Saturday 22 March 2008

The end (of our Alpha Course) is nigh

After three months, ten evening sessions, a whole Saturday together, our Alpha Course comes to an end on Tuesday.

And what an experience it's been. I've had the privilege of working with a great team of gifted group leaders and hospitality heroes and the pleasure of getting to know delightful guests. It's been remarkable that virtually everyone who began the course is still with us (apart from two who are now looking to finish the course in South Africa, to where they emigrated in Week 7). But it's even more thrilling to hear people tell me that they have found the whole experience encouraging of their faith.

On the first night, eighteen guests came into the Barnabas Centre understandably nervous about what lay ahead. In the weeks that have followed, these people have become our friends, and friends to each other.

We've explored the really big issues about Christian faith and some of the more difficult issues too. A number of our guests are now coming to church regularly and have expressed an interest in the confirmation service in June.