Is there anyone here who has done the Alpha Course and prepared to discuss it with me?

[oxocube]

A bit of background - I have always been a believer, went to church regularly from 7 to 14 years old then dropped out but have recently started going to church again at the grand age of 44 and I love it. I have found a church and a community where I feel I belong. The church itself is an international church, very 'alive' with a growing youth membership. I don't know what I would call it in terms of demonination - there are people from all faiths and backgrounds but I think the Hillsong style of worship, for those who know it, comes closest to describing it.

All new members (I have only been going since May) are strongly encouraged to go to a series of new members meetings to find out more about the church and how we can support each other and I think I go to my first meeeting next month. They also encourage the Alpha course which I have researched and a few friends have been on. Please could anyone here their experiences of this with me. I am interested and considering it but am also a bit nervous . I don't know if I'm ready to share my faith or beliefs so openly with others. Thanks to anyone who can give me any information.

I'm happy to chat about it oxo - I've done the course and also been a group leader. I guess every church will have its different way of doing it and different emphases etc, but it is designed to be a place to question and discuss, and certainly not somewhwere you are expected to be a certain way or conform to a certain kind of belief. You sound like you feel nervous about the aspect of exploring the faith you have in public - there would be no pressure for you even to say anything if you don't want to - it can be a place to sit and listen, take it all in and ponder on it all.

I'm glad you've found such a great church with a good community going. Hopefully the alpha course will just be an extension of that for you and an enjoyable and sociable experience. Maybe as you go along you'll feel happier to talk through stuff as you go along, maybe you'll be happy to be quiet. Either way should be fine. If you want a sounding board to talk through any of the stuff that comes up feel free to here. Hope this helps a bit.

Thanks madhairday

My new church (it still sounds strange saying that!) is Evangelist I guess. It places a lot of emphasis on spreading the word which is maybe where I get the idea of a public display of faith on the Alpha Course) and on every member of the church being actively involved both in the church community and in our community at large - giving back practically and spiritually I suppose you would say.

Two of my kids have started to come along with me, the younger one to the kids group and my 12 year old daughter to the service itself, inspired by the fact that one of her best friends is a committed Christian and a member of the same church and by the music which she would refer to as 'Christian Rock' . This is despite both of my children professing to be unsure if there is a God at all!!

I think I would be happy to ask questions and I certainly like a good debate but what I wouldn't be comfortable with is sharing some private details about my life - but I guess from what you say, I wouldn't have to do that if I didn't want to.

Thanks again for your reply!

I have done it twice. it is a very good forum for discussion - both of the courses I have done were very different as the group make up was very different. I would recommend it but with a caveat that it is ok to disagree with Nicky Gumbel (and your fellow atendees) - I do not think it should be accepted as a definitive view of any topic/issue raised.

Listening to views and interpretations of others - particularly folk who had been Christians for a long time - was a great experience for me...a great sounding board!

You can remain as anonymous or as open as you wish. You may feel a closeness ..or solidarity with your group as you come to know them better asthe weeks go oon.

There are one or two aspects of the course that I struggled with - both times! But, others did too (not necessarily the same bits)

If you go and do not like the first session, I would say give it 2 or 3 weeks for the group to engage and open up. For me - the sessions got better as the course went on.

Good luck with it, and your faith issues generally.

i did it many years ago.
i think you maybe have some preconceived ideas about what it will be like. it is so nice. you don't have to worry.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply - since posting this question yesterday, I've done a search on forum for Alpha Course and come up with loads of information, some positive, some negative. I'm going to a 'connect' meeting in a few weeks anyway which is held by some of the church elders so will ask more about Alpha then too

Out of interest LittlePushka, why did you do the course twice? Is it because you lost faith or for some other reason? Sorry if this is being too intrusive

Not intrusive at all oxocube! I did it twice in two years because it helped enormously with many things, and I was keen to learn and understand. (My situation was very similar to yours.)

I did not lose faith, it clarified many issues and it was perhaps more instructive the second time around because I sort of knew the deal. I was also much more comfortable second time around to "agree to disagee" on certain aspects.

It was fundamentaly a good thing, for me. I learned a lot about myself and others and had very positive experience. Again I would say do not feel that you have to agree with every word or issue the course puts forward. It will raise more questions than it answers, hopefully!!

I am continuing on my journey with another "course" shortly and I will look for an appropriate bible study group for the winter I think. (Still cannot bring myself to look into the old testament yet...way too many miracles for me)