TRANSFORMATIONAL... part 2
Hello Saints,
Last night our Fall Alpha Course began and it went really well. We had over a half a dozen people from outside Trinity with a possibility of several more coming next week! The team reported the conversations went really well and I heard a lot of laughter coming from the groups.
As Tracey shared her story about Alpha last time I thought I'd share a bit about my experience the first time I took the course. In my late twenties you could have called me Unitarian with a Christian focus. I had grown up in the church but never really heard the gospel. This is not to say it was never preached. For some reason I never really understood what God's grace was all about, or even really who Jesus was - never mind who the Holy Spirit was! Though I did go to church and did pray, it was mostly about guilt and obligation. My relationship with God was mostly about fear, not love. My bourgeoning gambling addiction did nothing to help with that.
Tracey took the Alpha course right before me. I remember when she came back from the Holy Spirit weekend. If I were to choose one word to describe her it was radiant. So I decided to take the course as well. As the weeks progressed, all my intellectual objections for faith slowly fell away and my spiritual need took hold. I finally accepted God's mercy. I wept uncontrollably as I realized that I was loved and forgiven. That was the first step (but certainly not the last!) towards my recovery.
I was also miraculously healed of something else that day. I suffered from something called Sleep Paralysis for most of my life up until then. It's basically a sleep dysfunction where you wake up halfway. You can feel your body but you cannot move and you are kind of still dreaming. It's one of the most fearful experiences I have ever had, and I would usually suffer several episodes of this per month. It is also often a form of spiritual attack. The attacks stopped immediately after that weekend.
I will echo what Tracey said last week. We have seen so many people blessed by the Alpha Course over the years. The course is still open for the next two weeks if you would like take it or have people you would like to invite. The course will run on Fridays 6-8pm through November 27th. The Alpha Weekend is on October 24th at Camp Agape, Hickory PA from 9am-4pm. Dinner and Childcare are provided.
In Christ,
Jamey+
Prayer
O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Song
Tracey found a new song this week that we really love! Take a listen.
Spotify Link
You Tube Link
