MORE than 2,500 Christians from 27 churches across Southampton released balloons carrying messages and prayers of hope.

It was the launching pad for Christians to carry out more community work throughout the city.

Sim Dendy, projects manager at New Community Church, said: "Now the real work continues. The Bible says that unless faith leads to actually doing good for people, it is dead and useless, and therefore as Christians in this city we are looking to live out the hope that we have for the good of others."

He said just this week, Christians in Southampton had run free debt advice drop-ins, parenting courses, toddler groups and youth groups.

They have visited and written to people in prison; offered help and advice to asylum seekers and put on meals for the homeless and hungry. This is just a small cross-section of the work.

Katie Coles, of the Southampton Christian Network, said: "It isn't about saying, Look at us, aren't we good'.

It's genuinely a result of wanting to express to others the love and hope that we have experienced ourselves through coming to know Jesus."

Southampton churches are forming teams of people to serve their communities during May, offering practical help, clearing rubbish, painting fences and putting on lots of family events.

This will contribute to the Million Hours of Kindness that churches are offering their communities as part of the nationwide HOPE 2008 initiative.