Many Catholics were among the 32 participants in an inter-denominational Alpha Course at Drakenstein Prison near Paarl, Western Cape. "There was not a single person who was not touched by the Holy Spirit, and this included some of the wardens as well" said Alpha coach Paul Miles.
"One of the young men in a small group, Terence, expressed that he would love to be filled with the Holy Spirit but he didn't believe that it would happen due to his past. I was standing next to him when the Holy Spirit came upon him, and just thinking about what happened is difficult to describe".
Alpha has made great progres in South Africa, seeing 3 567 people doing the Alpha in SA prisons in 12 month. Of these: 1 475 were from the Western Cape, 1 392 were in Gauteng, 573 were in the Free State, and 127 were in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Alpha for prisons was launched in 1995 in response to demand from offenders, since then enthusiasm for the course has grown. Alpha is now registered in 25% of the correctional centres in SA. "The course is run successfully in all types of correctional centres for both men and women and is also used in young offenders and juvenile institutions" said regional coordinator Annalise Petersen.
article originally written by Dylan Appolis