ALPHA ANOTHER INSTRUMENT FOR UNITY IN DIVERSITY

 

 

ALPHA being promoted heavily in the Philadelphia area this autumn.

This following site is supposed to have a balanced view of the ALPHA course which is for you to decide. If it doesn't line up with the Word of God, a believer should not participate. http://www.diakrisis.org/alpha_course.htm

 

Following is a response from the ALPHA Japan co-ordinator. Apparently a coordinator is necessary for the Alpha Course. Jonathan Wilson in Tokyo is connected with the work Andy Game Alpha Japan Co-ordinator does with ALPHA IN JAPAN.

The following article appeared in the FOCUS Newspaper July 2000 edition. This is the news and features paper from Holy Trinity Brompton, London, the home of The ALPHA Course. It highlights the report made at the International ALPHA Advisors meetings in London last month. These meetings were attended by 230 Church leaders from 44 nations.

Andy Game the ALPHA Japan Co-ordinator provided a brief overview. " We've had a very encouraging year in Japan with some good relationships formed with a number of different churches, particularly with the Catholic and Anglican Churches. It has been a great joy working on how we can use ALPHA together in outreach in the nation. There is a lot of interest in the principles of ALPHA and how we can fit those into the Japanese culture and how we can really reach the groups that represent Japanese society. ALPHA started in Japan with the international churches, but we now have some of the national churches who are doing very well with it."

Rev Hideki Kita (translated by Mami Schmitz) shared his experience of ALPHA at his church, Tokyo Chapel (JEC). "We started the ALPHA course in our church in Tokyo last July. There were two newcomers and when the course was finished these two newcomers got baptised. When the second course started last December there were also two newcomers but they were attending Sunday services at different churches, so it was a bit complex as we did not want to take people from that other church. So I prayed to the Lord and on the ALPHA Course these two girls accepted Jesus Christ and were baptised at the other church they were attending- not my own church. That confirmed to me that the ALPHA Course unites and brings churches together. I am now running the third ALPHA Course at my Church. This time, unfortunately, we don't have any newcomers but 10 of the 15 people on the Course are Catholic people, who are hoping to start their own course at their church. I'm praying that in such a way the ALPHA Course will expand in Japan"

Andy Game writes concerning the future plans for ALPHA Japan. "With the growing interest in ALPHA we are seeking to establishing a seperate ALPHA OFFICE this September in central Tokyo. We have been looking at suitable premesis and there now seems to be one which we have been offered that could service our needs. Along with this we will be requiring assistance to ADMINISTER all the planning and promotion of ALPHA in Japan and for that we are wanting a bi-lingual Japanese person, who has a heart for outreach and preferably some administrative skills. We are talking with someone at present, but we do ask for your prayers as we make these important decisions.

In order to co-ordinate all the developments it is envisaged that I shall be spending most of the autumn in Japan in order to see through developments." "Over the coming twelve to eighteen months there are a series of things that we wish to see developed. In order to make the most of the opportunities before us, these need to work in parallel. Firstly there are a number of 'INTRODUCTION SESSIONS' that we wish to run in responce to invites from local churches; we also envisage that there will be 'TEAM TRAINING' meetings that will be wanted as further preparation towards starting more ALPHA courses. Secondly, we will be working on having the ALPHA VIDEOS translated into Japanese. This is huge task and having the right person to fulfil the task is vital; it is also a time consuming work. Then, thirdly we will be planning towards a National ALPHA CONFERENCE which will have the leaders from Holy Trinity as the speakers. For this there will be an inter denominational committee formed who will organise this major event."

Thank you for your interest in the vision for ALPHA in Japan. May we ask for your on going prayers and support as we move ahead with these key developments. There have been good relationships made over the past two years and we are now in a position to begin working together. Before the autumn begins we shall be sending further details of our plans and there is the opportunity for you to be involved! Together we can do it! [Source: Andy Game ALPHA JAPAN CO-ORDINATOR -- http://www.Alpha.org.uk

BACK

Tell your friends about us and thank you for visiting Cephas Ministry Inc. (www.cephasministry.com)