- New Partnerships with AELC,OM & Foursquare- Medical Institute welcomes Alpha course- GAT in the Catholic Context - Truck drivers take on the Alpha course

alpha india newsFOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY | TO SEE THE EVANGELISATION OF THE SUBCONTINENT & THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SOCIETIES | ALPHAINDIA.ORG

THE QUARTERLY NEWSPAPER OF ALPHA INDIAVOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 | JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

news in BRieF

Medical Institute takes up Alpha:Medical workers and pastors show interest to know more about Alpha course and how it can be effective in the medical world. Pg.4

New PartnershipsOperation Mobilisation, Foursquare and Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church get into partnership with Alpha India.Pg.5

First GAT Prisons conductedPrisons in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Ooty experience Global Alpha Training for their inmates.Pg.6

Face to Face with John ClarkA candid interview with the Regional Prison Director (Indian Sub-Continent and Ocenia Sub-Regions) Pg.7

GAT Catholic ContextA wide spectrum of church leaders including priests, religious and the laity from 7 different dioceses attend the training.Pg.8

Marriage CourseFind more on the Marriage Course Training at Gujarat & ChandigarhPg. 9

Financial PartnershipWe appreciate your financial partnership. If you are inspired to support Alpha India please use the details below, or contact Josy Joseph at the Alpha India Office.

Alpha India Account:

Account Number: 911020054880929 NAME: ALPHA INDIABANK NAME : AXIS BANK LTDIFSC CODE : UTIB0000734BRANCH : KALYAN NAGAR BANGALORE.Acc Type: Current Account

GATGLOBAL ALPHA TRAINING

FOR PRISONS

The Marriage Course Training at Ahmedabad

2 alpha notes

READERS’ STORIES&PHOTOSMany thanks for the testimonies, stories and photos that have been posted to us. Once again in this issue your stories have been printed throughout the newspaper, together with other encouraging stories we have collected from across the nation.

Please send your stories to, Email: stories.alphaindia@gmail.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/alphacourseindiaPostal address: Alpha India National Office219, 5th A Main Road HRBR 2nd Block, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore - 560 043

National Alpha Office contact details:Alpha India:219, 5th A Main Road, HRBR 2nd Block, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore - 560 043Tel: 080 2542 0902 IDD: +91 80 2542 0902Email: contact@alphaindia.org, Web: www.alphaindia.org

National Director: Mr J. Varadaraj

Board Members:Chris Sadler, chris@alphaap.orgScott Norling, scottworld@aol.comJ Varadaraj, thetoolmen@gmail.comDon Anderson, India Country Head-Shell LubricantsClarissa Anderson, Entreprenuer and InvesterMathew Anthony, Secretary for Evangelisation, Archdiocese of Delhi

Church Advisory Board:Archbishop Vincent ConcessaoBishop Rt. Rev. V. M. MalaviyaRev. Dr. D. Mohan, Superintendant of AOG India

Alpha India Regional Offices:North West Region, Chandigarh: Rupak NayakEmail : rupak.alphaindia@gmail.comMob : 090233-91414West Region, Ahmedabad: Jimmy HarshkantEmail : damorejimmy@gmail.comPh : 09825-444197East Region, Kolkata: Prabir MandalEmail : prabir.alphaindia@gmail.comPh : 096744-61951North East Region, Shillong : Ranjit DeEmail : ranjitdealphaindia@gmail.comPh : 094347-59794

National Coordinator’s Contact details:

Alpha in the Workplace: Santosh ChettriMob: 090070-22889Alpha for Prisons: Peace Khapai Mob: 09597-421832Student & Youth Alpha : James Michael David Mob : 097429-98618North-East Diaspora: Rampan MuivahMob : 099029-90313

Coordinators’ Contact details:Andhra Pradesh: Susheel K Chattar Mob: 098660-99184 Andhra Pradesh - Hindupur: Paul J L Mob: 094408-61979Bihar: George Muller Mob: 094310-16124Jammu & Kashmir: Mushtaq Ahmad Mob: 099066-84250Kerala: Binu N. Philip Mob: 093882-04322Karnataka: Sam Victor Mob: 099646-98118Odisha: Tushar K BeheraMob: 093371-41600Odisha: Jayadeep SamantroyMob: 098535-03813Rajasthan: Kamlesh ParmarMob: 099830-03637Uttarakhand: Janus Peter Mob: 094581-90983Uttar Pradesh: Vinay P Dayal Mob: 093594-86843West Bengal: Dilip and Kakali Debnath Mob: 098742-07760Tamil Nadu : John RajanMob : 091501-85413Northeast : Ninghor K Shimray Mob: 090851-57153Marriage Course, Kerala : Mon C GeorgeMob: 094464 83577Youth Alpha, Chandigarh : SameerMob: 078370-51735

© Alpha India 2012, edited and published by J.V. Raj for Alpha India

AlphA IndIA StAff updAteS

ALPHA INDIA NEWSJULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

JAmeS mIchAel dAvIdNATIONAL COORDINATOR STUDENT & YOUTH ALPHA

Rev. nInghoR K ShImRAyASSOCIATE REGIONAL COORDINATOR

NORTHEAST

Letter from BISHOPThe Rt. Rev. Dr. P. Surya PrakashGreetings to you from the Diocese of Karimanagar

Thank you very much for the News Letter. It is very interesting to read and to know the good work done by Alpha India.

Thanks for coming to Karimnagar and conducting Alpha course in the Diocese. Through the initiative of Rev. C. Ramulu Immanuel. Some town congregations are starting Alpha course.

Whenever he seeks your advice, kindly help him.

With all good wishes,

The Rt. Rev. Dr. P. Surya PrakashBishop of KarimnagarAndhra Pradesh.

Alpha in Hindi news paper The mainstream daily Hindi newspaper Amar ujala, dated May 1, 2012 published in Lucknow carried a story of Alpha course. In the article there is mention of how the Alpha course is run, and how it is taught among leaders and pastors in churches. The article also mentions how showing the love of Christ can change people, about reading the Bible and how to pray effectively and get answers.

Alpha India deeply appreciates the services rendered by Melissa Thomas, Youth Alpha National Coordinator & David Simpson, Student Alpha National Coordinator.

James Michael David - A strategic and creative change agent with over 6 years of experience as an entrepreneur who successfully co-founded one of India’s largest youth movements. He has been prominent in the fields of leadership, project and operational consulting, training & content development. An experienced leader with proven capabilities to innovate & provide creative training platforms to build a culture of collaboration, growth, learning and appreciation. He has the conceptual ability to assess and create road maps – prioritizing, planning, and executing with discipline and passion.

AShISh JoyEXECUTIvE

MEDIA & COMMUNICATION

3alpha notesALPHA INDIA NEWSJULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

The Indian womanBeauty from Ashes.

We are delighted to announce a National Women Leaders’ Conference from November 13-16th in Jaipur when eminent women leaders will participate on womens’ issues and be trained on Alpha course!

It was the end of my preaching at a church in Chandigarh. The senior pastor brought a child to be prayed for. She was a cute three month old. On inquiring the prayer request, I heard the horrifying story. The baby’s mother had suicided by hanging that early morning. Her father also was struggling to survive after a similar failed suicide attempt. Her mother was constantly taunted and tortured by mother-in-law for having brought forth a girl baby .

A girl child is born. She excels in her studies. Her brothers are preferred at home for all rewards and higher education as well. She does very well against all odds.

She is married off before suitable age. Her opinion is not sought. The family gives her the only option to say Yes. When she comes in to a joint family she is the daughter-in-law for the whole family. All male members have access to her. She has no choice.

She is not familiar with the idea of dignity, respect, freedom, choice... She often resigns to her ‘Fate’.

She begins to produce children. She better bring forth boys. She will be the cause of curse if she begets a girl child and often it is the mother-in-law that begins to ill treat her.

A business woman at an airport told me this story.. my husband works for me. I sign his pay check. But when we reach home, he is my lord. I am expected to serve him. First I need to serve him tea and only then use the rest room. Perhaps a little stretched, but very possible.

Educational and economic advancement have created fresh opportunities for growth without much difference to the woman’s status even in the parliament. Albeit, she is more assertive than yester years. But must she assert to be acceptable, Must she always prove her existence and worth? And twice as hard.

Even in the Church men condescend towards the women.

Things are changing. There are more girl children in school to day, excelling in every area of competing with their male counter parts. We have women leaders with established reputation in every arena of life. Excellent parliamentarians, prime and chief ministers, speaker of the parliament, bureaucrats, diplomats, officers in the forces, apart from the care industries of nursing, education, reformers, and the countless mothers who hold the family together...

An awakened woman is a power house, a dynamo that lights up a whole world. Susanna Wesley, a wife of a pastor, mother of 19 children, taking care of the parish as her husband travelled on missions, spending time praying with each of her children gave two gems to Britain, John and Charles who changed the History of England. Hallelujah!

The India Christian Woman has played a vital role in shaping the life of the family, church and society. Her voice is being increasingly heard at various levels. She is creating her space in the world in spite of the men. We pray that all will recognize and let her have her space. This is one sure way to ensure Kingdom of God come on earth.

Awaken,

RajNational DirectorAlpha India

from the field4

St. Andrews PG College, Gorakhpur-Dr. Silas Dayal Sharma

I am Dr. Silas Dayal Sharma, Associate Professor at St. Andrews PG College, Gorakhpur. I was introduced to Alpha course in 2008 during the two days Alpha training in Lucknow and since then have found it very interesting and suitable for my College students.

Since 2009, I am using the Alpha course as a evangelistic tool for my college students and so far I have completed four Alpha courses with 47 students. Even students from other faiths have shown interest in attending the ten week Alpha course. This year 12 non-christian students have registered for the Alpha course and during the Course three students accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord. Last year a student accepted the Lord and got baptised and he is now part of the local church leading a fellowship of his own at his home town. I am really very grateful to Alpha India to providing us a very effective tool. Through this we can introduce Christ in a safe and friendly atmosphere, giving freedom to express one’s views.

St. Paul’s College, Kolkata- Dilip Debnath

Students from many colleges in Kolkata have shown interest in running Student Alpha. St. Paul’s College invited us to have an introduction of Student Alpha course. About 40 students from different streams of studies attended this programme. Among themselves they conducted a debate competition taking topics from the booklet “The Conflict between Science and Christianity” from the series Searching Issues. A prize was also in place for the winners. Bro. Ujjwal Deb is the Student Alpha Advisor who helped organise this introductory training.

UESI Students DehraDun, - Janus Peter

Student Alpha Introduced to the UESI Students at Presbyterian Theological Seminary, DehraDun on June 4th 2012. 25 students from various colleges, and places in Uttarakhand were introduced to the Student Alpha Course. The starfish video was screened and Student Alpha was briefly explained to them.

All of them were very excited to hear about Student Alpha and how it works on college campuses.

Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow, is a super speciality patient care, post graduate medical education and research institute.

A good number of Christian medical workers are part of SGPGI so we decided to have an Alpha Introduction in the campus. The Introduction program was attended by 135 medical workers and a few pastors as well and at the end of the training they have shown great interest to know more about the Alpha course. Following the success of the introduction we decided to have a full one day training which was attended by 45 key delegates representing the institute.

The immediate result is that 6 delegates have decided to start the Alpha course. Our hope is that this small spark of Alpha movement among the medical fraternity would grow and spread to other parts of the region as well.

Medical workers and pastors show interest to know more about the Alpha course and how it can be effective in the medical world

MEDICAL INSTITUTE TAKES UP ALPHA

ALPHA INDIA NEWSJULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

- Vinay P Dayal

STUDENT ALPHA INvADES COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Student Alpha is a simple but effective tool for sharing the Gospel with your friends. It’s the same as the classic Alpha course (a ten week course giving guests an opportunity to explore the meaning of life), it’s just been Squeezed (into 7 weeks to fit into university term time), Squashed (into 30 minute talks), and Spiced (with multi-media ingredients) for Students.

WHAT IS STUDENT ALPHA?

from the field 5

NEW PARTNERSHIP

ALPHA INDIA NEWSJULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

Joining hands withOperation Mobilisation

- Vinay P Dayal

Owing to the many successful Alpha trainings that have been conducted in Uttar Pradesh in the last few years, it is clearly evident that different mission organizations and Churches are coming forward to strike strategic partnerships with Alpha and have their workers oriented about the Alpha course. In this process, Operation Mobilisation, which is a pioneer mission movement in India was also able to identify that the Alpha course would be very helpful for their Pastors and evangelists who could if properly trained easily use it as an effective evangelistic tool. Hence, OM took the initiative to organize a two-day Alpha training programme to train their 45 Pastors to help them start the Alpha course in their local communities. Subsequently, it was decided to have the Alpha training program for OM Pastors on the 10th and 11th of May and by the grace of God it turned out to be a big blessing. I really thank God that we had four great men of God who were present at the trainings, Rev.Solomon Bodhan (North India Director- BGI), Rev.Ashish Khandelwal (Presbyter in-Charge-CNI Allahabad), Mr. Rahul Pant (Director- Dayspring Grace, India), Mr. Abhineet J Dass(BSI), Pastor Nitin E Sam(Lecturer-Lucknow Christian College).

Partnering with Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC)- Job Livingston Paul.The Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) has a wide coverage of over 10 districts in the state of Andhra Pradesh with its Head Quarters based in Guntur. It is divided into six Synods with 5000 congregations and 800000 baptized believers. They also run several colleges, schools and hospitals.

We had a wonderful meeting with Bishop. Dr. Suneel Bhanu, President of AELC in his

office at Guntur to introduce the Alpha course and to my surprise the Alpha course was well known to him already.

He connected me to Rev. C.H. Elia Bishop of Guntur Central Synod – a very enthusiastic and reputed personality in AELC to do an Alpha Introduction and have a possible partnership meeting.

On 13th June Bishop Elia organized a meet where the Alpha National Team and Key leaders of AELC and Guntur Central Synod pastors participated. Bishop. Elia presided over the meeting and brought warm greetings from AELC to the Alpha India Team headed by National Director Mr. J. Varadaraj and to Mr. Rajesh Toppo Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Francis Manual Training Manager. Mr. J. Varadaraj introduced the Alpha course with some stories that happened across the nation through these courses.

Mr. T. James Vara Prasad Babu, Executive Council Member of AELC,and other leaders had a very active interaction with the Alpha team and they asked about Alpha courses for other contexts and expressed their views on how Alpha could fit into their various Ministries. There will be another planning meeting with Bishop. Elia and their key leaders on how to conduct Trainings to cover this vast area of Lutheran churches in all six synods.

We praise and thank God and all our prayer partners for this wonderful partnership with AELC to work together for God’s Kingdom.

Co-labouring with Foursquare Gospel Church, Odisha- Tushar Behara

With growing interest in Alpha from all denominations, prospects of new partnerships are also coming knocking at the door. New partnership has been developed with the Foursquare Gospel Church here in Odisha. In the picture Foursquare Pastors from Odisha are standing along with the national leader of Foursquare Church India Rev. Thomas Kutty.

THE alpha couRse FAQs

1. How do I get started running Alpha?

Prayer is vital to the planning, preparation and effectiveness of your Alpha course. Find a group of people who will pray for every aspect of your Alpha course.

Step 1 - pray

Step 2 - participate

Step 3 - plan your course

Step 4 - prepare your team

Step 5 - procure your resources

Step 6 - persevere

Step 7 - pass on the vision

2. How do I run the Alpha course outside of my church?

Using the same Alpha course content and structure, you can run an Alpha course at school, colleges, workplace, prisons, hospitals, homeless shelters, army bases, slums, among eunuchs and red light districts.

3. What resources and training opportunities are available to me?

• Access to Alpha’s national training conferences and local training events.

• Access to a full array of products through the Alpha India website to promote, run and augment your Alpha course.

• Access to a network of Alpha coordinators and Alpha advisors

4. How do I contact Alpha India?

You can contact Alpha India National Office, Regional Office, State coordinators to help you locate a training event happening near your city.

Please find the contact details on Pg. 2

ALPHA RESOURCES

Alpha course resources are available in

English, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi,Gujarati, Kannada,Tamil,

Telugu, Malayalam,Oriya, Assamese

and Urdu.

Contact : resources@alphaindia.org

gat for prisons6

FIRST PRISON GAT IN INDIA

such testimonies increased our burden for reaching out to more prisoners and at the same time encouraging the prison ministers that their work is not in vain.

In Mumbai Ps. Shelton Davidson New Life, opened up the Alpha for Prisons training with the Word of God encouraging all the participants gathered there. Sister Shanti who works in prisons in Mumbai shared how running Alpha for Prison course has helped inmates come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ps. Jeomon (Bombay Baptist Church BBC) closed the training with the Word of God and commissioning of the participants.

In Ooty Ps. Pravin shared how he planted a church for ex-offender after running Alpha for Prison course in three central prisons in Karnataka. Many of them gave their commitment to start the course.

Bangalore AFP training was hosted and sponsored by the Prison Ministry India which is a Catholic ministry working all over India operating from 18 centres. There is a need of committed net-work for prison ministries in India. Let us pray that God will help us join our hands together and continue the great commission in the prisons and jails of our country.

The first Alpha for Prison GAT in India took Place in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Ooty from 6th June to 17th June 2012 with Rev John Clarke. Regional Prisons Director (Indian Sub-continent & Oceania sub-regions)

A Classic Alpha for Prison was also held in Bangalore during this period.

The Alpha for Prisons, GAT, Hyderabad began with a sharing from the Word of God by Mr. J. Varadaraj, National Director of Alpha India.

We were truly blessed and encouraged to meet people who share the same burden for those in prisons and it was also a good time of learning and sharing. Many shared testimonies about the transformation taking place among inmates in prison across the country and some among them were ex-offenders who have become leaders and pastors now. Pastor Murthy Narayana who was once a gang leader and a well known criminal from Guntur shared how he met the Lord in Prison and how he was miraculously released from the prison. He had four murder cases against him when he was released from prison. Another Pastor who was an ex- naxalite also shared with us how he came to the Lord and his passion for telling other about Jesus who transformed his life. Hearing

FELLOWSHIP TIME IN SOUTHERN ODISHA JAIL- Tusharkanta Behera

Alpha for Prisons is doing well in many prisons around the country. In Odisha, our Prison Alpha Adviser Mr. Sanyasi Pani visited the Southern Jail and presented the inmates running Alpha with a Carrom Board for recreation and also as a means to meet with inmates of other faiths. The game board was given as an act of goodwill and in response to the prison authority’s request for the same.

ooty

Bangalore

What is Alpha for Prisons?Alpha for Prisons is a fifteen-session practical introduction to the Christian faith, aimed especially at non-churchgoers and new Christians. The course is run successfully in all types of prisons and correctional institutions for both men and women and is also used in young offenders and juvenile institutions.

ALPHA PRISON GAT ACROSS THE NATION- Peace Khapai, National Coordinator - Prison Alpha

place date no. of people trained

Hyderabad 06 - 07 55

Mumbai 11 -12 28

Ooty 14 -15 30

Bangalore 16 - 17 60

details of prison gAt training in June 2012

gat for prisons 7

FIRST PRISON GAT IN INDIA

and found support of a good church as they continued as his disciples on the outside.

Now I head up the Transform team, see organisational chart attached. So I am quickly learning about relationship central and GAT and AiW and AfF.

your vision for Alpha prison for AAp and what plans do you envisage for those coming out of prison - ex-offenders.

Alex Ip, my volunteer colleague in Singapore, and I hope that each nation that runs Alpha will be prompted by the Spirit to support those who want to run Alpha in their nation’s prisons. So we continually challenge National Alpha Directors to respond to the call of the gospel, eg Hebrews 13: 3. And then as invited we inspire, train and support any staff, prison ministry workers or volunteers who want to use Alpha in their prisons. As local follow up is vital, this is best done through a National AfP coordinator, like Peace Khapai, who can continue and develop the ministry.

Caring for Ex-Offenders is a team model for churches to support people as they leave prison and want to continue as disciples of Jesus Christ with a church. We are ready, with Andrew Foong, Alpha Singapore, to inspire, train and support nations that want to equip their churches with this successful model from the UK.

Our vision is every prisoner in every prison having the opportunity to attend an Alpha course and every Christian prisoner being linked with a Caring For Ex-offenders (CFEO)church upon release. We have a long way to go, but each step brings us closer.

tell us a little bit about your life ?

I was brought up in a Christian home and enjoyed church life until at about 16 years old I realised all the Christians were hypocrites. I worked this out by arithmetic. If we had 200 people in worship and each

was giving 10% our church’s income would be phenomenal, but wasn’t. Two years of not attending worship helped me to clarify my life.

But I hung in with the youth group and when 18, after a Bible study on prayer at a youth camp in the mountains, I gave control of my life to Christ, and haven’t wavered in the 38 years since. I can still remember how the morning after my conversion, I felt fresh, new, the Bible came alive, I could lift my head up as one of God’s loved children, I finally knew Whose I was and who I was and where I should be going.

how did you get involved with Alpha ?

Started with Alpha Australia’s prison ministry in 2007, but ran Alpha in the churches I pastored since 1995 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia over several years. I based my masters of education thesis on the educational aspects of the Alpha Course. For 3 years I concentrated on AfP and CFEO and the Recovery Course, a Christian 12 step program for addicts from HTB. It was inspirational to continually hear stories from prisoners who had been set free by Christ through the Alpha course in prison

your experience in India and any exciting stories.

The diversity of India hit me. Religions abound, both tolerance and intolerance from state to state, from the homeless beggar, to the Billionaire’s mansion, the flashy shopping mall with some slum dwellers just next door, the ox drawn cart beside the Toyoto Prada. So visually India is mind blowing.

It was so inspiring to interact with staff who spend of themselves on long bus or train trips to conduct training events and meetings. To meet so many lively advisors whose joy in leading Alpha is infectious.

I met two YWAM missionaries who have been imprisoned and deported from Nepal for preaching the gospel. Another who told me of the rifle of a religious extremist pointed in his chest up North, but with courage he challenged the man to shoot and Christ made the extremist walk away. This young man is now married with children, but wonders if the call is still there for such a ministry?

The most satisfying aspect was seeing Peace grow in confidence in his leadership of training events. It gave me faith that he will go on to develop AfP throughout India as he is quick to learn and apply each new strategy and idea.

The most inspiring evening was in a small upper room in a rundown part of Mumbai, with around 40 young North Eastern people, working in the city, a long way from home, but wanting to connect with each other and God at this house church evening sharing and Bible study. Their desire for the gospel, and that churches mission to their people and Myanmar, was amazing.

mumbai

hyderabad

FACE TO FACE WITH JOHN CLARKREGIONAL PRISON DIRECTOR (INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT & OCEANIA SUB-REGIONS)

8 FROM THE FIELD

Classic Alpha training at CNI Barackpur

The CNI Barrackpur Diocese has 107 churches in different areas. In the month of March we had invited pastors from all the churches and conducted a training at St. Stephen’s Church, Dum Dum. Bishop Brojen Malakar was also present to give the opening message as well as commissioning of the delegates to run the Alpha course in their respective churches. Altogether 35 pastors attended the training and they soon hope to begin using the tool in their churches.

Training for the pastors of IET - UP- Vinay P DayalIn a meeting with Ps. Kishor Sagar, the coordinator for Indian Evangelical Team for UP, a decision was taken to have an Alpha training for their pastors. Thereby 45 IET pastors were trained and they plan to start the Alpha course among their respective people groups.

Alpha at Work Place - Sam Victor

Chinyard – an NGO led by Mr. C. Y. Bhardwad, Managing Director attended the Global Alpha Training held in Hubli. He is also an Alpha Master Trainer having run Alpha in his office among his staff. In the GAT, staff from other faith also attended and three have shown a positive response by accepting Christ as their Lord. Mr. Bhardwad also has planned to start a course for 15 field staff in the near future and also planned to raise leaders to run courses for 60 Self-Help Groups consisting of 15 in each group. “It is a blessing to have such a gospel tool at workplace to talk and discuss about truth and God” – said Mr. Bhardwad

Doors opening in the Corporate World- Santosh Kumar ChettriLast month the Lord gave me an opening to take a four day session from the “God at Work course” at Lawrence and Mayo. It was right in the boardroom of Lawrence and Mayo in Kolkata that 10 showroom managers attended the four sessions, each day for one

Youth in 2020- James Michael David

In a move to consolidate the work accomplished so far in the YA & SA front, we decided to get a group of youth leaders from across the country under a single banner, united to a single goal to get the gospel to the youth of our country. In mid-June we hosted a gathering of youth leaders from across the nation in Bangalore. Most of them had run either Youth or Student Alpha courses. We had an amazing time as collectively we were envisioned to see the youth of India transformed with the gospel. We combined both vision and action by getting the leaders into regional groups and seeking the Lord’s will for their region. We had to analyse the current situation, dream for what could be in 2020 and then take some practical steps for getting there.

The product of the Youth Alpha Leaders Summit was a core-team has been formed for seeing the youth changed. We have a 20:20 vision of seeing twenty lakh youth hear the good news in India by the year 2020. I’m so excited to be part of what God is doing through Alpha - it seems to have the unstoppable and unquenchable work of the Holy Spirit on it.

ALPHA INDIA NEWSJULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

GAT IN A CATHOLIC CONTEXT AT BANGALORE

The National Commission for Proclamation organized an Alpha training for the dioceses of south India in the NBCLC, Bangalore from 14th June to 19th June, an initiative of Fr Vijay Shantiraj, National Secretary, Commission for Proclamation. A wide spectrum of church leaders including priests, religious and the laity from 7 different dioceses attended the training. Mathew Antony (Secretary, Commission for Evangelization) along with his team from New Delhi conducted the training for the 40 delegates.

The training was opened by Bishop of Salem, Most Rev. Singarayan (Chairman of Commission for Proclamation) who addressed the delegates on the need for Evangelization and how The Alpha course is a useful tool for the same. The GAT model was followed for the 5 day training with live speakers as well as sessions on DVD. The third day of the training saw the delegates follow the Alpha model themselves by presenting the talk, holding the discussions and serving the meal.

A number of delegates have taken a commitment to run the Alpha course in their prayer groups and parishes. We would like to thank Alpha India for their constant support during the Alpha training.

- Mathew Antony

A wide spectrum of church leaders including priests, and the laity from 7 different dioceses attended the training

9FROM THE FIELDALPHA INDIA NEWSJULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

TRUCK DRIvERS GEAR UP FOR ALPHA- Rupak Kumar Nayak

When ever we go out on the road, especially on the National Highways and industrial areas we meet truck drivers and they are the people who help us indirectly in many ways. We always get irritated with slow moving big trucks and there is a general image that they are rough people. But I believe God loves them too and wants them to know Him as their Saviour.

It was our National Director who always shares his vision about all the drivers in our country and it gave me a passion to pray for them and ask God how to start something for these people. God spoke to Ps. Kundan in Himachal and gave a plan to him as well as two drivers attended his church. He lives in a place where three cement factories are situated. He shared the potential prospects with me one day and we both started praying and planning for this.

It was not so easy to get the truck drivers in one place and to meet at a particular time regularly. But a plan was made to start on June 15th onwards. 18 drivers committed to

come to the course every time and I believe this is a small beginning which will spread through out our country. Already plans have been made to start an Alpha course among auto drivers in Chandigarh by Bro. Ramesh from July. We covet your valuable prayer support for these valuable souls on the road. Praise God!

and half hours. The sessions were on stress, work life balance, failures and disappointment and Ambition and Life Choices. This course is used as a bridge to introduce the Alpha course which is an introduction to know about the Gospel. One of the managers who attended the course expressed how thankful he was to have learnt so much and wants to learn even more. Another manager said that he felt refreshed and found the whole training very motivating and would pass on what he had learnt to others as well.

Marriage course a blessing to many in Chandigarh- Rupak Kumar Nayak

We had experienced resource persons Mr. Mathai Chackochen and Molly Chackochen from Chennai to conduct the training at Chandigarh.

During the ministry time all the participants were in tears and as observation the resource person said: “The Holy Spirit has moved in each heart present that evening”. Later some couples shared their personal experience with the leaders. As a result of this training at least 5 couples wanted to start the marriage course in their respective places. We are looking forward and praying at the end of this year or beginning of 2013 we will be able to

start a local marriage course training in this region with the help of a local Hindi speaking resource person. Please pray for this ministry to grow and also we would like to introduce the premarital course in this region by the end of this year.

“Learning on the art of communication was eye opening. It was so exciting to ask and know about each other’s expectations. We understood the importance of forgiveness within marriage.” - Shibu Babu & Mary Oommen

Marriage & Pre Marriage Training in Gujarat- Jimmy Damore

The Pre Marriage Alpha course training was organized by a Roman Catholic Fr. Lawrence for their young couples who were going to get married. The training was on the 6th of May 2012 for a whole day at the pastoral centre, Dumral Road, Nadiad. There were 17 couples and four singles for the Pre- marriage course. We also had two couples who were married from the Roman Catholic Church who had come for the training to train others. A sister and a Father from the church helped as translators.

The Marriage course was organized from the 6th of May to the 8th of May at Greenwoods

Lake resort, Ahmedabad. There were 21 couples for Marriage Alpha course and three Couples as Master Trainers. In total there were 24 couples for the Marriage course from different denominations. In this training we covered all the seven topics in the training and the participants were able to go through the whole Marriage course. Mr. & Mrs. Chackochen. Many participants gave their valuable feedback and testified that this course has definitely enriched their marriage.

World Prayer Assembly – Jakarta- Rampan Muivah

The World Prayer Assembly was held in Jakarta from 14-18 May, 2012. It was a historical event where thousands of prayer warriors came together to seek God for the nations. One of the most exciting events was on the 17th May more than 100,000 Indonesians, along with the delegates of 86 nations prayed at the Jakarta National Stadium and believers in 370 other Indonesian cities prayed at the same-time. “There is tremendous power in unity” - said Enoch Adeboye. It was repeatedly shared among the delegates that “Isolation leads to death.” Hence it is necessary in these days to collectively pursue the God given Commission.

10 LIFE WITH GOD ALPHA INDIA NEWSJULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

the dynAmIc of SpIRItuAl tRAnSfoRmAtIon In the WIth-god lIfe:fIfteen eXpReSSIonS

LIFE WITH GOD

Stage of Formation Scriptures God’s Action Human Reaction Type of Mediation Locus of Mediation Social Context Central Individual(s) Key Spiritual Disciplines

1. The People of God in Individual Communion

Genesis 1-11* Creates, instructs steward of a good creation, banishes, destroys restores

Disobey, rebel, sacrifice, murder, repent, obey

Face-to-face Garden, field, Noah’s ark

Individuals Adam, Eve, Enoch, Noah

Practicing the presence, confession, sacrifice, obedience/submission

2. The People of God Become a Family

Genesis 12-50 Gives promise and establishes Abrahamic covenant, makes a great people

Faith, wrestle with God, persevere

Through the family Tent, desert, jail Extended families and nomadic clans

Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph

Pilgrimage, sacrifice, chastity

3. The People of God in Exodus

Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Extends mercy, grace and deliverance from exile; delivers the Mosaic covenant/law

Obey and disobey, develop a distinctive form of ritual

Through God’s terrifying acts and the Law

Ark of the covenant, tabernacle

Nomadic tribes Moses Submission, silence, simplicity, worship

4. The People of God in the Promised Land

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel 1-12

Establishes a theocracy, bequeaths the Promised Land

Inhabit the Promised Land, accept judges as mediators

Through the conquest and learning to act with God

Shiloh, Bethel An ethnic people with fluid leadership

Joshua, Deborah, Ruth Samson, Gideon, Samuel

Guidance, radical obedience/submission, secrecy

5. The People of God as a Nation

1 Samuel 13-31 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, 1 Esdras 1

Permits the monarchy, exalts good kings, uses secular nations for blessing

Embrace the monarchy

Through the king, prophets, priests, and sacrifices

Altars, consecrated places, first (Solomonic) temple

Political nation on the world stage

Saul, David Hezekiah, Elijah, Elisha

Worship, Prayer

6. The People of God in Travail

Job, Psalms of Lament, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Tobit

Permits tribulation, allows suffering to strengthen faith

Complain yet remain faithful

Through suffering and the disappointments of life

Ash heap, hard circumstances of life

Individual Job, Israel as the suffering servant

Fasting, solitude, silence, submission, service, celebration

7. The People of God in Prayer and Worship

Psalms, Psalm 151 Establishes liturgical worship

Praise, prayer Through song, prayer, worship

Jerusalem, flowering of individual experience

Nation David Prayer, worship confession, celebration, meditation

8. The People of God in Daily Life

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom of Solomon, The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

Gives precepts for living in community

Teachable, learning treasure beautiful words and artistic expression

Through wisdom Temple, in the gate, home

Nation triumphant Solomon Study, guidance, celebration, meditation

9. The People of God in Rebellion

1 Kings 12 -2 Kings 25:10, 2 Chronicles10-36:19, Isaiah, Jeremiah 1-36, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Jonah,Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Judith,Prayer of Manasseh

Proclaims prophetic judgement and redemption, reveals his rule over all nations, promises Immanuel, uses secular nations to bring judgment

Disbelieve and reject, believe false prophets, a faithful remnant emerges

Through the prophets and repression by the Gentiles

High places, Temple desecrated and destroyed

Nation under siege and dispersed

Isaiah, Hosea, Amos Fasting, repentance, obedience/submission, solitude, silence, the law internalized

10. The People of God in Exile

2 Kings 25:11-30, 2 Chronicles36:20-23, Jeremiah 37-52, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Obadiah, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Additions to Daniel

Judges, yet remains faithful to covenant promises

Mourn, survive, long for Jerusalem, stand for God without intuitions

Through punishment, being a blessing to their captors

Babylon, anyplace, anytime

Ethnics abroad without a political homeland

Ezekiel, Jeremiah Detachment, fasting, simplicity, prayer, silence, service

11. The People of God in Restoration

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Additions to Esther, 1 Esdras 2-9, & 2 Esdras, 1,2,3,&4 Maccabees, Tobit, Additions to Daniel

Regathers and redeems, restructures social life

Return, obey, rebuild, worship, pursue Messianic figure, compile Septuagint

Through repentance, service, synagogue study

Rebuilt Temple, synagogue

Remnant on the international scene, ethnics in the leadership of other nations

Ezra, Cyrus the Persian, Nehemiah, Essenes, John the Baptist

Pilgrimage, confession, worship, study, service

12. The People of God with Immanuel

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Send the Son and acts with the Son

Hear and follow, resist and reject

Through the Incarnate Word and the living presence of the Kingdom

Temple and synagogue, boats and hillsides, gatherings of disciples

Small groups, disciples, apostles, hostile critics

Jesus Christ Incarnate

Celebration, study pilgrimage, submission, prayer, sacrifice, obedience, confession

13. The People of God in Mission

Acts Sends the Holy Spirit and creates the Church

Believe and proclaim disbelieve and persecute

Through the Holy Spirit, persecution, and martyrdom

Temple and synagogue, schools, riversides, public square

Jew, Gentile, house churches, abandonment of social strata

Peter, Paul Speaking and hearing the word, sacrifice, guidance, generosity/ service, fasting, prayer

14. The People of God in Community

Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude

Builds, nurtures, and mobilizes the Church

Become disciples of Jesus Christ and make disciples to the ends of the earth

In one another, through Scripture, teaching, preaching, prophetic utterance, pastoral care, the Holy Spirit, the sacraments

Gathered community Community redefined by the Body of Christ, decadent Greco Roman culture

Peter, Paul, John Prayer, study accountability/submission, fellowship

15. The People of God into Eternity

Revelation Reveals infinite progress towards infinite good

Worship and praise, creativity the magnifies God

Throughout the cosmos

Focused in the New Jerusalem and extending throughout the cosmos

The Trinity and its community

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; apostles, prophets

Living beyond disciplines

Reading the bible for Spititual Transformation

11LIFE WITH GOD

pRAy foR AlphA IndIApRAISe poIntS:

- Praise God for the lives that are touched and souls that are transformed through the work of Alpha.

- Praise God for His mighty way of leading the organisation and the wisdom that he bestowed upon the staffs all through the last six months.

- Praise God for the doors that opened and the new partnerships with Lutheran mission, Andhra and World Vision, Madhya Pradesh.

- Praise God for opening doors in Universities and Colleges across the Nation for the work of Youth and Student Alpha.

- Praise God for all the upcoming events that are scheduled to happen during the next quarter.

- Praise God for His protection upon all the Alpha India staffs and well wishers for the past six months.

pRAyeR poIntS:

- Pray for all the National Alpha Offices and their staffs in India and around the world.

- Pray for the upcoming Women’s conference, so that right delegates can participate and get equipped to bring transformation in the society.

- Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom upon Mr. James Michael David, National Youth and Student Alpha Coordinator and Mr. Ninghor K Shimray, Associate Regional Coordinator – Northeast so they may carry out their work efficiently.

- Pray for God’s protection upon all the Alpha India staffs and coordinators spread across the nation.

ALPHA INDIA NEWSJULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

An oveRvIeW of god’S puRpoSe of tRAnSfoRmAtIon In hIStoRy

“Those of us who would follow Jesus must inculcate and practice the disciplines required for discipleship. Who better points us toward the discipline life than Foster? This is a transforming, radiant book.” - William h. Willimon, bishop, united methodist church, and author of Sinning Like a Christian