Unlike Trix, Alpha is Not Just For Kids

I was invited to the Kiwanis Place Lodge, seniors' housing complex yesterday afternoon to make a brief presentation on Alpha for their afternoon church service. There were about 20 people there and they plan to run an Alpha for their building. The pastor at this service for the last two and a half years has been Ray Baillie of the Edmonton Family Worship Centre. My wife and I both went after our regular service at Christ the King and both enjoyed the experience.

First of all, let me say that I love seniors (after all, I am one) and think they are just as cute as children. First we had several songs out of their songbook (with very large print). The woman playing the organ was very enthusiastic, if not always spot on in rhythm or tone. She had parked her walker right beside the electric organ, which I just thought made an interesting picture. Pastor Ray then walked around the room holding the portable mic while four people read passages of Scripture, some of them quite boldly, may I say.

Then I gave a short message about how Alpha was a non-threatening way to invite friends to hear about Jesus. I repeated some of Michael Harvey's statistics on inviting and his encouragements to do so. Pastor Ray had prepared some printed Alpha invitations and left them on each table and asked how many people planned to invite. Several hands went up.

Ray gave an excellent message and the service ended with a rousing rendition of, "Because He Lives."

Touching base at the other end of the spectrum, Pastor Ray's wife, Elaine, who told me she ran Alpha's Youth Film Series at the Fort Saskatchewan Christian School, where she is a teacher, and was very pleased with the result. The had about 75 kids attend and plan to run it every year from now on.

Alpha for seniors reminds us that it is never too late to hear the Gospel. In fact, it may be more crucial at this time in our lives than at others, as time remaining is so short. One of my favourite Alpha stories to tell is of the, "seniors table' I hosted on an Alpha a couple of years ago, where two people in their 80's came to faith. One woman especially said at the end of that course, "I have finally been able to forgive my father, and the sense of guilt I've had all my life is finally gone." This was from someone in her 80's. That's a long time to wait for the freedom that Christ brings, but compared to eternity it is but an instant.

Blessings,
John

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