JOHN LAMERTON, national ministry director at Alpha Australia, says having the chance to ask hard questions can change your life…
If we’re honest, we all have questions about life, faith and meaning. The problem is finding someone or group of people we trust enough to ask those niggling thoughts and doubts. That’s what Alpha aims to create, an environment where those questions can be aired. Alpha is an eight to 12 week series which invites participants to share a meal, watch a talk and then ask anything that the subject stirs up. Thousands of churches and groups around the country have now hosted an Alpha and more than 500,000 Australians have taken part.
Journeying together. Alpha courses involve meeting with a group of people over a number of weeks in an environment where tough questions can be aired. PICTURE: Benjamin Lambert/Unsplash
“Whatever our background, upbringing or circumstances, taking time to ask the big questions of life, faith and meaning can result in the change our hearts are often yearning for. If God can help those struggling with mental health, drugs and alcohol, or asylum seekers and prisoners, surely He can help us too with our own struggles.”
Between drinks, Katie had plenty of questions. She hated God and disliked Christians, and sought comfort from the pain of life in alcohol. When a couple of longterm friends invited her to Alpha she was afraid that if she went, she’d be judged and have people force their views onto her. But surprisingly, what she found was acceptance and instead she got to voice her questions. The group she did Alpha with became close friends and along the way she chose to follow Jesus. Katie’s life changed. Alcohol no longer had a hold. She found a new life and happiness.
Tadros came to Australia as an asylum-seeker from Egypt. He was struggling mentally with the changes to life in a different country and after meeting a friend for coffee, they “stumbled” across an Alpha happening in a cafe in the laneways of Melbourne. They asked what was happening and the Alpha team explained they were talking about Jesus and invited them to join in, so they did. Through the process Tadros had many questions he’d never got to ask about God before. He admits “I wasn’t thinking about Jesus before Alpha, I was thinking of my pain and my families pain, and how I was going to get through life. But the Holy Spirit met me at Alpha, He was looking for me and I found Him”. Tadros’ life saw a dramatic improvement and he is now an active member of his church.
Thanh was attending a festival when things took a turn for the worst with his girlfriend – she ended up in a critical condition in hospital. Devastated Thanh found his way to the hospital chapel and called out to God in desperate prayer. Not long after, a friend comforting him in hospital invited him to try Alpha at their church in Sydney. The very next week he went and surprisingly he found the people warm and accepting. He kept coming back each week asking his questions. He says “I felt so loved and forgiven. Through Alpha I’ve learned how loving God is.” At Easter this year, Thanh was baptised – surrounded by the new friends he’d made at Alpha.
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Eliza was asked to run Alpha in the local Youth Detention Centre. She organised a team and booked a time with the chaplin. They had run Alpha many times before at their Brisbane church, but never before in a prison. On their first visit things went amiss, the Alpha DVD was not permitted past security so the team was left to wing-it. They did all they could do, they prayed – and one of the team had a word of knowledge about a “popping shoulder”. They asked the in-mates, but it wasn’t any of them. Then the accompanying guard admitted it was his shoulder. After praying for him, his shoulder was healed and all 15 inmates witnessed the miracle. “I’m not a Christian” he said, and the team replied “It’s OK, we are and God loves to heal everyone!”. The participants were amazed and made sure they came back the next week – and this time they watched the DVD!
Whatever our background, upbringing or circumstances, taking time to ask the big questions of life, faith and meaning can result in the change our hearts are often yearning for. If God can help those struggling with mental health, drugs and alcohol, or asylum seekers and prisoners, surely He can help us too with our own struggles. Everyone is welcome at Alpha along with every question, why not try an Alpha near you or take the bold step of hosting one yourself and inviting your friends who have little or no faith to come too. Let’s make space for people’s questions.
John Lamerton is national ministry director at Alpha Australia.
