The Alpha course has one stretch where you set a whole week-end aside to hang out together in a retreat atmosphere, listen to Bible teaching about the Holy Spirit, talk about it in small groups, and maybe experience God.
This was our first time through, so we met for a day-long retreat at the Chacará Sucurí, which is very close to our place. It was my first time there. The Sunday atmosphere at this public club was worldly, which was distracting. Still, our group listened really well to the teaching videos, and then really opened up in the small groups. The ice-breakers, “What do you think about spiritual healing?” and “What do you think about signs and wonders?” were all about white witchcraft, and dark witchcraft. No problem believing it exists. The questions center more around, “Why is God’s way better?”
After the second and third videos we ate lunch and the group relaxed for the afternoon. It reminded me of the many church groups I have been part of in my 52 years. People who hardly knew each other just naturally seem to form into one, big, family.
Thursday evening, at our normal Alpha meeting time, we showed the last HS video, and invited the Holy Spirit to come. And He did. He settled visibly on several of the people, and everyone left very encouraged.
We still have three more Alpha evenings to go, and then I think everyone wants to do it again. The group is growing. The tables where we eat are no longer big enough.
what a great weekend, what a good problem, the tables are no longer big enough.