Canadian Evangelism

Maybe I'm late to the table on this, but it's a new idea to me. We've been thinking a bit about summer bible camps recently. The subject has been on a number of our hearts; how to follow up with kids who attended a summer camp, perhaps referring them to a local Alpha to make sure they are properly spiritually cared for and/or discipled. I just had a great meeting with the executive director of a Bible here in Alberta. His heart is, what to do about kids as they leave camp - how to connect them with Youth Groups. He told me of one kid who he picked up and delivered directly to a local church, but not every camp director can do that with every kid. It's also not practical to run a full Alpha Youth Film Series during one week at camp. So... how to integrate these kids into a group following camp? A few possibilities: Tell kids of local churches who are running Alpha and hope they contact them Give parents the same info and hope they encourage their kids to do the same Ask ...

Our Lady Of Seven Sorrows Catholic Church, Maskwacis Alberta I was invited, on one day's notice, to make a presentation on Alpha to the board of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Catholic on the Samson Cree First Nation reserve at Maskwacis, Alberta. I think it may have been a, "put your money where your mouth is" kind of moment, because I have been communicating for some time with Fr Nilo at Sacred Heart in Wetaskiwin about Alpha in that parish. Fr Nilo also oversees Maskwacis. Fr Nilo, by the way, is familiar with Alpha, and likes it, having taken a course at another Catholic parish a few years ago. I love Sacred Heart. They are a very active parish full of the Holy Spirit with a number of faith formation programs going on. I called him, perhaps on a whim, perhaps on the prodding of the Holy Spirit, on Tuesday. After the usual pleasantries, he said, "Come to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows tomorrow night and make a presentation on Alpha to our board meeting." Have you ever...

Leaning on the Everlasting Question Mark  Me and Mr Big Question again, at the Vanguard College (Edmonton) Ministry Fair, yesterday. This event is mostly for first-year students to investigate possibilities for placement opportunities to earn their field education credits. Youth Coach Amy and I were there to 'raise awareness' (I hate that term; I sound like a supermarket checkout clerk) of Alpha, especially the Youth Film Series, as an opportunity for student interns to do just that, either solely by running an Alpha or by running one as part of an internship in a local church. We were also there (at least I was, and I think it worked well for both of us), not only to meet the students, but to network with leaders and Youth Pastors of various local churches and ministries. We were joined by the Rev Jon Connell, who was hoping to find an intern for his own church. I think the event was a great success for each of us. It was encouraging to see how many ministries who had tables...

Me and (Big Question) Mark Amy Croy is our coach in Alberta for the Alpha Youth Film Series.  It is her passion to equip students to reach their friends with the good news of Jesus Christ. So she and Chet Kennedy of Beulah Alliance in Edmonton organized a gathering of Youth Pastors and workers at Beulah to network, strategize and hear about what's happening in that area in the Edmonton vicinity. It was about a week ago and for some reason it has taken me this long to finish this post. One of the key aims is to see Alpha run in as many schools as possible. The ultimate dream is that every student in Alberta would have the opportunity to hear the gospel, to learn about the Christian faith and to have a safe place to discuss their big questions. I love attending these youth events. It gives me great encouragement to see our Church in the hands of these dedicated workers and to hear of the wonderful things happening in this next generation. I believe the Alpha Youth Film Series is hav...

OK, so the context isn't quite right. But my point is that Alpha is most effective when it is run multiple times, one season following another. For one thing, in my own Alpha's, and many others I know, guests reach the final evening of a course and don't want to stop getting together. And then again, finishing one Alpha is the perfect time for guests who have had a meaningful spiritual experience to begin looking forward to who they can invite to the next one. It's also the ideal time ask potential leaders from your course just finished to serve on team for the next one. Several times I have spoken to church leaders or Alpha coordinators who have wonderful reports on what happened on their Alpha, but for some reason felt that was it and there was no reason to run it again. Just this past week one Alpha coordinator was telling me how wonderful their Alpha was - they had at least 3 baptisms among the guests. I asked, "Are you running Alpha again this fall?" He s...