ALPHA SPEAKER Nicky Gumbel was invited to pray a blessing for around 4,000 people attending a service at Willow Creek Community Church – one of the largest churches in America – while visiting the USA in July.

The invitation came from Willow Creek Senior Pastor Bill Hybels, who had been meeting with Nicky and his wife Pippa during a visit to Willow Creek earlier in the day.

Introducing the couple at the beginning of the service, Mr Hybels said, ‘I have a friend with me tonight and I just want to introduce him and his wife to you.

‘Nicky is a pastor in downtown London and some of the best services I have ever attended have been in his church, Holy Trinity Brompton. Out of their church came an evangelistic movement...

How many of you have heard of a programme called Alpha? [At this many people raised their hands] It affects millions of people all over the world.’

At the end of the service, he invited Nicky on to the stage to pray the final blessing.