ok perhaps I'm dumb but what's PDL?
Shelly who really needs to renew her subscription to that service perhaps I
shall do it right now.

----- Original Message -----
From: "lelia" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 9:20 PM
Subject: Re: ALPHA


> 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
> > >
> > >________________________________________________________________
> >