The third Alpha course organised by Christians Together in Wells will be held this autumn. A shared introductory supper will take place on Tuesday 16th September at the Town Hall in Wells. Two parallel courses will run over the next 10 weeks, one on Sunday afternoons and the other on Tuesday evenings.
The stories of how Alpha has changed lives are legion - Neville Dyke, from Ditcheat, who took part in the Alpha course three years ago. A vocalist who also runs a B&B, felt he lacked purpose and direction and made silly, selfish mistakes. But during the ten-week course, he became more confident in life, more able to make better decisions. "Alpha really opened my eyes. Before, I had poo-poohed the idea of even opening the Bible because I thought that any form of organised religion was boring," he said. "I was very wrong and found the course great fun. The best thing was the friends and fellowship I discovered - it's lasted and is still growing - and the gifts from God that I didn't realise I had. I've gained perseverance and a terrific inner peace by letting God take over
Jess Watson is a science teacher who dutifully went to church as a child. "I was a tick-box Christian," she said. She went to Alpha because she wanted to reconcile her background as a scientist with faith in God. She asked the most difficult questions she could think of and grew to understand how Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit fitted together. When asked why people should go to Alpha, she said: "Life's too short not to get the answers if you can."
I've heard that some people are frightened of Alpha because they say it's a brainwashing exercise. Can I reassure people that this is absolutely not true? I've personally seen the changes that I've described above, and I have also benefited myself, gaining new knowledge and a deeper faith. Alpha is for everyone, especially those wanting to investigate Christianity, for new Christians, newcomers to the church and those disenchanted with religion.