One of the most profound truths in our Christian journey is the simple fact that the most joy in life comes when we give… period. Giving away forgiveness, love, resources, wisdom, time.
At 5:00 am, on Sunday, December 4, Burwell Boykin, Capers Barr and I drove to Darlington, South Carolina to give and help plant the Alpha ministry at St. Matthew’s Church. The Rev. Andrew O’Dell (given away to seminary from St. Michael’s) is the Rector and long term friend of mine. What did we find once we arrived? Read on from Capers.
We are extremely blessed to have Alpha as an integral part of St. Michael’s Church. Alpha helps strengthen our faith and develop closer relationships with each other. However, the most powerful aspect of Alpha is when it’s given away. Alpha makes it easy to ask others to come and see where and how we get to know Jesus Christ.
Developing an effective Alpha ministry for the first time is no simple task. Father Andrew O’Dell and a core group of his parishioners at St. Matthew’s Church in Darlington, S.C. are in the process of doing just that. Father Al, Burwell Boykin and I visited St. Matthew’s in Darlington on Sunday, December 4, 2011 to share our Alpha experiences and to get the congregation excited about Alpha. We received a warm and encouraging welcome. We arrived to “Alpha is Coming” banners in the church yard fronting Highway 52. Father O’Dell is deeply committed to Alpha and he has an excellent team assembled to promote the ministry and get things started in January, 2012.
Al presented an inspirational sermon at the 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. services focusing on the prophet Jeremiah’s feeling in his heart like a burning fire “shut up in his bones” if he were to stop speaking the word of God – what an appropriate passage for the occasion. Between the services Burwell and I shared our testimonies and our Alpha experiences. After the 11:00 a.m. service, over lunch with Father O’Dell and his team, we discussed the logistics of planning and presenting Alpha.
It was very encouraging and inspiring to see such a wonderful group of brothers and sisters excited about Alpha and with a solid understanding of its importance and potentials. Please keep Father Andrew and the congregation of St. Matthew’s Darlington in your prayers as they implement Alpha to strengthen and grow their church and to see the transformation of hearts through Jesus Christ.
Capers G. Barr, IV
Barr, Unger & McIntosh, LLC