I became a Christian January 8, 2003. On January 9, I began attending my first Alpha course. Six weeks later, during the Alpha retreat, as I was waiting to be prayed over by our small group leader, a man from another group sitting next to me told me he was accepting Christ as his Savior. A chill went through me. I asked him how it felt to go into the evening knowing he was going to do this, and he told me that he just realized, while sitting there, that he was going to do this. A bigger chill went through me and I was unable to stop a few tears from slipping out. I realized then that the most joyful experience I would ever have as a Christian would be witnessing someone else becoming a Christian.

I have been involved with seven Alpha courses, and at each Alpha retreat, the Holy Spirit has done amazing things . . . things I couldn’t think or imagine. I always go into the retreat weekend praying diligently for someone in my group whom I think is far from Christ, hoping they will accept Christ into their life. Each time when I surrender my will to God and accept that God’s timing is not my timing, the Holy Spirit takes over and claims His next child for Christ.

My most memorable retreat weekend is of a young man in my group, for whom I had been praying fervently and had seen absolutely no sign of interest in becoming a Christian. His mother and I are friends, and we shared the desire to see him give his life to Christ. When I asked him if there was anything I could pray about with him, I expected nothing, but he told me he wanted to be saved. I almost fell out of my chair. We prayed together and the tears flowed, and shouts of joy came from others in my group. As we were celebrating, I looked over to where my mother was sitting, and she was praying with Pastor Frank . . . accepting Christ into her life as well!

I encourage you to invite someone to Alpha this week. I am excited to see how God will touch hearts and change lives.

~ Story by Bernie Bennett