Free Inside Newsletter - November, 2004.

“Why does it make sense now?”

Week 4 on Alpha deals with the topic ”How can I be sure of my faith?” Sam joined the course for the first time at this point. At the end of the session he asked for prayer and was lead to make a profession of faith in Christ. He had made a couple of futile attempts to read the Bible in the past but had given up because it never made any sense to him. I urged him to try again, suggesting he make a start with Matthew and eventually read the whole New Testament.

The next week I asked him how things went during the previous week. He said; ”Great, I feel different”. I asked him how he was getting along with Bible reading. He said that he had reached Matthew 18 and that he was getting a lot out of it. Then he asked “Why does the Bible make sense to me now?” It was wonderful to be able to explain to him that the Holy Spirit had given him spiritual eyes and understanding.

• Please pray for Sam, prison is not an easy place to live as a Christian.

Conferences - On November 13 and 20 I had the privilege of leading two workshops on “Alpha in a Prison Environment” at two different conferences. Nov. 13 at the Vision New England Prison Ministries Caleb Conference and then on Nov. 20 at an Alpha New England Team Leaders’ Conference.

• Pray that those who attended will take the needed steps to run Alpha in Prisons.

Retreat Days - On October 31 and November 21, two of our teams lead a day on the Holy Spirit in two different prisons. These were very successful and gave us the opportunity to offer extended ministry to the inmates who attended. The one on the 11/21 was especially significant. 37 inmates attended and we had a team of 13 volunteers. One of the volunteers was permitted to bring a guitar to lead worship.  The chaplain had arranged for us to eat lunch with the inmates in the chapel. This time together was great.

At the end of the last session I divided the volunteers into teams of two and invited the inmates to go to any pair for personal prayer ministry, about 25 inmates took the opportunity to do this.

• Please pray that God will continue His work in the lives of these men.

Fall Courses to end soon. - Our Alpha II at Bergin ended a couple of weeks ago. Alpha at Bergin ends on December 1 and the 2 courses at York (women) and the 2 at Gates conclude at the end of December.

Plans are going ahead for a new round of courses at these facilities.

• Please pray that we will be able to start these by February. I am still in the early stages of trying to gain access to 2 additional prisons.

New Volunteers. - I will only be able take advantage of the opportunities that may soon come in these 2 additional prisons if I have some additional volunteers.

• Please pray that God will provide new volunteers so that we will be able to go forward.

Volunteer Team meeting. - Our volunteers are meeting for a morning of training and planning for 2005 on December 4, at 9 am at First Baptist Church, Hillstown Road. Manchester. If you are interested in learning a bit more about how to become an in-prison volunteer with us, you are invited to attend this meeting. Please let me know no later than December 2, if you plan to come.

Peter

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