Yesterday and today we attended training in Fairfax, VA for leaders of the Alpha course, a "Christianity 101" teaching and discussion-based class taught in churches across the world and across many many denominations. Wow. I am so grateful to Jiljane Brace for encouraging us to pursue this tool as an option for ministry in Peru. And I am equally grateful for God's precious timing in sending us on this Spirit-filling, faith-building, soul-encouraging retreat right before we leave for Peru (Wednesday).Alpha is a course that presents the basic tenets of Christianity over the course of ten sessions and a weekend away. It is designed for anyone, really, but we mostly talked this weekend about what a great resource it can be for people exploring faith from the outside or for people just inside a life of faith that don't really have clarity about the things they claim to believe. It involves dinner together, a teaching on a particular topic, and small group discussion with the deliberate intent that anyone may feel free to say anything, regardless of how absurd or heretical it may seem to others.
Alpha has only recently been translated into Spanish, although it has been used in other languages and cultures across the world very successfully. Just this month, the first Alpha training conference was held in Lima, Peru, with an unbelievable attendance of 850 people. After our own training this weekend, we feel convinced that Alpha has tremendous potential in our ministry in Peru, and we can't wait to connect with other people pursuing Alpha as a route for God's work when we get to Arequipa!
One of the things we love the most about Alpha is that it has been used by so many different types of people. What other ministry tool is endorsed by Southern Baptists, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, the Salvation Army, Anglicans, Methodists, etc?
Anyway, I hope to have a lot more to say about Alpha in the future. We had a beautiful weekend and are looking forward to using this tool in Peru.
Hannah! I want to chat before you guys leave! I'll try calling you after school Monday or Tuesday. I'm glad it sounds like God has been so good to you two in your "goodbye" experiences.
Hey Hannah,
so glad you might use Alpha as a tool! I used it in Scotland to teach high school girls about Jesus and the Lord really used it in radical ways in their lives. Would love a mailing address for you. Can you email it to my Google email account at lindsaybmorris@gmail.com ?
love and prayers to you both,
Lindsay (& John)