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Alpha invites the nation to dinner

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

Make that a reservation for 30 million please! Old or young, rich or poor, easterner or westerner, Canadians are invited to dinner this September as Alpha Canada launches a nationwide initiative to explore the meaning of life through an Alpha course. Dinners form an essential and much enjoyed focus on the Alpha course, leading to the national invitation. Denominational walls no longer exist as thousands of churches across Canada join for this project. Churches of more than 50 different backgrounds in all parts of the country are cooking up unique opportunities to attract community attention to the Christian faith. In some areas, plans are in place for a community-wide dinner in local arenas. In other towns, huge public barbecues and open air concerts are scheduled. In yet others, Alpha invitations bring people to pubs. Even local prisons are getting involved by hosting Alpha courses. The Alpha course has impacted more than six million people in 130 countries around the world. Started in Britain at Holy Trinity Brompton in London, Alpha courses are low key non-threatening investigations of the Christian faith. In Canada, Alpha courses are supported by all the major Christian denominations and more than 10,000 leaders are trained for the 10-week course. To date, more than 2,000 churches across Canada are equipped and ready for the September invitation. In the Flin Flon area, the Alpha supper is set for the Community Hall on Tuesday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m. "Canadians are reaching out to other Canadians, allowing them to explore the concepts of the Christian faith and the meaning for life," said Sally Start, National Director of Alpha Canada. "This invitation to the nation will allow Canadians from all walks of life, all manner of faith or non-faith backgrounds, and all parts of the country to ask questions and investigate issues of faith for themselves." She added that the non-threatening, small group nature of the Alpha course allows complete freedom for participants to ask questions and delve into the issues with no negative feedback. "We want to make the church relevant to those who have no background in Christianity or who have had a negative experience with the faith. Our goal in Alpha is to talk about relationships Ð relationships with Jesus Ð rather than talk about religion."

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