Part of transforming lives and the culture means, however, that Christians should not be the same as that culture.
"You can't just go into those challenging areas being the same as the culture you are living in because if you do then you are not going to cause transformation. We have to be counter-cultural," says Crowne.
"What we have to do is acknowledge that it may be tough and it could be difficult but there is another way. Being part of a community of hope builds me and enables me to believe that the Gospel can change these situations."
It may seem like Hope08 only applies to 2008, but its founders hope that the churches catch the vision and build up a culture of year-round mission beyond this year.
"For me this was always a catalyst," concludes Crowne. "There are churches working together that have never worked together before. Why stop that? It's amazing that people have found unity in the context of the cause of the Gospel. If that remains the focus, then churches again should be able to find a way to work together that transforms their communities."
Hawthorne adds: "The idea isn't that come midnight on December 31st we all stop doing mission and go back into our churches. The idea is that churches will catch the boat and become missional churches. There is a rhythm of mission. It's not just two weeks in the summer when we all charge around letting our light shine! We want churches to realise that they really can make an impact on their community. Even if only a few get really serious and pray and serve in the community and share their faith, then on the back of that things happen.
Hawthorne senses that things are already on the up for Christianity in Britain: "I am an optimist by nature but I do sense a turning of the tide. I can see it in London and Manchester. I really believe things are bottoming out and we are starting to see the curve turn now, and I think Hope is going to be part of that in the long run."
Hope08 co-founder and head of Soul Survivor, Mike Pilavachi, was invited to contribute his views to this article but was unavailable for comment due to a busy conference schedule.
