Canadian Evangelism

I enjoy challenges. Usually I enjoy them more after I've seen a positive outcome than I do leading up to facing them. But I'm always amazed at how God orchestrates things. I must say I have not often been disappointed during my time in this Alpha ministry. There have been times I have been very nervous about some upcoming event or task, and spent much agonizing time in prayer, but when I look back I'm amazed at how well things worked out. I think it must be because it was God's will that they work out the way they did. It could have been a major event, an appointment with a church leader or just walking up to a church door making a cold call. One thing that comes to mind is an idea I took from one of Jan Karon's Mitford books; that is, In any situation, if I don't know specifically what to pray, I can merely pray, "Thy will be done." It's the prayer that always works. Another thing is that I sometimes seem to wake up in the middle of the night, gre...

I spoke with Pastor Paul Vallee of Living Stones church in Red Deer. I met with him earlier this year as Living Stones was about to begin their first regular Alpha in some time (they have run Alpha’s Youth Film Series a number of times). After that meeting, I made myself a reminder to call after their Alpha weekend to see how it went. I must say that my conversation with Pastor Paul made my day. They had 13 people pray to receive Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit. They saw two previously completely unchurched families arrive for church on Sunday morning and left impressed and loving it. I also carried on an email conversation with City Centre Church , here in Edmonton. They are running Alpha in Prive Ultralounge next door to their office. Their Sunday morning services are held in a Landmark Cinema in Downtown Edmonton. Judging by the Lounge’s website I’d say, at the very least, it’s an interesting venue for an Alpha. Last night was their first night and they had 18 new peopl...

Here is a devotional thought I shared with the Alpha Canada Regional Director team on our most recent  conference call. I am so blessed to be part of a praying team. Psalm 124 If the Lord had not been on our side —   let Israel say —  if the Lord had not been on our side   when people attacked us,  they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;  the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,  the raging waters would have swept us away.  Praise be to the Lord , who has not let us be torn by their teeth.  We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.   Our help is in the name of the Lord , the Maker of heaven and earth. I’m thinking of prayer. Why do we pray? If God knows what we want, why do we ask Him? If He knows what he is going to do, why do we ask Him.  The question that occurred to me is, “What if?” What if the Lord had not...