Alpha Testimony - 2023
At the Belfrey, we organise an Alpha course twice a year. Over the past few years, we have witnessed numerous individuals coming to know Jesus and getting baptised through their participation in Alpha. This year's January-March Alpha course was no exception. As of now, nine individuals have been baptised as a result of this year's Alpha, and we anticipate more baptisms in the near future.
In a first for us, we conducted Alpha in two languages this year: English and Farsi, catering to our Iranian members who wanted to participate. It was truly wonderful to witness how Alpha can be tailored for anyone. While the core content remained the same, some of the stories were adapted to resonate with Iranian culture in a way that the British context wouldn't. In total, we had approximately 30 guests walk the 10-week journey of Alpha with us.
A significant highlight of the course was the Holy Spirit day. If you're unfamiliar with Alpha, the Holy Spirit day is a dedicated time during the course where we spend a whole Saturday together, deepening our relationships, sharing meals, engaging in profound discussions, and eagerly awaiting the moving of the Holy Spirit. For this course, we collaborated with One Voice, joining forces with other churches within the One Voice network who were also conducting Alpha. Over 100 people participated in this day, and it was filled with a multitude of enriching experiences. We witnessed a beautiful outpouring of God's presence as many individuals encountered the Holy Spirit for the first time. It was on this day that several of our guests decided to commit their lives to following Jesus.
Following the conclusion of the Alpha course, we initiated a discipleship course centred around Matthew Porter's book, "A-Z of Discipleship." This group has now become an integral part of our Belfrey community. It has been truly fantastic to observe the love and support that each member extends to one another. Just a couple of weeks ago, when one of the group members was baptised, every single member of the group stood at the front, providing unwavering support and offering heartfelt prayers. We are witnessing people embracing Jesus, undergoing discipleship, and it's an absolute privilege to be a part of this transformative journey.
Alpha holds immense significance within the life of our church. We are witnessing individuals bringing their friends, colleagues, housemates, neighbours, and spouses, who are then encountering Jesus through Alpha. The impact of Alpha is expanding the Kingdom of God.
If you've never invited anyone to Alpha before, I encourage you to seriously consider it. Here's a testimony from someone who participated in Alpha with us this year:
When I joined Alpha, I carried with me a multitude of questions (many of which I had already bombarded my Christian husband with). Initially, my intention was to seek knowledge, and indeed, I did learn a great deal. However, what took me by surprise was the gradual yet profound transformation of my heart over the course of those weeks, eventually leading me to discover my faith and receive baptism.
Alpha provides a safe space to ask difficult questions. It is facilitated with sensitivity, and nothing is forced upon anyone. What truly resonated with me was the honest sharing of diverse perspectives during group discussions, which opened my eyes to the power of faith and what it means to be a follower of Jesus in my own life.