Hey if any one is on for-the-people.com we are deciding to have a study of
pdl.
Lelia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 6:20 PM
Subject: ALPHA
> Kathy,
>
> Thank you so much for that information. It sounds like a wonderful
> course. I'm on a mailing list that is now discussing the Purpose Driven
> Life curriculum or a book about it. Not sure which. I didn't get the
book
> so am not personally involved in the discussion.
> No, you didn't say too much about ALPHA. It was quite a concise write-up
> about it, and I appreciate your taking the time to explain.
>
> Helen
>
> At 05:44 PM 11/14/03 -0500, you wrote:
> >Carol and Helen,
> >Actually, there are fifteen sessions now. The ALPHA course is meant to be
> >mostly for seekers, but many churches also use it for their congregation
> >the first time through to remind them of just what their faith is all
> >about. That's where we are. Everything is covered in a pretty systematic
> >way. The sessions build on each other. There is a meal involved to break
> >down buriers and attenders are placed in groups that stay together
> >throughout the course for the sake of building a sense of community and
> >safety. By the end of the course, people feel pretty safe asking
> >questions because they know that they can trust the people in their
> >group. Also, if they do become Christians, or at least begin attending
> >church, they have a sense of knowing someone else who is already there.
> >Just walking into church is a huge hurtle for the unchurched to overcome.
> >Also, the group leaders and helpers, who are from the church, are
> >responsible to pray for there members every day and really be a shepherd
> >to the members of their group.
> >In Canada, there is a huge ALPHA movement right now. All of the
> >evangelical churches in Canada are offering it at the same time in an
> >attempt to evangelize their people, but also to build one another up in
> >the faith. Lot's of churches in America that have run the ALPHA course
> >for many years, I know two churches who have done it for 8 years now, are
> >now moving on to using Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life curriculum.
> >Interestingly enough, without us saying anything about that, some people
> >in our church are asking for us to do that as well.
> >Anyway, back to ALPHA, it isn't meant to be run in a church because, like
> >I said, the unchurched are usually more comfortable in someone's home
> >rather than a church. After this first run with our people, we intend to
> >continue offering it as a tool for our people to use to introduce Christ
> >to their friends and neighbors. We already have our first home set up for
> >next spring. So may people are afraid to share the good news of Christ
> >because their afraid that they will be asked a question that they won't
> >know the answer too, so they'd rather say nothing. It's sad, but it's
> >human nature I guess. This course provides a way for them to feel
> >supported and informative and less put on the spot.
> >If I've said too much, sorry. If not, you can look it up on the Web.
> >Sorry, I don't have the URL handy, but you're much better at that sort of
> >thing anyway.
> >In Him,
> >Kathy
> >
> >________________________________________________________________
>
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