of people, gifting and finances that would bless the nations). He declared that Church would become a strategic resource church for the region, equipping others and carrying influence far beyond Guildford.
It is vital that we keep giving financially to the building of God's kingdom, train up and equip young people in the Lord and receive, honour and value the older generation.
2015 - Stepping forwards
Up to March 2011, the church met at the Stoke Pub. These years were marked by addition and momentum, students joined, got married and stayed, even taking on leadership positions. The church regularly met in the town centre, providing live music, leaflets and balloons to shoppers.
One of those students, Nicola, wrote and performed this spoken word at the 20th Celebration Service on 5th July 2026.
After an unexpected and quick exit from the pub, a new venue became available at Queen Eleanor's school. Having moved further away from the town centre, the church started to see numbers decline a little. The venue they met in was described as ‘functional, but forgettable’ and so during a week of prayer for buildings and a Sunday venue there were two words of significance:
Jill had a picture of stepping stones with each one bigger than the one before. Derek shared that as a church we have always stepped forwards. Not sideways or backwards. We are to look to God to lead us forwards in terms of new premises and venues.
This spoke directly to the leadership and they felt that they should take steps back towards the town centre, so moved the offices to the YMCA building and also moved the Sunday venue to the Odeon cinema, which is more visible and in the town centre.
2016 - International fruit
The church started growing again and Guy Miller gave a word about fruit coming from many kinds – he saw different nations and an expansion of the church diversity coming. It's amazing to see how we now gather with so many people, from so many nations, in the centre of town, with a sense of good momentum and growth.
2018 to 2024 brought multiple changes with venue, eldership and name. You can listen to the story of how Chris came to be the Lead Pastor, the name came to change and the venue moved from the Odeon to the Royal Grammar School below.
2024 - A Battleship, not a cruise ship
Whilst out in the Middle East a prophetic word was given to Chris.
"Hope Church is to be a battleship, like an aircraft carrier, not a cruiseship. On battleships there are no passengers. Everyone has a role to fulfil in the mission that the ship has been given."
There is a place for every single person, to gather, bring their time, treasure and talents, be equipped, built up, strengthened and play their part in starting new churches and ministries.
When you step back and see the whole story, the prophetic thread becomes clear:
From comfortable church attendance → to pioneering church planting
From a stump that looked dead → to a living church
From a bull not yet charging → to sustained movement and momentum
From a small church plant → to an established church, taking our place in the garden
From receiving → to giving, sowing & sharing
From stepping back → to stepping forwards
From hidden → to visible
From homogeneous → to diverse
From local → to global
From cruise ship → to battleship
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Journey
Team: Everyone is involved and has a part to play
Sent: Who might we send next? What Church might we start?
Training: What might your next step be to grow?
Children: Under 18's matter. Let's keep serving them well.
Venue: Pray for a permanent venue for us to operate from.
Togetherness: We're not alone, but partner with the churches in Guildford and Commission to serve Jesus.
A prayer for our church based on Ephesians chapter 3
For this reason we kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. We pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.
And we pray that, being rooted and established in love, we may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
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