2 minute read
Helping People Explore the Faith: Alpha Program Starts this Fall
— Kristi Whitcomb, Alpha Program coordinator
Advertisement
We all know someone who has fallen away from the faith. Or, maybe we even know someone who has never known Jesus.
We know how important and monumental weekly Mass is. But, for someone who is exploring Christianity, attending Mass could be intimidating or even confusing.
Millions of people in more than 100 countries have experienced the Alpha program. We are hosting the fifth session of Alpha beginning this fall at the Centre for Christ. There are 11 sessions and each begins with a meal together. The Alpha program uses videos and discussions to create community and to help people experience Jesus Christ. Leticia Sanchez leads a Spanish group. They watch the videos in Spanish and also have small-group discussion in Spanish.
“Alpha is what we call ‘Christianity 101,’” says one of the planners, Kristi Whitcomb. “It is a program that was designed to explore Christianity in a loving, safe and judgement-free setting, to reflect upon the bigger questions in life.”
The first Sauk Centre Alpha gathering was held in August of 2018, and has grown throughout the sessions that have since taken place. The spring 2018 session had 35 guests or attendees and 12 on the planning team. Mike Karasch leads the ministry with the help of Kristi and many others.
“We have had a great turnout and it gets better each time we hold an Alpha!” Kristi says. “We are building Alpha from the ground up.”
Alpha team members are not there to teach or “push” views on anyone. It is a program that encourages discussions on Christianity and the bigger questions of life.
“This is a group that we want guests to be able to come up with their own answers to these bigger questions,” Kristi says. “Our hope is that people will come to their own conclusions to their questions and hopefully start to develop a relationship with Jesus!”
The program is for anyone at any place in their faith journey. Kristi says everyone can benefit from Alpha. She admits Alpha has been a big part of her faith journey. She came back to the Catholic Church in May of 2018, after being away for 10 years. Fr. Greg invited her to help with Alpha around that time and she says that was the “reset” of her Catholic faith.
“Over the past one and a half years since coming back to church, helping with Alpha, being involved with church activities and with all the amazing people in my life, I have a mission in life — it is to get as many people excited about Jesus, whether for the first time or again,” Kristi says. “And I feel like Alpha is one way to help me achieve that mission. Even if I only play a small part and even if I never see it for myself.”
