Southlands is looking at the possibility of launching a new Alpha course in conjunction with Churches Together in South West York.
The last one had to be abandoned because it had attracted only three “seekers”. But the team leading the course had been encouraged by the fact that these were genuine “seekers” who really wanted to do the course.
However, there had been two occasions when none of the “seekers” had been able to attend for one reason or another. All three had indicated they wanted to continue with the course but felt there needed to be more people there.
Team members were disappointed by the attendance at an open meeting attended by the Rev David Simpson, chairman of Churches Together in South West York, and agreed that without considerable support from the churches, in terms of helpers and people willing to invite and accompany “seekers” to a launch meeting for an Alpha course, there would be little chance of being able to get a viable course started.
Chera Blower said that in her experience the more successful courses started with personal invitations by churchgoers to non-churchgoing friends or acquaintances. “We could deliver 4,000 invitations leaflets to homes in this area, as had been suggested, but the best responses come as a result of personal invitations from people willing to accompany them to the first few sessions,” she said.
“It’s the personal connection, even to the extent of phoning up the person invited from time to time to ask how the course was going.”
There was some concern about the fact that the people seen in the Alpha DVDs all appeared to be young business types, which might not quite fit the profile of “seekers” responding to invitations here. Chera said it might be possible for some of the talks at least to be given by our own church people, mirroring the points made by Nicky Gumbel.
But there was also a suggestion that we should look into other similar courses which might not be quite so challenging.
She said: “We need to get churches and their congregations to think outside the box.”
For further information phone Bob Lawrence on 01904 639231 -- or email Church.Stewards@southlandsmethodist-york.freeserve.co.uk
NOTE: This page checked on May 4, 2008.