Hope is Stronger than Fear: SPEAK, Together and a Better Story
On 28 March, friends of the SPEAK Network joined people from across the country taking part in the Together Alliance and Better Story, standing against racism and division and for something different: hope, solidarity and unity. đź’›
It was a big day. Together Alliance describes it as bringing half a million people together. Whatever part of that huge crowd you found yourself in, there was a real sense of people saying that hatred and racism don’t get to have the final word.
For some of us from SPEAK, it was emotional too.
SPEAK has always been about the connection between prayer and action, trying to follow Jesus while speaking out about injustice. We are a network of people who campaign and pray about global justice. So being there felt connected to something that has run through SPEAK for years. Faith isn’t supposed to make us less concerned about injustice. It should move us towards people who are being pushed aside.
Faith, racism and telling a Better Story
One of the Christian movements involved was Better Story.
Better Story describes itself as a movement of Christians inspired by Jesus’ radical call to compassion, hospitality and self sacrificial generosity. At a time when Christian language and symbols can themselves become caught up in arguments around nationalism, migration and identity, Better Story is trying to tell a different story, one rooted in love of neighbour and enemy, reconciliation and solidarity with people experiencing exclusion and hatred.
https://www.betterstory.info/about-4
As part of the day, Better Story hosted a church service, bringing Christians together to worship, pray and stand against racism and division.
For some SPEAK friends who were there, it brought back memories of the old SPEAK Soundcheck gatherings, where worship, creativity, community, prayer and action for justice all came together.
There was something really moving about experiencing a little of that again, this time as part of a much bigger gathering. It reminded us that worship and justice don’t need to live in separate boxes. Prayer can lead us into action, and action for justice can itself be an expression of our faith.
That really resonates with us.
Christianity can’t comfortably sit alongside racism.
Jesus continually crossed the boundaries people constructed around nationality, religion, social status and belonging. He made the outsider a neighbour. He ate with people others rejected. He challenged religious power when it forgot mercy. And he told his followers not only to love those who looked, thought or lived like them, but to love their neighbour and even their enemy.
That’s a challenging faith. But maybe that’s exactly the kind of faith we need when society feels increasingly polarised.
Inspired by Sonny Green 🎤
We were also inspired to see Sonny Green, a poet, performer and friend of people within the SPEAK Network, performing on the main stage.
Some people may recognise Sonny from Britain’s Got Talent, but we particularly wanted to share his spoken word reflections bringing together faith and racism.
His piece around the simple idea that Jesus isn’t racist gets right underneath some of the contradictions that emerge when Christianity gets mixed up with racial superiority, exclusion or hatred.
Sometimes poetry manages to say something that a campaign leaflet can’t.
Watch Sonny Green here:
And here’s another short piece we really liked:
A little SPEAK video from the day
We put together a small video blog from 28 March. It’s not a slick documentary, just a little glimpse of SPEAK people joining a much bigger movement of people choosing unity over division.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWcClaSiDC0/?stkn=MXFteXV1Mnhqb2R3MQ%3D%3D
We’ve also made a gentle start on Instagram and TikTok. We’re hoping to build our presence there, so please give us a like, follow or comment and connect with us on socials!
For now we’re just enjoying reconnecting with old SPEAK friends and finding new people who share a passion for faith, peace and justice.
What happens next?
The 28 March gathering wasn’t meant to be the end of the story.
The Together Alliance is continuing to encourage people to organise, build relationships and work together in communities around the country.
And on Saturday 24 October 2026, people will gather again for the Organise Together: London Summit, starting at 9am at 20 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AL.
It is intended as a space for organisers, campaigners, trade unionists, activists, creatives, educators, community leaders and local people to meet, organise, collaborate and share ideas about responding to racism, hatred and the far right.
Find out more and book your place here:
Keep taking action and keep connecting
But we don’t have to wait for the next big gathering.
Please keep taking action in your churches and communities. Keep praying. Keep connecting. And keep sharing the stories that might inspire someone else to act.
If something inspiring is happening in your church, community, student group or friendship network, tell people about it. Share a little blog, a prayer, a poem, a photo or a video. Start conversations about faith and racism. Bring people from different backgrounds together. Listen to the experiences of people affected by racism. Challenge racist language and ideas when you encounter them. Pray together and find other people locally who want to take positive action.
And please share your stories and inspirations with SPEAK too.
One little story from one church or community might inspire another group somewhere else. We want to keep supporting and inspiring each other, connecting people and helping good ideas travel.
At a time when Christianity can sometimes be pulled into narratives of nationalism, exclusion and division, we also need Christians willing to say clearly that we don’t want our faith to be subverted or used for racist ends.
We want to keep pointing towards the Jesus who crossed boundaries, welcomed outsiders, challenged injustice and called us to love our neighbours.
So please keep taking action and keep connecting. 🙏
For SPEAK, there is something hopeful in all of this.
We don’t want a Christianity built around fear of people who are different from us. We want a faith that has the courage to confront racism and injustice while refusing to lose sight of the humanity of anyone involved.
Love rather than hate.
Welcome rather than scapegoating.
Justice rather than indifference.
Reconciliation rather than division.
Prayer that leads us into action.
Maybe that’s part of the Better Story we’re being invited to tell.
And live.
Big love,
SPEAK Network Support Team
