A new viewpoint

Dave found that Alpha answered the questions he had always wanted to ask - but also answered questions he hadn't even thought of.

"The husband of one of my wife's friends was talking to me one day and asked me where I stood in relation to Christianity. I'd never been asked that before. My problem was that I didn't know. Even though I'd been going to church, with my wife Gina, for a long time I'd always felt like a bit of an outsider. He said, 'Why don't you do Alpha?'

I had recently lost my business, was pursuing a High Court action against a former business partner and was in the process of establishing another business, so life was busy. But I realised that if I didn't do Alpha then, I probably never would.
I felt very welcome and found other people asking the same questions I was asking. That alone was a warm feeling. I found that the more I searched the less I doubted.
I found myself really looking forward to Alpha night and everything else I had to do was planned around it.
The Alpha course changed my viewpoint on life. Previously I had missed the point that the idea of Christianity was to give your life to Jesus. Now different processes motivate my decision-making. Business decisions still need to be made but the pressure has been lifted.
I really enjoy reading my Bible every day. I pray more regularly and have enjoyed seeing God answer specific prayers. That's exciting."

Neighbours from heaven

"I thought I had 'Neighbours from Hell' - neighbours Mike and Mary spent two years persuading me to join the Alpha course. I now know they're 'Neighbours from Heaven'," laughs policeman and Ashtead resident Graham Richens.

"I had lived without faith for over 40 years and like many people thought that Christians were a 'sad bunch' of hypocritical, God-squad types. Eventually Mike and Mary persuaded me that by going to Alpha I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I decided to go along for just one evening.

During the first evening there were no prayers, heavy sermons or preaching. We were given the opportunity to listen to some information and discuss anything we wanted to. No-one was forced to speak or made to feel awkward or pressurised in any way. I chose to ask some challenging and confrontational questions, but these were welcomed and I was made to feel valued and appreciated.
I enjoyed the evening so much that I couldn't wait to go back the following week. By the third week I realised that my views about Christians had been completely wrong.
Surprise yourself. Go along to Alpha. You've got nothing to lose and so much to gain."

Down to business

Local businessman Nigel Cartwright found that Alpha's talks and discussion groups debunked religion.

"For me the most important feature of the Ashtead Alpha course was that it was run by the most extraordinary 'ordinary' people who have had, and in some case still have, similar doubts, questions and concerns as the course participants. The course provided a non-threatening and relaxed environment to explore issues without giving 'clever' or trite textbook responses.

After a meal, there was a down to earth talk addressing an area of the Christian faith. The talks illustrated God's work today and the meaning of the teachings of Jesus. They presented a no-nonsense picture of what Jesus' life was for and why he had to be born, live and die among us.
This was followed by small group discussions which developed in the direction the participants wanted to take it, while a leader ensured that it kept to the evening's theme. The views and insights of the other group members were particularly valuable as we all searched to grasp the ideas."