Hi, for all those unlucky people who haven't done an Alpha Coarse because they are scared of what will happen then read on please, those who have already completed the course needn't bother. Being a Christian for many years I fell away from the church due to work, you know how it is you get a new job that means you work Sundays and then before you know it you're treating one Sunday just like a week day and put of going to worship until next week, which runs into next week etc until you, the once burning white hot piece of coal, becomes a cold black rock.
Well that was me for several years until I changed jobs and was able once again to attend church, but the coal didn't glow even though the church where we (my wife and I) worship is fantastic. Alpha was mentioned and I pushed it away, it wasn't for me, I didn't like the thought of being put into a group where I'd be grilled about my Christian life, what I understood about the bible and each week I'd be totally embarrassed by the others who would all be full Christians with years of knowledge of bible study. I have to speak in the group, probably give stupid answers and would feel pretty bad when the questions directed at me went unanswered and that was just the beginning. No, Alpha wasn't for me. Time went on, the first Alpha Coarse went by and my little piece of coal started glowing, Alpha was mentioned again starting in September 2007, my interest grew and we put our names down for it. What a RELIEF all my fears were totally stupid, I was put in a group and as it turned out they were all Christians but that was as close to my fears as I got. I didn't have to speak if I didn't want to, no-one asked me any direct question or 'Picked on me for answers' infect on the first coarse I spoke very little and the only question directed at me was "Do you want tea of coffee" No-one really knew more than anyone else and each weeks topic was discussed openly with whoever wanted to talk, or not as it was with me.
As the weeks moved on I found I was enjoying and looking forward to each week and at the end of it all I found my glowing piece of coal was now a raging white hot fire wanting to find out more and more and just worship our God all over again, it brought me right back to the beginning of my Christian experience and I found I had a new want for Christ and his love for us all.
This year I went back as a helper and got even more blessed, met some brilliant friends, friends who I can really call friend and brother / sister in Christ. Now, in September I am heading for my third course but this time as a Leader, I'm scared yes as I don't want to mess up but I've prayed about it and it just feels right. So to everyone who is feeling a bit scared about the whole attending the coarse thing, just go, you'll enjoy it and at the end you'll laugh at all your silly worries about attending.