CrossCulture Church of Christ

The cook’s busy in the kitchen, directing the helpers only when needed; after all, they know what to do. Another small group are busy setting up tables and chairs, with a third preparing the tables with crockery & cutlery. The music team has set up and practiced; the AV & sound are ok; it’s all systems go. A look at the clock shows there’s enough time to sit down & have a coffee (or tea) before a number break off to prayer together. After all, only God is able to create the environment and attitude in the soon-to-arrive guests, to make them want to come again. And come again – for 10 weeks.

This was the scene in Chapel Hall on Tuesday evening as the 23rd Alpha course was being readied. Some 50 people had registered for the course, and experience suggested there’d be a few extra people.

I marvelled at the scene, and thanked God for the amazing impact this ministry has had on people in the past. What about this one? What effect might it have on its participants? I’m not a Christian, but I’m wanting to know what Christians believe. My friend benefited from Alpha; she’s brought us because she thinks it’ll help us. God spoke to me, that if I’m serious about getting my life together then I need to commit to making myself vulnerable in community; so Alpha it is. I have high expectations that God will again amaze us.

Yet God will achieve any extraordinary results through ordinary people: men & women; married & single; older & younger; through people with a diversity of nationalities, education & family histories. It’s written, The body is a unit, though it’s made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body (1 Cor 12:12). What a delight to see people serving anonymously, for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. And out of the sea of diversity emerges a spirit of unity & harmony. What a paradox!