Its been nearly 15 years since the leadership of St. Michael’s Church brought in the Alpha ministry.  Hard to believe isn’t it!  It was 1996 when The Rev. Rick and Annie Belser, Tommy and Trish Kirkland, Johnnie and Jean Corbett travelled to New York City’s St. Bartholomew’s Church to hear about this ‘new’ thing called Alpha.  As the story goes, Rick leaned over to Johnnie on the plane ride back and asked… “Do you think this could work at St. Michael’s?”  With that smile and twinkle in his eye that is uniquely Johnnie, he replied, “I’ll bet it can!”  How might they have reacted then if we said to them 15 years from now we will open our 35th Alpha course with over 120 guests?  That was our number this past Tuesday night as we opened our winter/spring session.  The following day we began our 6th Alpha in the Workplace session with a maximum crowd of over 20 guests.  It is an amazing thing to see so many people come to Christ through this movement of the Holy Spirit.  Think of the hundred and hundreds St. Michaelites whose lives have been changed in that 15 year time span!  Plans are in the works for a dynamic celebration next fall as we celebrate our sweet 16!
~ The Rev. Al Zadig, Jr.+