God is amazing! We have been running The Alpha Course continuously at the Bryanston Catholic parish for 16 years now. Over this time we have been so incredibly humbled to see how The Alpha Course has been blessed by God through the willingness of the servant hearts of all people who have participated in varying roles: task team leader, small group host, small group helper, hospitality, worship team, and in so many other different capacities.
Through the prayers, commitment and love demonstrated by the team, we have seen lives change. People who started the course angry, bitter, seeking, fearful, unforgiving, unbelieving, have through the Alpha Model of listening, praying and loving, come into a relationship with Jesus, accepted the Holy Spirit into their lives and been released of whatever has held them captive previously.
In our July course in 2012, we were so privileged to have a group of the most wonderful people from a Catholic parish from the South of Johannesburg join us as guests. They had such an amazing experience and were asked towards the end of that course if they’d consider starting an Alpha Course in the South. With a bit of trepidation, they agreed. After a couple of training sessions, they started their course at the same time as the Bryanston Catholic parish. Together with the Catholic Church from Rivonia and some guests from an "Alpha in the Workplace" course, the group from the South joined us for the Alpha Weekend. There were approximately 250 people that attended in total. As always, when we prayed the prayer for the Holy Spirit to come, He came in love, power, mercy, grace and compassion.
We give all Praise and Glory to God for all the wonderful experiences we witnessed people having. We now continue to pray that the journey that they have begun will continue into an everlasting and eternal relationship with our Father - Mandy Keil: Bryanston Catholic Church