Have you ever thought about your life and wondered, “Is this all there is?!” Or, “ Why am I here? What is the purpose of all this?” We all have. And we ask these questions often without a clue to what the answers are and where to even begin to find out.
The Alpha course offers to questioners and seekers possible answers to life’s deepest questions. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that the Christian faith has a lot to say to these concerns we all have about life. Certainly it wouldn’t be fair to yourself never to have explored on an adult level the Christian message. After all, we have been around for over 2,000 years. And Alpha is just the way to do this.
The amazing thing is that Alpha is “non-sectarian” and endorsed by Christian leaders of all sorts of Christian denominations and traditions. Leaders such as Catholic Archbishop (Cardinal Wm. Keeler), Baptist (Billy Graham), Pentecostal leader (Jack Hayford), and Hispanic evangelist (Luis Palau) all endorse the Alpha course in basic Christianity.
There are many different streams within Christianity; on some of the details, there are important differences. But all Christians are committed to the faith handed down to us from Jesus, and despite the differences, our central core beliefs, worldview, and commitments are the same.
Alpha began in an Anglican Church in London, and since then has been having a quiet but real impact worldwide. Multiple millions of people have taken this course. This fall, churches across the United States are preparing to hold Alpha, including several in our area. And it’s spreading fast to many secular locations – prisons, university campuses, businesses, and schools.
In our own town, the Andover Congregational Church hopes to welcome many this fall to the Highland Lake Grange Hall in East Andover for our 27th Alpha course. We’ll begin on Tuesday, September 23, and continue every Tuesday evening for 10 weeks.
Every week people will meet together with new friends for a meal and a presentation on topics such as “Who is Jesus?”, “Why Did Jesus Die?”, “How Can I be Sure of My Faith?”, and “Does God Still Heal Today?” Then, in a small group they may ask any questions raised from the talk, in a non-judgmental, open environment with loads of opportunity for debate and discussion.
The style of Alpha is informal, friendly, and non-pressured. Alpha is for believers, non-believers, and seekers. No matter what your background, whether investigating Christianity for the first time or revisiting the Christian faith, you will get a lot out of the Alpha course.
Do join us on Tuesday, September 16, for a one-time visit for learning more about the course. We’ll begin with a great meal at 6:15 PM (this alone will keep you coming back!) followed by a DVD presentation: “Christianity: Untrue, Boring, and Irrelevant?!” There is no obligation or charge for the Alpha course (although contributions towards your meal are welcome). Please call 735-5160 for more information.