Canadian Evangelism

Jimmy Reed is one of my all time blues artists. Many of you may not even have heard of him, and I'm sure it's not everyone's taste, but this is what I often listen to on You Tube while I'm working on my computer for Alpha - whether writing this blog, composing or answering emails, or engaging in some other creative pursuit. Even praying sometimes, believe it or not. I consider music to be God's gift to us. God only gives good gifts (Matthew 7:11)  and every good gift comes from Him (James 1:17). Jimmy's trademark, if I can explain it to anyone who might understand was the familiar boogie-type rhythm on an E chord, alternating B and C# (sometimes up to D), then the same rhythm on an A chord and a B chord, in typical 12-bar blues style. You can hear it in practically every one of his songs. If that makes no sense, whether you are a musical expert or not, please forgive me. It makes sense to me as I try to explain it, or at least as I play it on my guitar. Today ...

As you may know, Bear Grylls has generously lent his name and brand to publicize Alpha around the world in the Global Alpha Campaign. The campaign began in various areas of Canada last fall and actually continues until the end of this year, 2017. Alpha is an opportunity to explore life, faith and God in a friendly, open and informal environment. It is a series of talks over 10 to 12 weeks on the basics of the Christian faith, where enquirers can come to ask their big questions and hear about Jesus without judgement or condemnation. Alpha offers all the materials, including the talks and training, at no cost to anyone who wants to run or host an Alpha. Here is the stats page for the fall of 2016. Because it may be a little blurry, I will list them here for you: Across Canada, last fall, 45,821 guests attended an Alpha 17,179 persons volunteered to be part of an Alpha team 18,710 guests began or renewed a relationship with Jesus (nearly41%) 20,935 guests were non-churchgoers The...

From the Gospel Coalition website , by Tim and Michael Keller. This article is not about Alpha. It doesn't mention Alpha, but every one of these points fits precisely with the Alpha model. Alpha is being run successfully in campuses across the country, and this article tells us exactly why. 4 Promising Opportunities in University Evangelism We hope realism concerning  the challenges of university evangelism  doesn’t give the impression we think the prospects for university missions and evangelism are bleak. Not at all. The current climate, for all its challenges, also provides promising opportunities. Here are four. 1. Need for Deep Relationships First, there’s a deeper hunger for relationships than ever before. Students still intuitively want deeper friendships and relationships than their culture affords or encourages. Students are lonely and much more anxious than earlier generations. If they experience, not the thinness of late-modern consumer networking, but re...

One of yesterday's readings was from Genesis chapter 1: Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1: 1-3) I had a picture forming in my mind, although I didn't share it with the congregation, even though we have a time during our service for doing so, because the picture wasn't complete before that time was over. It still may not be complete; it is still forming, even as I write. It had to do with the Spirit hovering over the waters, and it the picture that began to occur to me was of the Holy Spirit hovering over the towns, cities and communities of Alberta; the territory God has given me to travel, to care about and to pray for. I pictured all the areas I visit, and pictured th e Spirit of God hovering over each one. The Holy Spirit is still hovering and as in the beginning, I picture him waiting to create, waiting...

I traveled to Bonnyville yesterday. Because I wanted to get underway earlier than Enterprise Car Rental was open, I picked up my vehicle on Wednesday night, and hit the road by 7 am on Thursday. Highway 28 north and east of Edmonton is undergoing quite a bit of construction, with the speed limit being reduced to 80 km/h much of the way. I was travelling in a line of traffic, actually doing less than that posted limit, when I hit one of the biggest potholes I've ever experienced, right in the driving lane where a vehicle's passenger-side wheels would be. The picture shown is not the actual pothole, but probably similar. Instantly the vehicle began to shudder. I knew I had a flat tire, so I pulled over to the shoulder, just past another abandoned car which, I assume, had undergone the same unfortunate experience. Getting out and walking around to the passenger side to look, I saw I actually had 2 damaged tires. The front one was completely flat and the rear one was low. I dug out...

Alberta Regional Newsletter Spring, 2017 From John Kivell, Alberta Regional Director   London, UK, 2017                  Holy Trinity Brompton and Royal Albert Hall Eva and I just returned from Alpha’s Leadership conference, held May 1& 2, 2017, with an Alpha Global Gathering on the 3 rd . These events, held every other year, are extremely encouraging to me in my position with Alpha Canada. Not only do they add to my enthusiasm and optimism for Alpha in Alberta, but it is so encouraging to see what God is accomplishing through Alpha around the world. You can access the talks from the conference here.   Click to view highlights of LC17​ I’d like to mention a few nuggets from the various teaching sessions:   From an expert on Church Planting – “Find an empty building and start running Alpha.” Don’t use people to build your ministry; use your ministry to build up people. Alp...