Whatever we think may be the shortcomings (or not) of the Alpha Course, there is no doubt that God is using it to good effect within the prisons.
Of the 158 prisons and detention centres in Britain, 125 are running Alpha courses and prisoners are turning to Christ.
With this background a training day was held at London's Holy Trinity Brompton (home of the Alpha course) on November 9, to consider how churches could help back into society those who have made a profession of faith, and, perhaps even more difficult, help them into the church. The impact that Alpha is making in the prison system was underlined by the fact that Sir David Ramsbotham (Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons) took time to speak at the conference, and Paul Boateng, MP (Minister at the Home Office) spoke on video to the gathering.
The re-emergence of heavy shepherds
What would you think if you received a letter from your church leaders that read like this? ‘Are church members …