Camrose Ministerial


Youth Associate Amy Croy (note the new job title) and I travelled today to beautiful Camrose to make a presentation to that city's Ministerial. The presentation went well, in spite of the enemy's attempts to interfere. Here is how it went:

The agenda was set. The meeting was to begin at 11:30, starting with a brief devotional, then the taking of food orders, a bit more conversation, then lunch. After lunch I was to make my presentation, then Amy was to close with her story of Alpha's amazing success story at a Central Alberta First Nations' school. Then we would leave the group to carry on with the business section of their meeting agenda.

That was the plan.

So food orders were taken and conversation embarked on... and on... and on...

The chairman decided to go to, "Old Business," which they did, and covered it completely. More conversation... and more... and more

After about a half hour, it was suggested that I actually begin my presentation. My plan was to give a very brief overview of Alpha (when I began, I asked who all was familiar with Alpha - almost every hand went up.) So I spoke about Alpha as an idea, a story and a tool. I covered some of the new materials recently or about to be released, and emphasized the upcoming Global Advertising Campaign with Bear Grylls (pictured above) which is due to roll out around the world this coming fall.

That was my plan.

I had no sooner introduced myself and gone to the second slide of my Power Point than the first salad arrived. I jokingly thanked them for their time and said what a lovely time I had had speaking with them and sat down. But that was it. No more food. So I decided to get back up and finish my presentation. The food then kept arriving all during my address. I felt a bit hurried, but carried on nonetheless. I believe I held he audiences attention reasonably well, and I actually ended while the lasagna I had ordered was still at least lukewarm.

Long story short, the guests responded well, and there was interest in our returning and doing a more intensive training (what we are now calling an 'Alphalab' for a number of churches in town. There were a number of good contacts and encouraging responses that I don't have time or space to list here. Suffice it to say that we felt it had been a very fruitful time.

On the way back to Leduc, we decided to make a slight detour to Maskwacis, home to four First Nations bands and where I have been working to see the Alpha Youth Film Series presented.

I'm not sure I have posted regarding what may be called, 'challenges' in getting this ball rolling, but since my first meeting at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, I have had other meetings with other people there. There has been staff turnover and difficulty in actually pinning things down. So we, "dropped in" at the workplace of one of the women who were going to coordinate it.

Another long story short, we ended up helping her register her course, Amy was invited to church one Sunday to publicize it, and will actually attend at least the first session to help them get it off to a good start.

At the close of this day, I can only think that only God could have put it together the way He did.

So it was a pretty good day.

Blessings,

John

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