Riverlife had their final Alpha session on last Saturday, 16 July 2022. For me, it was a 13 weeks of intensive labour for the ministry - 2 weeks of trial trainings and 11 weeks of Alpha runs. Being called upon to be a group leader for the very first time in Alpha, I have learned a lot for this season.
Alpha Group 4
My team were mostly from the oldest of all the participants and helpers. We are all in our 50+. There were 12 of us in my group. But for this last session, 4 could not come.
As this was our last session, I was thinking and praying about what notes I could write for each of them to encourage them to press on in their faith journey.
Card for Valerie
Notes for Valerie
Valerie got baptized on June 26 while in the midst of our Alpha class. It was a long 8 years since she accepted Christ is 2014 as she shared. So, I thought Psalm 37:4,5 would encourage her to stand firm in the Lord.
Joseph just recently received Christ. I really don't know whether he accepted Christ before coming to Alpha or during Alpha. I remember during the first session, he claimed that he wasn't a Christian. Yet, the administrator sent to me his name list indicating that he was a new believer prior to starting the Alpha classes. Whatever the situation, after the 4th session on "How can I have faith?" which I led them to say the salvation prayer, he said he did said the prayer.
Joseph's Card
Notes to Joseph
Now after Alpha, from our discussions in each sessions, we could see that he is now certain that he is a Christian. He even started to attend church for the past 3 weeks including the Friday/Saturday 8-9 July training seminar on "How to pray to change your World" by David & Greta Peters.
As I was praying for Joseph, somehow the verse Psalm 1:2,3 came to mind. I pray that he will continue to have this desire to hunger and grow in the Lord.
Daniel is the husband of Sharon, who is the colleague of Joseph and she invited Joseph to come to Alpha. As such, they also join the Alpha group. Whenever there are newcomers to Alpha, we would also invite the host of these newcomers to join in the session also.
Notes to Daniel & Sharon
As I was praying what to write to them, The thought of Abraham and Sarah came to mind. And so I claim, Genesis 12:2,3 for them.
Notes for Magdalene
Magdalene bought her pre-believing sister-in-law to our Alpha. As I was praying, somehow the word - "salt & light" appear strongly to me. And so, I wrote Matthew 5:16 for her. Surprising, during the last discussion, we shared about her many encounters of sharing Christ and how these people came to accept Christ through her. It was just as what I perceived as I wrote the notes early in the morning before I left home for Alpha session.
I have one pre-believer who is the sister-in-law of Magdalene. I have prayed daily for her salvation. But in my heart, it seem there was no break through. And so, I did not prepare any card or notes for her. The Holy Spirit was silent as I think about writing any notes for her. And so, during the Alpha discussion, I ask for her decision to accept Jesus into her life. As expected she reject doing so. And, so I just have to respect her decision. I did write a thank you note to her later, thanking her for coming to Alpha.
After the Alpha, we had some singing and a final group photo.
Final Alpha Photo
Reflection on Alpha
I was a bit disappointed that after praying for 11 weeks daily for Magdalene's sister-in-law, she still did not put her faith in Christ. I asked the Lord where the stumbling block is. Then, I felt strongly the impression God laid on my heart is that this kind of people need an anointed evangelist's job. Everyone is called to be a witness for Christ (Matthew 28:19,20). But there are 2 kind of evangelists - (1) sower; (2) harvester. Some are called to the office of evangelist (Ephesian 4:11,12). Those called to the office of evangelist are anointed and they will be mostly be harvester. While the rest of us, including me are mostly sowers when doing evangelism as we are not anointed but just being faithful to be witnesses for Christ.
Next, I also notice that to serve as Alpha group leader, the primarily ministry gift are pastor and evangelist. Alpha emphases on relationship and not on knowledge or teaching. The saying: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care". Without these 2 ministry gifting - pastor and evangelist, there will not be any impact to the participant and we will just end up sowing the seed or even not sowing at all. My primarily ministry gifting is teaching, secondary ministry is prophetic/prayer. As such, I find that I could not make much impact by being a group leader.
Thirdly, the participants have feedback to me that I was a good teacher during the last session at breakfast. Strangely, being a group leader, I am told during the Alpha training that I am not supposed to teach but facilitate the discussions. All I did during each session was to throw in a few questions and let the participants talked. I have to refrain myself from any teaching, and each time doing summaries and paraphrasing what each participants shared. After every discussions, I summarized the points brought up and reiterated the important lessons from the discussions and videos. With much effort, I had to set aside my ministry gifting of teaching and totally throw it away for the whole 11 weeks. And so, I was very surprised to hear them saying that I was a good teacher, which mean I have failed as a Alpha group leader.
And so, with much thinking and praying, I decided not the serve in the next Alpha August-October run in case I am called to be a group leader again. My strength in Alpha is to be helper and not leading.
One good thing that came out of this Alpha run is that the participants wanted to start a bible discussion on My Faith Journey, which is a follow-up class for young believer.
This is something that I always long and hope for, to study the Bible and get Christians to Love the Word, Learn the Word, Live the Word.
Agape
