Alpha Course - has anyone else been on this?

[Yummers]

I started on one yesterday and would love to hear from others who have been on it.

My DH did one about 18months ago while I was pregnant, unfortunately I had college on that evening (trying to finish qualification before DS arrived) so couldn't go and he was working away a lot and missed around half of the sessions, he is keen to redo the course and fill in the gaps.
Hope you're enjoying it

Not myself but my Mum has done this a few years ago. I keep meaning to go on one but I'm loathe to go where she went first iyswim. i do like the people in that church though .

I haven't but know loads of people who have, including my dh, and they all loved it. Great way to get answers to any questions you have.

Hi i did one and loved it

I've not done it, butI've led it IYSWIM.

The basics of the course are great IMO, but it really really depends on who you've got leading the discussion. Although there are guides and workbooks etc, it's very dependent on personal opinion.

Go with an open mind and be prepared to do your own reading around and have a good look at the Bible references in context too.

Hope you enjoy it and it gives you some good food for thought

If you've ever got any questions come and pester us on the Christian prayer thread and we'll give it a go.

I did it years ago (it was based around videos of the Rev Nicky Gumbel - and his adoring wife Pippa). Perhaps it has changed - it helped me on my way from Christian to atheist!

christian to athiest? or athiest to christian?

Nicky Gumbel is v cheesy - nice line in sensible jumpers.

wE missed out the video chat bit and did out own talks! Didn't want people put off by this sort of image of a Christian

I've been involved in Alpha for many years, and have been involved in running several courses. It is a great ministry on many levels.

I couldn't stand the emphasis on all the wealthy and successful people who (through Alpha) had turned to God. Probably because I'm not so wealthy and neither successful nor unsuccessful. Also Rev Gumbel's voice had astonishing resemblance to that of Tony Blair.
So, just one more nail in the coffin of my belief and I moved slowly from Christian to Atheist (though not athiest).

They are CRAP and they are doctrinally flawed. They focus of positive thinking and not upon repentance. Also lots of very dodgy spiritually wierd stuff goes on on the away days/weekends.

Want to get to know your God...open the bible you will get on much better.

What do you mean by dodgy spiritually weird? Again I really think it depends who's running it as to what the focus is. I know some liberal churches miss out all the teaching on the Holy Spirit for example which is very dodgy indeed

Bobs mum,

You have to look at where it comes from. I know two women who came off the course and thought they were born again because they had some experiences of falling over, feeling hot at a weekend, they thought that they had recieved the Holy Spirit. But this cannot be so without repentance, and trusting in Jesus. They both realised this when told and indeed repented in earnest.

I could go on and on but check out this article if you feel inclined

www.intotruth.org/ms/ms2962.html.

Like I said its best to read the bible for yourself and let God speak to you through his word. If you would like a more truthful way of introducing Jesus then just post here and I will endevour to find you a site that presents the Gospel in a more Biblical way.

Blessings

PS I totally belive in the gifts of the spirit.done in a biblcally ordered way.

They do teach repentence on Alpha - I don't understand how you missed it.

beeper, I think what you say is totally right but that is only when the people running the course mismanage it. Plenty of people have become Christians on Alpha through repentance/forgiveness leading to Jesus and some of those people have also experienced the holy Spirit.

As I said my DH who was already a Christian did Alpha a few months ago and on the away day there was absolutely no falling over etc, even though this happens all the time in our church.

Message withdrawn

If catholicism was put down, this was contrary to the teachings of the Alpha course. One of the key things is not to put down other denominations. Nicky Gumbel actually has quite a few very respectful anecdotes from within the RC church.

I like Christianity Explored better, having done both

Catholic churches run Alpha Courses, too, though.

Personally, I prefer Christianity Explored, and I agree with Beeper about the doctrinal content. But I'm not a Charismatic in the slightest.

PeterlikesJane,

I am sorry that your faith was damaged in this way, my own faith has been of only 6 years duration and I came to salvation as a 30 year old. I got caught up in many of the deceptions like alpha and prosperity teaching and other stuff alot more weird.

God (YHWH) brought me out of all organised religion and I spent 3 years out of church and out of fellowship with others, mainly becuause of the damage cause by those who seemed to profess the name of Jesus. In this time both me and my husband have found a much more solid and deeper walk, we rely only on what the spirit teaches us from the Bible and not what men have to say about it. It was very hard in the beggining but the Lord is truly faithful.

Now we are in a small group of three families who all meet and worship and study together as equals in our homes, the Lord has brought each of us out of organised church.

Its not for everyone but keep going on with the Lord and ask him to renew your faith, he will do it.

thanks for your posts everyone - sorry i had to post and run!

Beeper that's exactly the bit i had a question mark about. being filled with holy spirit etc.

HI I loved alpha
and my away day was not dodgy in the least and I have never looked back so def worth doing IMO x

thanks mumofdjandp - sorry if this sounds nosy but can you give me an idea of what the day entails as i'm v curious

i'm imagining one of those american style evangelical churches where people have to come up to the front, shout a lot and writhe on the floor...

It's not shouty from what I recall. It's all very sedate and gentle, really.

There was some singing, some talking and prayer as the finale of it - the prayer involves people putting their hands on you, on shoulders or head. Not in an overly creepy way, just sort of like when someone is very tactile in their reassurance, iyswim.

It would unusual in the extreme for it to be remotely writhy, and you will be asked if you're ok with being prayed for and all that.

I still don't agree with it, though . but I'm the last person to say that means you should avoid it!