New Alpha course starts

We had a very encouraging start to our new Alpha course.

We had around 60 come from 10 different villages in the Cantemir region. Of the 60 only 20 were from our leadership teams.

Each week of the course consists of a meal together, followed by a message on a theme after which we split into groups to discuss the message.

The theme for the first week of this course that is used in scores of countries all round the world is "Who is Jesus"

It is a very powerful message that uses non biblical historical writings and biblical texts to show that Jesus is God and the answer to all men's needs.

Some travelled from as far away as Chisilia taking around and hour to get to us.

Here they are, eating and enjoying each other's company. Anatol, at the left of the picture is pastor of a church in Chisilia with 100+ members

Here 3 villages are together in this group and you cannot see all the participients ( useless photographer called Mark McCormick-we'll not be hiring him again)

The villages are Cantemir ( a town really ), Volodia and Virginia at the left of the picture pastor the church there. Then Misa, who is the pastor at Hirtop is at the head of the table. Ruslan, the deacon at our church is sitting beside him and he led their group in the discussion time
as he has already had experiencing leading Alpha which are discussion groups not bible study groups - a very different dinamic. Porumbesti is the other village represented

Pray for the man at the bottom right of picture who is close to committing his life to Christ

This is my group which consisted of myself, Slavic and 8 guests from Gotesti and Chircani
These guests included, the head and vice head teachers in one of our kindergartens. a former vice principal in our local school and the current principal of the school in Chircani.

Some of the feedback from the groups showed that people were challenged by the evidence for the miracles that Jesus did and his resurrection which in themselves of course lead us to the challenge that He is indeed God and therefore "what does he expect of me?"

Ruslan Grosu also brought a group of young people up from Cahul.

There were actually 8 or 9 of them but half joined Igor's group which was also made up of young people from Gotesti Chircani and Baiamaclia.

There are several in these groups that are also close to committing themselves to the Lord, so we'd value prayer.

Pray also that as the weeks go by the groups will grow closer and feel they can be more open one with another.

Pray that others who said they wanted to come but didn't will come next week and that those that did come will come continually.

Pastor Mark