Visit the Photo Place

Area churches find new way to share faith

Area churches to attend Alpha conference in Richmond next week.

By JESSICA ALLEN

Date published: 2/22/2003

Andrea McDanald has a Bible in one hand and a notepad in the other.

But the 48-year-old Spotsylvania County resident isn't headed to a theology class at Mary Washington College.

She isn't in Sunday school or a worship service, either.

No, the Tabernacle United Methodist Church member takes them to the weekly Alpha course at her church on Old Plank Road in Spotsylvania.

"I learn things I missed in Bible study while growing up," she said.

Tabernacle is among the local churches offering the Alpha course--a new form of ministry that explores the Christian faith in a relaxed, nonthreatening setting over a 10-week period.

"It's like having friends over for dinner and talking about life and asking questions like, 'Why are we here,'" said the Rev. Cash Beveridge, the assistant pastor at Grace Church of Fredericksburg.

Grace Church has conducted Alpha courses in the past two years and is co-sponsoring the upcoming Alpha Virginia Conference.

Hundreds of church leaders representing more than 30 denominations will attend the state conference Monday and Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Richmond.

Alpha has support of well-known Christians such as megachurch founder Bill Hybels, professor and author Tony Campolo, Prison Fellowship Ministries founder Charles Colson and pollster George Gallup.

At the Alpha conference, pastors learn how to conduct the course in their own churches, homes, on military installations and in prisons.

Members of Grace Church, on Heatherstone Drive in Spotsylvania, are growing accustomed to Alpha. They invite co-workers, neighbors and friends to the outreach program.

Each session starts with a light meal followed by a talk or video on a subject central to the Christian faith, such as "Who is Jesus?" or "How can I be sure of my faith?"

Participants then discuss what they think about the talk or videos in a small-group setting. Sometimes they use their Bibles and study booklets as guides to the course. Each session lasts two hours.

McDanald, who has been attending Tabernacle since 1991, said taking the course has helped her get a deeper understanding of her faith.

She said a recent session gave her new insight into the power of prayer, and how God answers prayers but not necessarily right away. She also learned the importance of an ongoing faithful relationship with God.

Follow us on

Date published: 2/22/2003