I heard about “Hope City” for the first time recently when an invitation to a “Sunday Sunsets” worship-on-the-beach gathering landed in my WhatsApp. What really caught my attention were classy photos of musicians with a professional-looking sound setup on the beach sand, surrounded by people worshiping God. Was this really a thing in our city?
I reached out to Cleo Solomon, co-founder of Hope City, to find out more and a few days later we met for coffee and a chat about a movement, which by that time I had realised, was a very much happening thing in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and went way beyond beach gatherings!
Cleo, 30, told me she is a freelance graphic designer with a BA degree in Bible and Theology and serves in a local church led by her parents, Philip and Sharon Solomon.
During Covid lockdown in 2021, one of her two younger sisters, Lisa, 22, had an encounter with Jesus and started sharing daily encouraging testimony clips on social media. Some people reached out to her, saying they loved her videos, and since they were all stuck at home, couldn’t they meet up online once a week?
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Lisa and Cleo discussed the request and decided to launch a social media page where they would invite people to meet virtually on Wednesday nights for a message from Scripture and open discussions. They decided to call the initiative Hope City, which was a name that Cleo said God gave to her when she was at Bible school as something she was supposed to start.
“It was lockdown and we really wanted to share a message of hope at a time when people were so fearful about what was goiing on,” she said.
“And that’s how it started. Then, when restrictions were lifted, I told my sister: ‘Let’s have an in-person session.’.”
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They considered using their church’s worship team but after refelecting on the fact that Hope City had attracted people from many different denominations, they decided to arrange a worship group from different churches and to host it at their church. They called the event “City Gathering”.
“We started with just three singers and a three or four-piece band. We were probably about 100 people there that night. We were so amazed because we just put it out there and people came because there was really a hunger for fellowship. A lot of churches were not open at the time.
“I really thought it’s going to die after people start going back to their churches. But the people said: ‘No, we need to do another one.’ And that’s how the team grew.”
A few years down the line Hope City is still growing in size and bursting with creativity and a passion for uniting believers and reaching non-believers with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The multidenominational team has 60 members made up of singers, musicians, artists and dancers.
“We really want to cause an awakening in this generation and equip this generation to live fully in their God-given purpose to influence the world for His Kingdom. And a generation is not just the youth, but people living in this time,” she said.
Cleo said Hope City’s theme for the year is Acts 1:8 — “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
“It’s about really declaring and demonstrating the power of the Gospel. The message is always the same but the method changes. We are about Kingdom creativity and outreach.”
Currently, Hope City hosts two City Gatherings a year with the next one scheduled for April 20 at Ebenezer International, Algoa Park. These are big events held in various large churches. They may include worship, drama, dance, spoken word, prayer and a short Gospel message with an altar call. Cleo said that people travelled from Cape Town, East London, and King William’s Town to attend their last City Gathering.
“Then we have ‘Immerse’, which is a smaller, more informal worship gathering we hold every month at different churches,” she said.
Then there are recent innovative events like the Sunday Sunset beach worship, which are an expression of their heart to be creative in reaching out in a way that draws people and gives opportunities for people to encounter Jesus.
At their first beach event at Sardinia Bay, people who were at the beach “to chill at sunset” were attracted to the “partyish vibe” of Hope City’s beach worship gathering. “I mean, the guys came closer with their alcohol and cigarettes and stuff.”
A group of students on an outing to the beach joined in “and they had so much fun”.
Another recent innovation is “Monday Meditations”, a video slot on their social media where different people share devotions each week. “We want to invite pastors from around the city to participate,” she said.
Cleo said that Hope City has also moved beyond the city limits. Their social media following spans South Africa and includes people from various other nations.
On June 16 last year they accepted an invitation from a Cape Town youth movement called Youth Alive to play at their event. And they have been invited back this year.
“So, we give God all the glory that the word is getting out there,” she said.
She said the team is also available to minister at conferences
They are committed to keeping all of their gatherings free of charge and open to everyone. However, they have started holding some fundraising events — like an upcoming curry and rice event — to help cover expenses like equipment hire, branding and travel.
One of their dreams for this year is to release some of their own songs which God has birthed through the team.
You can find out more about Hope City on their social media platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopecity.sa
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hopecitysa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopecity.sa/
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