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alpha india news
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3 | JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
NEWS IN BRIEF
Alpha among Tranvestites: The Alpha course was run among a group of Travestites in Bangalore. It is the first time they have heard about Jesus. Read more on Pg. 4
THE QUARTERLY NEWSPAPER OF ALPHA INDIA
PRISONS RUN ALPHA COURSE
Alpha in Prisons: The Alpha course is running in prisons in Odisha. We interviewed some Ex inmates who had done Alpha while in prison. Pg. 6 - 7 Alpha in the Slums: Through the intitiative of Eternal Life Fellowship, Alpha course is running in the slums of South Kolkata. Pg. 8 Alpha for Forces: Soldiers in the army are growing in faith by attending the Alpha course in their barracks. Pg. 9 The Parenting Book: A highly recommended book for parents. Written by Nicky & Sila Lee. Pg. 10 Financial Partnership We appreciate your financial partnership. If you are inspired to support Alpha India then please use the details below, or contact Josy Joseph at the Alpha India Office. Alpha India Account: Account Number: 03532000005741 Name: Alpha India Bank: HDFC Bank Ltd. Branch: Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore Acc Type: Current Account
The Alpha course is running in Prisons around the world. In India, prisons in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Odisha are using the Alpha course to bring transformation in the lives of the inmates. We travelled to Odisha and spoke to the people who are taking the course to the prisons and also met with some of the reformed inmates. Full report on Pg 6 - 7 Alpha among Transvestites.
The Alpha course is helping people gain their identity in Christ and live a healthy lifestyle. Story on Pg 4
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alpha notes
National Alpha Office contact details:
READERS’ STORIES&PHOTOS
Alpha India: 219, 5th A Main Road, HRBR 2nd Block, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore - 560 043 Tel: 080 2542 0902 IDD: +91 80 2542 0902 Email: contact@alphaindia.org Web: www.alphaindia.org
National Director: Mr J Varadaraj Board Members:
Scott Norling, Chairman Chris Sadler, Alpha Asia Pacific Chairman J Varadaraj, National Director Dr A. F. Pinto, CEO of St. Xavier Group of Schools and Ryan International Schools Gul Kripalani, Managing Director of Pijikay Fr. Anthony D’Souza S.J. Director of the Xavier Institute of Leadership Amrit Kunder, Builder/Developer Noel Swaranjit Sen, Former Police Chief of A.P T. David Raj, Joyce Meyer Ministries, India Matthew Anthony, Secretary for Evangelisation, Archdiocese of Delhi
ALPHA INDIA NEWS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
Many thanks for the testimonies, stories and photos that have been posted to us. Once again in this issue your stories have been printed throughout the newspaper, together with other encouraging stories we have collected from across the nation. Please send your stories to, Email: stories.alphaindia@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/alphacourseindia Postal address: Alpha India National Office 219, 5th A Main Road HRBR 2nd Block, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore - 560 043
Letter from BISHOP Rt Rev Pinuel Dip
Church Advisory Board:
Greetings from the Diocese of Sambalpur.
Alpha India Regional Offices:
I Wholeheartedly thank God Almighty for the fruitful ministry of Alpha India which has been instrumental in bringing more people to the church. The tools that are being used by Alpha India are very powerful and effective for the revival and growth of the Church.
Archbishop Vincent Concessao Bishop Rt. Rev. V. M. Malaviya Rev. Dr D. Mohan, Superintendant of AOG India
Thomas Mathew, North West Region, Chandigarh Email : thomas.alphaindia@gmail.com Ph : 081465-67573 Jimmy Harshkant, West Region, Ahmedabad Email : damorejimmy@gmail.com Ph : 09825-444197 Prabir Mondal, East Region, Kolkata Email : prabir.alphaindia@gmail.com Ph : 096744-61951 Ranjit De, North East Region, Shillong Email : ranjitde@alphaindia.org Ph : 094347-59794
National Coordinator’s Contact details:
Now we are living in a materialistic world. Consumerism and discontentment are rampant in our society. People are being attracted to the world forsaking the love of God. Globalization is devouring the sanctity of India the society. Indian cultural ethos is dominated or rather replaced by western culture. In this context, the Alpha course sounds appropriate to bring about a change in the thinking of our people and help them experience the fullness of in Christ. I admire the initiative taken by Alpha India to revive the Church and to bring more people to the vineyard of our living Lord. It is indeed high time for all the Churches of Odisha to use this tool of Alpha in order to help people have an abundant life and also to extend the Kingdom of God which is the need of the hour. May God Almighty bless Alpha India abundantly and use it mightily for His glory and also for the good of His people.
Alpha in the Workplace: Santosh Chettri Mob: 090070-22889
With prayer and all good wishes.
Alpha for Prisons: Peace & Anik Khapai Mob: 09597-421832
Yours in His service,
Youth Alpha: Melissa Thomas Mob: 080953-22726
Rt. Rev. Pinuel Dip Bishop, Diocese of Sambalpur
State Coordinators’ Contact details: Andhra Pradesh: Susheel K Chattar Mob: 098660-99184
Alpha India Staff updates
Andhra Pradesh - Hindupur: Paul J L Mob: 094408-61979 Bihar: George Muller Mob: 094310-16124 Himachal Pradesh: Rupak K Nayak Mob: 093189-02997 Jammu & Kashmir: Mushtaq Ahmad Mob: 099066-84250 Kerala: Binu N. Philip Mob: 093882-04322 Karnataka - Bangalore : Joseph & Rebecca Mob: 098866-08954
Anitha Joseph Executive Secretary to the National Director
Jimmy Harshkant & Family Regional Manager, Alpha West
Ranjit De Regional Manager, Alpha North East
Karnataka: Sam Victor Mob: 099646-98118 Odisha: Tushar K Behera Mob: 093371-41600 Odisha: Jayadeep Samantroy Mob: 098535-03813 Uttar Pradesh: Vinay P Dayal Mob: 093594-86843 West Bengal: Dilip and Kakali Debnath Mob: 098742-07760
© Alpha India 2011, edited and published by J.V. Raj for Alpha India
Prabir Mondal and Family Regional Manager, Alpha East
Binu N. Philip Coordinator, Kerala
ALPHA INDIA NEWS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
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alpha notes
From the National Director Random thoughts
There are a few books that have been reading me.
done is so little. There is so much more to be done. May our world expand.
A novel titled “The Help” set in early 1960’s in Mississippi region just before Martin Luther King Junior by Kathryn Stockett. This story is about three ordinary women - White and Black that brought about changes in attitudes in a community.
We are encouraged at the Lord’s doing in many parts of the world. There are many stories of transformation in the current issue.
The second one is “Kings Cross” by Timothy Keller - on the gospel of Mark reads like a modern day C S Lewis. And the third one, a new biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas. Good books influence our thinking and lifestyle. I recommend also Graham Tomlin’s Prodigal Spirit and The Holy Spirit in the world today edited by Jane Williams containing the talks of Jurgen Moltmann, Miroslavvof, Arch Bishop Rowan Williams and others.( Both by SPTC)
My time with Pete Greg of 24 x 7 and Director of Prayer HTB, as well as the prayer time in HTB was a blessing. I marvel at the many lovely people whom God has recruited to do His errands. Pete is a General among us. He is launching a year of prayer in 2012 in Europe and we can join them for a week in all our churches to pray for the world.
f. Lateral mobility of educated urban youth, experimenting new kinds of life styles like live - in relationships, cross cultural and inter caste marriages breaking down the Vertical equations of Old Hindu Society.
Prayer is about a Loving God, His Loyal Church and a Lost World. Prayer is about God who is waiting to answer prayers. Isa.30:18. The art of prayer is inculcated in the intimacy of His gracious presence.
h. Marriage break down and suicides on the increase, especially in urban areas.
There are Mega trends that we observe in the country;
g. More liquidity without commensurate character leading to destructive habits.
i. 50% of the population are women. Yet, there is visible discrimination against women. j. Children continue to be a great omission.
Religion is giving advice. At some point all advice degenerates into a bunch of rules. The fallen mind of man has immense propensity to reduce the best gifts of God into mundane rules and regulations. So much of human control involved.
a. a crisis of leadership. Where giants once strode, pygmies crawl around. b. a crisis of community. A sense of belonging has been lost with self absorption being the way of life.
I remember Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. “The hands of the king are healing hands. thus shall the true king be known.”
Christian faith is good news of God liberating people bringing in transformation of communities.
c. a crisis of faith: Faith both personal and that of community is under fire from all quarters.
May we who know the king make him known bringing healing to the millions who are seeking to find the true king.
Listening to 30 seconds to 1 minute stories from 100 countries from all over the world, at the Alpha International week 2011 June, I hear the good news that God has kept His Word... For God so loved the world.
d. Unplanned urbanization leaving people in high stress levels with fresh challenges and new complications.
Thank you for your encouragement to us. We need your fellowship and depend on your prayers.
e. Globalization poses transmission of ideas and its effects rapidly with a consumerist philosophy of life - a new kind of slavery not exempting even the Church.
Do write to us and tell us of God’s goodness.
It also dawned on me that what has happened is very good news. But there is a lot more good news waiting. What we have
Alpha India team sharing at International Week
The list goes on...
Raj
from the field
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ALPHA INDIA NEWS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
ALPHA COURSE AMONG TRANSVESTITES Report by Jagadish
I am really glad and thankful to Alpha for conducting the Alpha course amongst our group. The last ten Monday evenings have been a big blessing to us. Chandru and Joseph have been very regular to the classes and they really did enjoy the course and are able to understand who is Jesus Christ and what has done for them. They really want to know more about Christ and become like Him, leaving their old nature and lifestyle. They have learnt some worship songs and are discovering their life in Christ. Enchra and Aqsa who are still cross dressers had also come for the Alpha course. They also heard about Christ but are still struggling
Training at Kolar Gold Fields Report by S R Joseph
move of the Spirit of God. Many of them recommitted their lives to God. Rev Charles Finney will soon run the next Alpha course in the month of July 2011.
Advisors meet in Lucknow Report by Vinay P. Dayal
Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) city was one the most prosperous city in India. It was here that Gold used to be mined. KGF played a major part in the prosperity of the British Empire. It was here that we were able to have 1-day training at Gethsemane Assembly of God Church. This church is located of Coramandel Post – KGF. Rev. Charles Finney is the Pastor of this congregation. He attended Rev. Nicky Gumbel’s conference “Accelerate” at Bangalore on 5th January. As a result of this meeting, he was inspired and motivated to run the Alpha course in his area. Ps. Jerald and his team conducted the training at his church. There were 42 people who had come for this training. They learnt how to run the Alpha course in this training. They started the Alpha course initially for their Church itself. There were 35 people from his church who went through the Alpha course. The Pastor reports that, during the ‘Weekend away’ there were was an amazing
I really thank God for the advisors meeting in Lucknow which was held on 26th April 2011. There were 50 leaders representing 17 districts who came for the meeting. They joined us as Alpha advisors for the State of Uttar Pradesh.
We had a great time of fellowship and sharing (Alpha Vision) to them and how we can reach our State for the Lord. After training a lot of people to start running the Alpha course we can reach thousands of people for the Lord. Almost every leader was challenged after the one day meeting to train people in their district. The advisors came up with their own plans to train leaders in their cities and towns. We are also very excited to see that a lot of leaders are offering their services for the ministry of Alpha India. I believe that in the days to come the Alpha
with their old nature. However, they are able to understand who Christ is and what He has done for them. They used to think that no one loves them but when they heard that Jesus loves them and died for them they were eager to know more about Him. Another friend Raju who used to call himself Preeti, was able come out of his old nature after attending the Alpha course. He was able to find a job and works with an NGO now. Still they need to grow in the Lord. Please continue to pray for them.It is the first time they are attending such a life transforming course. And they testify that they are truly blessed by the Alpha course.
course will be an effective tool to reach the people of UP.
Alpha course helped me to discover myself I am Shri Lingaraj Suna, a resident of Madhiapali. I was born and brought up in a Hindu family. I was living a normal worldly life. I had no desire for spiritual things. I had never thought of the meaning of my life and life after death. But in the course of time I was invited by Smt. Damini Dip to attend an Alpha course run by Mr. Paul Nanda. As I heard about Jesus in the first session, I hesitated to go back. But my spirit troubled me a lot for the whole week. I could not stop myself. I went back to attend the course, listened to the messages and asked many questions to clarify my doubts. As I continued I got peace in my life. I started thinking about my own life. I realized the fact that life in this world is not the end but we have a life in eternity. At the end of the course I discovered the truth and became a disciple of Jesus Christ. The that Jesus has forgiven me all my sins and I have the hope of eternal life after death. Now I worship the Lord Jesus Christ.
ALPHA INDIA NEWS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
This course has had such a positive impact on my personal life I am Amandeep Singh and I belong to a non Christian family but by God’s grace my family members don’t object to my being in the Christian faith. I came to know Jesus in 2008 and got baptized on 26th January, 2009. Since then God has been providing everything I have asked Him. I know He is the provider and creator of the universe. Whenever I think that the creator of Heaven and Earth knows me personally, my faith in Him grows and this makes all impossible things possible for me. I want to share something which is related to the Alpha course. For the last two months, I have been attending the Alpha course, run by Faith Community Centre, Chandigarh - as part of our church basic discipleship course. I am from a non-Christian family and whenever I meet with my cousins/relatives they frequently ask questions related to Christianity. While Earlier I was unable to give answers to some of their questions, I can now answer most of them. This course has had such a positive impact on my personal life and is helping me every day to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
GOD AT WORK Report by Santosh Chettri God at Work course started with 4 people in Salt Lake in Kolkata. Salt lake is the corporate hub here in Kolkata where many top MNCs have their offices. Around 1.2 Lakh people are employed in Salt Lake.
from the field The first course started with four engineers from Larsen and Tubro. However, in the second week the group increased to 16. The group had to be divided into smaller numbers. By the time the course was over there were 27 participants. 12 were from other faith. The course had professionals from all segments including the IT, engineers, banking and other professionals. This course was also an opening mainly to reach to friends of other faith. On Good Friday we discussed on the topic Who is Jesus? and Why did Jesus die? We had 11 engineers (friends of other faith) and 5 other believers. There was an interesting time of small group discussion after the talks.
I see myself change in the workplace By Ritwik Bhattacharyya At the outset let me thank you personally from the core of my heart for inviting me to this course. Every week I always look forward to this course. It gives me immense pleasure to interact with the other participants and know how their lives are being blessed I make new friends who are serious about their lives and want to be change- makers in the society. This course has certainly brought a change in attitude and reduced my stress factor especially in the workplace. As I get deeper into the course I see myself change in the workplace and in society as well. Many a times we tend to miss out on the smaller aspects in life which affect us adversely but when we attend such courses we are back on track. This course acts as a eye opener. Our leadership skills gets harnessed, we become motivators and change makers in the workplace. We cultivate patience and that has drawn us more closely to God. This course has helped in times of taking tough decisions and when at crossroads of life.
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Please Pray for Alpha in India Praise Points: 1. Praise God for the lives that have been transformed and the churches that have grown as a result of the Alpha course. 2. Praise God for the work of Alpha in Prisons 3. Praise God for the many trainings that are happening across the Nation. 4. Praise God for the grand success of the Alpha International Week. 5. Praise God for the soul stirring testimonies of the people around the globe that was shared at the Alpha International Week.
Prayer Points: 1. Pray for Coordinators for Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Chandigarh. 2. Pray for many more people to be trained and many churches would do the Classic and Youth Alpha course. 3. Pray for the health of all the Alpha Staff and Coordinators. 4. Pray for new partnerships to emerge. 5. Pray for the new Regional Offices in Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Shillong.
ONBOARD LOGOS HOPE It was energizing and exciting to live with 400 crew members from over 45 different nationalities onboard. The common goal of the entire ship’s company was to bring knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world. One of the days onboard I was interviewed and asked what I was doing back home and I told them that I was working with Alpha India. They asked me to briefly explain about Alpha and it’s ministry in India. After the crew heard about Alpha, many of them told me that they have attended the Alpha Course in their respective churches and some were also saved by attending the Alpha Course. It was so amazing to see God at work all over the world through the Alpha Course! One of the highlights of my trip would definitely be the 15 days of being on land teams during dry-dock in Sri Lanka. We had the opportunity of serving in a village called Kalladi. The community in the village have been victims of Tsunami and War. The recent flood has not made life easier either. It was moving to see that these people have just one meal a day and have just one mat in their four walled government provided-houses. But one thing that surprised me was that in spite of having nothing at all, they were so content. That was really encouraging for me because living in big cities we are never content with what God has given us, and we always want more. The opportunity to go and show Christ’s love is right where you are. Don’t go looking for it anywhere else. Look for it right where you are. Seize it! Take a step of faith to move forward. Trust God to show you someone today who needs the love of God. GRACE CHELLADURAI IT Support Executive, Alpha India
FEATURE STORY - A
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ALPHA IN
TRANSFORMING LIVES FROM TH
“Jesus who changed my life has chan Why run Alpha for Prisons ?
“Who is Jesus ?” and “Why did Jesus Die?”. These two topics helped them discover about themselves and about Jesus sacrificing His life for them. During the Alpha course, jail authorities would also come and see how For many in prison there is a desperate we were running the course and what we sense of loss and a deep hunger for are talking about. They were encouraged to meaning in life. Jesus Christ is the only see the changes in the lives of inmates and one who can satisfy this hunger. The Alpha course is designed as a tool to help allowed us to come to the prison and run the course at least twice a month. At present we answer some of the questions people have an opportunity to run this course in 4 have about the Christian faith and the different jails of Southern Odisha. meaning of life. It is only through lives changed by the love and forgiveness of Because of the life changing testimonies Jesus that we can hope to reduce the of the inmates, jail authorities invited us to crime in our world and the desperately do a Christmas program inside the prison high re-offending rates. in the year 2009 and 2010. We availed this opportunity and taught the Good news about In India, we have Alpha courses running Jesus among the inmates and the prison in prisons in Gujarat, Maharashtra and authorities. Odisha. The following testimonies are from Alpha courses running in some prisons in Odisha.
SANYASI PANI
MAGUNI SANANAYAK Alpha Advisor - Odisha There was an Alpha course Training which was held in Gopalpur. I attended the training and learnt about the 15 talks and about the three elements of the Alpha course: Meal, Talk and Small Group Discussion. I also attended the Training at Church of God, Cuttack where it was especially for those who were working among the prisons. Since then I am working as an Alpha advisor for Southern Odisha. Before that I was working with Sanyasi Pani who is a worker of the National Prison Ministry. By the end of 2008 we introduced the Alpha course in prisons with the help of my friend Sanyasi Pani. Inside the prison Small group discussion was not allowed so we used to asked questions after the talk. The topics which transformed their lives are
National Prison Ministries Brother Maguni Sananayak invited me to attend a Alpha training at Cuttack in the year 2008. There I got an opportunity to attend the training which was specially organized for the volunteers who work among the prisons. Since then I along with my friend Maguni Sananayak started running the Alpha course inside the prison. During the Alpha course inside the prison many non-Christians also came and listen to the talk. A non-Christian inmate named Rama Rao opposed the Alpha course inside the prison saying we are doing Christian conversion work. But during one of our talks, about “Why did Jesus die ?” he sat down and listened. He was so moved to know that Jesus died for him too. He confessed Jesus Christ is the true Lord & other gods are false! Another incident at the Rayagada prison was where one non-Christian inmate who was convicted
in a murder case accepted Jesus through Alpha course & now he is a member of local church. The Alpha course is not only a blessing for the inmates but also a witness before the jail authorities to see the wonderful work done by our Lord through this course. As a result they also encourage us to come regularly to run this course in the prison.
SUBASH LIMA Ex-Offender It was an unfortunate incident that became a case and I was in the prison for many days. During that time our brothers who were coming to the prison to run the Alpha course encouraged me a lot. I was an idol worshiper. I never heard about Jesus in my life. During my stay inside the prison for the first time I heard about Jesus through the Alpha course & accepted Him as my Savior. Also the Lord answered my prayer by granting me bail. After receiving Jesus I received peace in my heart & when I came out of prison I encouraged my wife also to accepted Jesus as her personal Savior. Miracle after miracle took place in my family. My wife’s leg was badly injured and was heavily bleeding even the doctor adviced us to take her for an operation and they told us that she may have to have her leg amputated. We started praying and fasting every Friday. Our Lord did a miracle by healing her completely! Before receiving Jesus we were sacrificing chickens and goats for the idols. We left all these practices and started praying to Jesus only. He has blessed me and my family in many ways. We have peace in our family and my son got a job too. Jesus who changed my life has changed my family. My spiritual foundation for praying was led inside the prison through the Alpha course.
ALPHA IN PRISONS
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PRISONS
HE INSIDE OUT
nged my family” Subash Lima re
ceiving prayer fro
While inside the prison I always encouraged my other inmates to attend the Alpha course to know about Jesus because He is the One who can open the doors for them to start a new life in Him. I encourage others to run Alpha course in every prison because like me many are there inside the prison waiting for an opportunity to know Jesus.
Manonita Misal Ex-Offender My name is Manonita Misal from Naranyanpur village. Though I was from a Christian family still I was doing many wrong things. I didn’t know about Jesus and His salvation. I was in prison for four months. Depression set in my life but there was a cell in prison where few inmates were praising and praying in a small group and they were discussing about Jesus. During that time brother Sanyasi and Maguni were visiting the prison twice a month and were running the Alpha course inside the prison. I attended the Alpha course then. A few months later I saw a dream inside the prison. I saw I was standing on a rock surrounded by water. I thought to myself if I jump my legs would break. Suddenly, the rock I was standing over moved to one side and I could came over to safe ground. I praised God because I was convinced God is going to rescue me from the prison. After a few months I was released from the jail. The fact that Jesus died for my sins has changed my life completely. I am committed to Jesus.
DIBYAMOHAN BIRA Ex-Offender My name is Dibyamohan Bira from Perisala village. There were some problems in my family because of which I was put in prison. But I feel it was a blessing for me because through brother Sanyasi and Maguni who run the Alpha course I came to know Jesus Christ. Only inside the prison I heard about Him through the Alpha course. I really liked all the topics in Alpha but I can’t forget “Why did Jesus die”?. This session touched my heart and changed my life completely. If I received Jesus through this Alpha course surely many people inside the prisons will be blessed by attending this course and their lives would be transformed as well.
BARNABA GOMANGO JAILOR As I watch I am surprised to see the changes in their lives. They have been blessed both physically & spiritually by attending the Alpha course. I wish this course would run regularly so that they can find release from mental pressure and get peace in their life. Also it is a blessing for them to lead a new life in the society as a new person. The inmates here have been richly blessed. This course should run in every prison so that all the inmates can get an opportunity to know about Jesus.
m Alpha staff
Paul from Zambia
I was among the 62 soldiers implicated in treason and I thought I will be executed. Someone from Alpha invited me to attend Alpha and then I came to know about this Jesus Christ and when I came to know Him, I accepted Him as my personal Saviour. Five months later, I started praying to Him, saying, “Jesus Christ, here is the situation where I am, now I know You, everything is possible according to the Scripture I am reading with You. Would You please give me a chance to be out of this situation and I promise You Jesus, if You do that, then I will continue serving you and I will come back and serve in prison.” Amazingly, the day of Judgement we sat like that, it was 10-15 hours. 58 friends of mine were all sentenced to death and the judge said there is one person that the law has found innocent and we were wondering who is this one and they said, accuser number 6, Pauswala(Paul), you are innocent. The law has found you innocent. Go home. And I started serving the Lord in Alpha and I have gone in almost all prisons in Zambia telling prisoners that no matter what, you can still trust the Lord and God can help you in whatever situation.
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FROM THE FIELD
ALPHA INDIA NEWS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
Around 49,000 slums continue to blight the urban landscape forcing lakhs of people to live in pathetic conditions - The Times of India
ALPHA IN THE SLUMS The Eternal Light Fellowship works in the various slums of South Kolkata. Hundreds of people are touched through the House church in the slum. It is a Slum ELF Ministry which heals the broken hearted people around the slums in South Kolkata and the Alpha course is conducted regularly among slum dwellers. Through the Alpha course these people get the opportunity to know Jesus more in their lives.
Total Deliverance from sickness My name is Anita Mondal from Narendrapur slum. I suffered a lot from piles for the last 10 years. Although I was operated twice for the same problem, I was not healed. I felt very bad as I suffered from this disease at a young age; it was at this juncture that the Eternal Light Fellowship invited me to join the Alpha course. I attended for few a weeks and came to know that Jesus is my only hope and I prayed for my healing and forgiveness. The ELF team prayed with tears and a great burden and the Lord Jesus healed me. What a wonder! That day He granted me deliverance and from then onwards I joined the Eternal Light Fellowship.
Miraculous healing from Cancer My name is Sharmistha Das from Mullah Hati Slum. I have suffered from Cancer for the past three years. There was no hope for me. One day one brother from the Eternal Light Fellowship asked me to join the Alpha course. There they were sharing about Jesus and His power. After a few weeks I learnt how to pray and that Jesus is a prayer answering God. In a prayer session when I prayed along with the Fellowship’s brothers and sisters, I received miraculous healing. It was a Sunday. Now I know Jesus is my only Saviour and have decided to follow Him all through my life. I have also decided to spend more time in reading the Bible and in prayer.
Alpha Training in Gujarat
Christianity is really interesting
Report by Suresh N. Rajwadi, CNI Church, Navasri
I am Rajesh Jogadiya, I was born and brought up in a Hindu family. My life was full of complications and I led a sinful life. I was curious about Christianity and went to church sometimes. Then I was introduced to the Alpha course and I joined it and found that Christianity is really interesting. We learnt about Christianity with fun in the Youth Alpha course. I came to know who Jesus is and how He guides us today. My father also came to the three day marriage program and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.
I attended Alpha Training along with Mr. Prashant Desai missionary of Gujarat Missionary Movement of our local area. We had one training program conducted in our local church by the Gujarat state coordinator, for youth alpha, and one of our youth members had a youth alpha training in Lucknow. I am so happy to be part of Alpha India as one of the Advisors. I have witnessed immense and rapid church growth in the spiritual lives of fellow church members after attending the Alpha Training. We started a Youth Alpha course in our local church with 15 young people some of them whose parents had recently accepted the Christian faith while others had not yet accepted. Continuing the Youth Alpha course they became strong in the Christian faith and their parents also stared believing. Their parents started coming to the church regularly. We organized a Holy Spirit weekend for our youth group and invited their parents as couples and arranged a three day marriage program taking the help of the Alpha Marriage course. This program was very effective for couples who have issues in their family life. 19 people took the water baptism on the 20th of May 2011. The Alpha course’s teaching is very effective; we have seen tremendous results in our church. We have decided to continue to run the Alpha course in the coming years too.
I joined the Alpha course and found that Jesus loves us I am Bhavesh Mistry. My mother was suffering from a serious illness and I was also caught up in some blind beliefs. My life was a mess. We came to church and we were freed from these clutches by the grace of God. I joined the Alpha course and found that Jesus loves us. In Youth Alpha we learned many new things about Christianity and my faith in Jesus became strong. My parents and sister participated in the three day family program and they too accepted Jesus as their Savior and our whole family came to Christ.
FROM THE FIELD
ALPHA INDIA NEWS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
Alpha course at St. Mary’s Church, Pune Report by Rev. Sumesh Jacob
Since the beginning of this year we were very excited to be a part of this unique adventure of “An Opportunity to Explore the Meaning of Life,” with Rev. Nicky Gumbel. with the DVD, the book “Questions of Life” and our individual Alpha Manuals, we met every Sunday from 10.30am - 12.30pm. We enjoyed the Praise and Worship too. Each session was so relevant to our everyday life and they impacted us deeply. We then broke into our five small groups for discussion. The groups consisted of people from our church, other churches and other faiths - a cross section of old and young, retired, professionals and students. The age group was 17 yrs - 75 yrs! It brought us in a bonding of love, support, prayer and thanksgiving. Nicky Gumbel’s intelligent, well researched and informed approach ensured that the search for Truth fully engaged our minds as well as our hearts. The sessions answered some of the key questions at the heart of the Christian faith and we found God as our Father, Jesus Christ as our Savior and the Holy Spirit as the One who comes to live within us. From “Is Christianity Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?” to “ How Can I Make the Most of My Life?” has been a fascinating , challenging and interesting journey which has led us into a loving, deeper and more understanding relationship with God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - our Triune God. Jessie Amalraj: During the three sessions on the Holy Spirit I learnt a lot and now I’m experiencing His presence in my life every day. Renshaw J. Dennis: Alpha means beginning, and Nicky Gumbel did just that. From the beginning he wove practical experiences, related it to the gospel and gave faith a whole new dimension for belief. The Alpha course was a life changing experience for me.
Alpha for Forces Jesus, if you are true, then heal me I was living in a village in Himachal without any Gospel witness. A servant of God came to our village to meet my cousin, brother Pawan. I heard the gospel through this man but was not bothered about it. I thought it is a change in religion. But later I began listening since there was nothing bad about what he was saying. After sometime I had to get back to Army service but before long my legs were injured and I had to leave my duty station. In a desperate state I said “Jesus, if you are true, then heal me”. I experienced a miraculous healing. I was again going astray but I met the servant of God again! God then blessed me with salvation & also baptized me with the Holy Spirit. The servant of God began to visit our Barracks. He was then leading us in Alpha course every week. The Alpha course created a huge impact on my life.
9 The Alpha course FAQs 1. How do I get started running Alpha? Prayer is vital to the planning, preparation and effectiveness of your Alpha course. Find a group of people who will pray for every aspect of your Alpha course. Step 1 - Pray Step 2 - Participate Step 3 - Plan your course Step 4 - Prepare your team Step 5 - Procure your resources Step 6 - Persevere Step 7 - Pass on the vision 2. How do I run Alpha course outside of my church?
Using the same Alpha course content and structure, you can run an Alpha course at school, colleges, workplace, prisons, hospitals, homeless shelters, army bases, slums, among eunuchs and red light districts.
3. What resources and training opportunitites are avilable to me ? • Access to Alpha’s national training conferences and local training events. • Access to a full array of products through the Alpha India website to promote, run and augment your Alpha course. • Access to a network of Alpha coordinators and Alpha advisors 4. How do I contact Alpha India ?
You can contact Alpha India National Office, Regional Office, State cooridinators to help you locate a training event happening near your city.
Please find the contact details on Pg. 2
Resource Feature
t alpha.org
QUESTIONS OF LIFE
NING OF IS .
Questions of Life
QUESTIONS OF LIFE
What is the point of life? What happens when we die? Is forgiveness possible?
ound the world have oneered by Nicky now attended Alpha, the Gumbel. ased on the Alpha course, Nicky s that challenge Gumbel us all.
Daily Telegrap h e Alpha course. He read law at Cambridge as a barrister and is now vicar of He has written a number of books g Issues and A Life Worth Living.
83 5
781905 88 7835
10 6914 10 01
ISBN 978 1 905887
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NICKY GUMBEL
wisdom and profound teaching from son of Jesus Christ the and invites the inated human reader into beings for two thousand years. s lives.’ Bear Grylls, TV adventur er e that covers the introduction to the h an accessibl e way and so relevantcore for
NICKY GUMBEL
10/03/2011
11:52
In this international bestseller book based on the Alpha course, Nicky Gumbel addresses some of the big issues that challenge us all.
THE ALPHA COURSE EXPRESS DVD This DVD set contains 15 talks that have been shortened to between 2025 minutes in length. Alpha Express is ideal for use in the workplace.
To order resources online download the form from www.alphaindia.org
Resources available in Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Oriya, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Assamese, Marathi & Urdu.
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ALPHA INDIA NEWS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
‘Parenting is a higher calling than the pursuit of our own happiness. It carries a big cost. But it can also bring he highest of rewards: the depth of love a parent feels and the privilege knowing that we have helped shape of life.’
day, to bolshy and contrary the next. We were at a loss to know why.
The five ways of showing love
4. Presents I know Mum and Dad love me because they are very nice to me. They do stuff with me – take me to museums and things. Lena, aged 8 When children feel genuinely loved, their whole world looks brighter. Their inner spirit is more secure and they are far more likely to reach their potential for good in the world. Dr Gary Chapman, Author Be nice to your kids. One day they’ll choose your nursing home. Phyllis Dillon, Singer Five ways to show love 1. Words Our words can express love powerfully. Through praise: ‘Well done! I am so proud of you.’ Or compliments: ‘You look gorgeous,’ or, ‘That’s really thoughtful, darling.’ Or affection: ‘I have loved you every single day of your life.’ Or encouragement, ‘I know you can do it.’
A present is a tangible, visual symbol of our love. It shows the recipient that we were thinking of them when we chose the present and it will remind them of our love each time they look at it or use it. 5. Actions When we do something for another person, when we show kindness to them, we demonstrate our love in practice. We can make people feel very loved through meeting their needs with kind actions. Gary Chapman describes these as ‘love languages’. For each of us there will be one that communicates love in a way that touches us and that fills our ‘emotional tank’. We will instinctively understand and respond to that love language just as we immediately understand our native language. Some people, of course, are bilingual. Similarly, with these love languages, we may discover that we feel loved through more than one of them.
Nicky I n our marriage it was invaluable to realise that Sila and I feel loved in very different ways. Sila feels most loved when we spend time together 2. Time – just the two of us – and especially when I have initiated it. Whereas I feel When we set aside some of our precious time most loved by Sila when she speaks to be with another person, we show them encouraging words to me. After time, they matter. When we focus our attention Sila would put touch, while for me kind exclusively on them, when we do something actions come next. together with them, listen to what they are saying or watch what they are doing, we Understanding those differences has helped communicate that they are special to us. us avoid inadvertently hurting each other and helped us to show love to each other in ways 3. Touch that count. Physical affection demonstrates that we enjoy being close to that person. Touch can communicate welcome, support, care, consolation and security all at once with a simple gesture.
Recognising signs of an empty tank If we are to fill our child’s emotional tank, first we must identify their primary love language. Sila When one of our sons was four and at nursery school, his behaviour was not dissimilar to that of the little boy at the start of this chapter. He would swing from being helpful and compliant one
Then, on one of his off days his teacher asked me if we’d been giving him much one-to-one time recently. I tried it that same afternoon. I spent thirty minutes focusing my attention on him and playing with him. The effect was electric. Never had I seen a more helpful four-year-old at teatime that day. And even his sister and brothers found him unusually accommodating! His emotional tank had been filled right up. Learning to use all the languages Typically each of us shows love in the way we most like to receive it. We may give lots of hugs because physical affection is particularly important for us to feel loved. We may be an excellent present-giver because receiving them means a lot to us. Or we may instinctively find ourselves encouraging others because hearing affirming words is what keeps us going day to day. It is all too easy to become an expert in the one we respond to most ourselves, but our children may well be different from us. Before focusing in on each language, it is important we recognise the value of all these love languages for every child. All children need to hear positive, encouraging words from their parents. All children flourish when their parents set aside time to be with them – a large quantity of time given consistently over many years. Children thrive on presents from both their mother and father to mark their birthday, to celebrate achievements and to show support at difficult times. All children require huge amounts of affection – cuddles, kisses and hugs – given frequently, when little, and then at appropriate times and places as they grow older. And all children feel loved through knowing that their parents are willing to serve and help them practically – feeding them, washing their clothes, collecting them from school, taking them to parties, expending bags of energy for their wellbeing. Reading each child Knowing which of the five expressions of love is the most significant is hard to read in young children, but by the time they are about seven years old we will usually be
ALPHA INDIA NEWS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
resource feature -relationship central
able to discover this. Not only will each child within the same family respond differently, but the relative importance of each of the five will also vary at the different stages of growing up. Nicky We asked Kirsty as a teenager which love languages were most important for her. She said ‘time’ was first and, much to our surprise, ‘presents’ came second. When we asked her why, she talked about the importance for her of time to be together to talk – at meal times, last thing at night or on holiday. She also recalled an occasion some months earlier when she was facing exams and was under a lot of pressure at school. She came home one evening to find that Sila had put flowers in her bedroom. She told us that the flowers put the exams in their proper perspective. They communicated to her that our love for her was unconditional and not dependent on what grades she achieved. Being genuine Children see through parental attempts to ‘buy them off’. We cannot use these love languages as a way of trying to make up for ways we let them down. So, buying them lots of presents because we are never there, or giving them an over-abundance of physical affection because we are always shorttempered, will not work. Love languages need to be a genuine communication of our love, not an attempt to cover up other omissions. Providing an example for our children As with everything else in life, children learn most about loving through imitation. So when three-year-old Fergus lost a toy recently, his five-year-old brother said, ‘I’ll help you find it,’ because that’s what he had seen his mother do. When Ellie, a thirteen-year-old, was in tears, her sixteen-year-old sister gave her a hug because that is what her parents had always done when she has been upset. Through example, we show love is a two way street.
us as parents helps to meet this need, as well as showing an example to our children. As we find out what is important to make our partner feel loved and then show love in this way, we become a positive role model for our children’s present and future relationships. If you are a single parent, you may feel daunted at the prospect of this challenge on your own. A single father, whose wife died when their four children were under ten, said to us, ‘The love between husband and wife acts as the powerhouse of the family. Single parents have to find other ways of being nurtured in order to keep giving out love to their children, which may not be reciprocated.’ Our suggestion is not to be afraid to get help. If you have a good relationship with your extended family and they are nearby, ask them to help fill the gap. If not, then look to friends, particularly longstanding friends you can trust, or a church community.
‘Most couples come into marriage with big expectations. As they leave their wedding through a shower of confetti and meander off into the sunset, they cannot imagine ever not wanting to be together. The long-term reality is different and potentially, far better.’ - Nicky & Sila Lee
Doing this will be important both for you and your children and will enable you to meet your children’s emotional needs more effectively.3 Putting the languages into practice The concept of love languages has been revolutionary for us, and has proved a satisfying tool in parenting. Sometimes, while mentally rehearsing the list of five, we have thought of a new way of putting love into action. Occasionally we have become aware that we have been neglecting the very one a child has been craving, and we have suddenly understood why there has been increased squabbling and tension in the home. As we have tried to put them into practice, we have seen the difference in each of our children and in our family as a whole. ‘Most couples come into marriage with big expectations.
How can we be happily married to one person for the whole of our lives? How do we resolve conflict? How can we discover and rediscover sexual intimacy? Full of practical advice, The Marriage Book is easy to read and is designed to prepare, build and even mend marriages.
About the Authors
Some of us will be aware that when we were growing up we never experienced one, or perhaps any, of these ways of being loved, in which case it will probably feel very unnatural to show love in this way ourselves. The good news is we can all learn. Like learning a foreign language, it will take determination, effort and practice before it starts to feel more normal and we become adept at showing love in a particular way. Many parents feel in need of love themselves, which is why our adult relationships are so significant, particularly for our parenting. The mutual giving and receiving of love between
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To order write to: resources@alphindia.org
Nicky and Sila Lee have been married for over thirty years and have a daughter and three sons. They are on the staff of Holy Trinity Brompton in London. They have spoken to thousands on the subjects of marriage, parenting and family life. They are the authors of the Parenting Book and pioneers of Marriage Course. The Marriage preparation Course, The Parenting Course and The Parenting Teenagers Course.
ALPHA INTERNATIONAL WEEK 2011 1500+Delegates // 100 Nations // 1 Vision
The fact that you are able to plant churches and help encourage congregations is enourmously encouraging. - Prince Charles
Alpha Malaysia
Alpha Workplace Conference
AWC 2011 // October 6-8, KK
Reaching the nine to five Speakers include:
Dr. Dion Foster: Author, Chaplain to Global Day of Prayer Doug Spada: Founder and CEO of Worklife Inc. & Maestro Tan Sri Dato’ Francis Yeoh: MD, YTL Group of Companies Graham Power: Chairman of Global Day of Prayer Dato’ Sri Idris Jala: Malaysian Cabinet Minister Ps. Dr. Philip Lyn: Pastor of SIB Skyline Church, KK
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