A Different Kind of Drive at The Open
Sharing HOPE with thousands at Royal Birkdale
As the crowds poured into Southport for the 154th Open Championship at Royal
Birkdale, there was excitement in the air. Spectators came for world-class golf, the
atmosphere of a major sporting event and the chance to be part of a memorable week.
But among the thousands making their way through the town, members and friends of
GOOD NEWS for Everyone! were preparing for a very different kind of drive — one not
measured in yards, but in lives touched with the lasting hope of Jesus Christ.
From 12–19 July 2026, visitors arrived from across the UK and around the world to enjoy
golf’s oldest major championship. Long before the first crowds gathered, the Southport,
Formby and West Lancs Branch had been prayerfully preparing for the opportunity. Their
desire was simple: to place God’s Word into willing hands and to be ready for the
conversations, questions and quiet moments that God might open along the way.
With support from a local steering group and Bill Watson, Region 2 Director of Scripture
Distribution, the team found a warm and welcoming home at St James C of E Church,
Southport. Less than a mile from Royal Birkdale, the church became more than a
practical base. It was a place to pray, to gather thoughts, to encourage one another, to
store resources, to share refreshments and to return at the end of busy days. The
outreach was coordinated by Philip Bunting, with volunteers meeting each morning
before stepping out into the crowds.
In their hands was a specially commissioned golf-themed HOPE magazine. With golf
images, local scenes from Southport and Liverpool, selected Psalms, the Gospel of
John and the testimony of two-time Masters Champion Bernhard Langer, it immediately
connected with the setting. Many people were drawn by the quality of the magazine, but
again and again it became far more than something to receive; it became an opening for
gentle conversations about true hope, lasting peace and the good news of Jesus.
Over the event, 51 volunteers served across Southport town centre, Birkdale Village,
Hillside Station, Lord Street, transport hubs, local golf clubs and the approaches and
exits around Royal Birkdale. Some walked miles as the crowds moved; others stood at
stations, streets and gathering points, ready with a smile and a magazine. Distribution
also took place at Hesketh Golf Club and Caldy Golf Course, where practical help and
open doors enabled many more copies to reach golfers, spectators, staff, residents and
visitors.
Each day brought its own encouragements. The team met people from Norway,
Germany and the United States, along with police officers, marshals, taxi drivers,
hospitality staff, golfers, spectators and local residents. Some accepted a magazine in
passing, offering a smile or a quiet thank you. Others paused for longer, willing to talk,
ask questions, or share something of what was happening in their own lives.
Those moments of openness were especially precious. Sharon, unsettled after a recent
house move, gladly received prayer and a copy of HOPE. Darren spoke honestly about
struggles in relationships and work, and was encouraged to reconnect with a local
church. Adele also welcomed prayer, while another lady, grieving the loss of her
husband after fifty years of marriage, was deeply touched as members gently prayed
with her.
There were also the unexpected moments that reminded the team God was at work
beyond any plan. A conversation on a train led to a magazine being passed on for a
husband attending The Open later in the week. Another visitor was seen already reading
a HOPE magazine received earlier that day. A simple request for directions led to two
more copies being accepted, and even a stop at a supermarket on the journey home
became an opportunity for further magazines to find their way into the hands of golf
enthusiasts.
The reach of the outreach extended far beyond the championship exits. Local golf clubs
gladly accepted bundles of HOPE magazines for guest lounges, hotel staff requested
copies to share with colleagues and friends, and a message received through National
Office brought particular encouragement. A lady gave thanks for a HOPE booklet given
to her daughter-in-law, a new believer, in Southport. Altogether, 6,500 copies of the Golf
Hope Magazine were distributed.
By the end of the event, the volunteers were tired, but their hearts were full. They had
walked miles, travelled by train and bus, collected discarded magazines so they could
be offered again, and returned to St James for prayer, fellowship and refreshment.
Through it all, there was a deep sense of unity and joy — the quiet gladness of serving
together and trusting God with every conversation.
“My word… will not return to me empty.” Isaiah 55:11
Only the Lord knows the eternal impact of each conversation, each prayer and each
copy of Scripture received. Yet the team left Southport with thankful hearts, believing
that seeds had been sown generously and faithfully. We give thanks for every volunteer,
for the hospitality of St James Church, for Philip Bunting’s faithful coordination, and
above all for the precious opportunity to share the lasting hope found in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
