Caroline Winterburn

GERRI Halliwell has done it. Samantha Fox said it transformed her life. And jailbird Jonathon Aitken loved it so much he went back for more, and who can blame them? With promises to answer the ultimate question ‘what is the meaning to life?’ it’s no wonder millions of agnostics world-wide are signing up for the Alpha Course.

Some people perceive church as having fixed answers and fixed ways of doing things. Alpha helps them to shake off their pre-conceived ideas of a stereotypical Christian. They realise that there is no fixed ways of doing things but it’s about discovering, through the Bible, a relationship with Jesus Christ.

What started off as a brush-up course for rusty church goers in 1979 grew into the internationally successful Alpha sessions: A ten week crash course in Christianity aimed at non-believers. The course began at Holy Trinity Brompton where each session starts with a light meal before evangelist Nicky Gumbel takes the stage for an after dinner talk. The group then divides into lots of smaller groups to discuss the rudiments of Christianity.

Testimonies from former non believers moved by the Holy Spirit on the Alpha weekend away are not hard to find. And organisers have pulled together books packed with stories of a life bereft of love, hope and happiness now transformed through Alpha.

But there’s no need to trek into central London for enlightenment. Hundreds of churches across the world – even prisons, schools and work places – are now running Nicky’s course.

St Mark’s has been holding a hugely popular Alpha course for the past five years. Many of its’ once sceptic attendees now bolster Sunday’s congregation.

Organiser, Caroline Winterburn, sticks to Nicky’s format. Guests arrive at around 8 pm on Monday evenings for a light home cooked supper in a cosy candle lit room. Phil will give the short talk before the group splits for an often lively debate on life, death and the universe. Caroline said: ‘People come from all different places with different experiences, different questions and stumbling blocks which makes every session unique.

For more information on Alpha at St Marks call Caroline Winterburn on 020 8960 5975. Or log on to the Alpha website at www.uk.alpha.org.

  " You are not judged by your thoughts and feelings about the Bible."

"I like it that Alpha attracts different people with different views who are all at different stages with their faith and had different upbringings. I like it that Alpha attracts diversity."
 

"Alpha lets you air deeper thoughts and uncertainty. Hearing other views helps with things you hadn’t even thought of on your own."

"I appreciate all the hard work that goes into creating the lovely welcoming atmosphere in the upper room and also the supper: both helped me unwind after a busy Monday.