Tonight is the start of the alpha course at Emmanuel and I am looking forward to it immensely.  Once again we get the chance to host a discussion on Jesus with those who do not know him. We are able to show Gods love for people by providing food and fellowship for and with them. It has been a while since I last was part of an alpha course, back during my days in Newcastle in the mid 1990’s so it is going to be a challenge to guide a diverse bunch of people on their journey to a new life with Jesus.

The challenge for me is to shut up, think and listen rather than to do what my nature demands and jump in with an answer. Still I do have good listening skills from my job o this should help.  

It has also proven to be a challenge for Mrs Beatthedrum who is administrating the course this year and doing the catering. Luckily we do not have too many dietary needs although Mrs BTD has some of her own of course namely wheat and red wine.

It has been really good for her to take on the admin role and she has done a superb job of it so far especially as the main alpha leader is one of the most administratively crippled Christians I know, you know who you are, and I am sure you would admit it…….. at least in private.

A big disappointment for me is that I have been unable to get any of my friends on the course. I have asked four and two have said no out right, one side they would possibly go on it if it were a different night and the last has agreed to meet up with me for a one to one alpha in the pub. Not a complete failure but not what I was hoping and praying for.

There does however seem to be a lack of enthusiasm for alpha in the church with not many people wanting information or even signed up for the prayer list. This is a pity as alpha is one of the main tools we use as a church to aid our friends on their personal journey with Jesus.

The good news from where I am sitting is that the church is slowly turning outward to serve the community and the individual members are starting to look outwards as well. This can be seen with a number of new initiatives in the church either already underway or in the embryonic phase. This is really encouraging to see and is something that needs to be supported, nurtured, prayed into and commended.

In the coming week we have a church meeting where a number of these initiatives will be given a public airing and I am hoping that as a church we can get behind them as we try and reach our city with the grace and love of Jesus.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

 

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead