Colm Fitzpatrick
Creating a context for Christian conversations is vital, writes Colm Fitzpatrick
Tackling the new surge of apathy towards the Christian faith in our modern world, a dynamic evangelical programme is hoping to put the message of the Gospels back on the radar.
The Alpha course, originally developed by the Anglican Church in the late 1970’s, was a course which taught the basic tenets of the Christian faith for church members, but has now evolved into a missionary outreach model introducing the faith for those interested in it.
Dominic Perrem [pictured], Faith Alive Coordinator of Alpha in Ireland, has been involved in the organisation for over 10 years, and even used it as a tool to reach out to and introduce students to Christianity during his time in university.
“I was raised in a strong Catholic family. My family were living out their Faith in quite a dynamic way as they were members of a charismatic group, The Community of Nazareth, a lay community that make a commitment to one another”, Dominic says, adding that they prayed together.
During his studies in university, he struggled at times to maintain his Christian faith, which was challenging to sustain given the secular setting he was exposed to.
“It was difficult to hold onto my Faith, the environment is very counter the Faith. It’s tempting to lead a materialistic and hedonistic life,” he explains.
Despite these enticements, his faith grew stronger and he began sharing it with others, eventually being offered a position in Alpha.
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, with each talk focusing on a different question about Faith that is designed to create conversation. The unique aspect of the course is that there is no specific or formal setting where it takes place, as the location of the sessions can range from cafés and churches to universities and homes.
Most sessions begin with a meal because it is an effective and interpersonal way to share and engage with others. The talks which follow the food are delivered over about 11 weeks and unpack the basics of Christianity, with questions asked such as, ‘Who is Jesus?’ or ‘How does God guide us’.
“It’s about having a long term vision, building up a sense of community, a shared life together,” Dominic says.
“You’re not just worshipping on a Sunday. You actually get to know these people, and share time and maybe meals with them. You share your life with them.”
The informal and interactive structure of Alpha is one of the primary reasons why it’s so effective, says Dominic, as it allows those interested in the faith to relax and feel more comfortable in asking questions.
“The reason why Alpha functions well is that you are inviting people into a situation where they’re being hosted. It’s very hard to not let natural boundaries break down during a meal. This means you’re ready to talk and be open.
“It’s about getting someone to realise that they’re safe in a place where they can ask ‘stupid’ questions. The meal is crucial. It opens up the whole area of hospitality,” Dominic explains.
The course provides a context for conversations to happen, and carries out, according to Dominic, the message of the Great Commission where the apostles are told to go out and make “disciples of all nations”. This is particularly important as “secularism is a huge challenge”, which creates a barrier between how the faith is perceived and how “wonderful” it can be.
Although there are many positive aspects to Dominic’s job, his favourite part is experiencing the impact and change that the course has on others.
“We have Alpha in different forms. The Alpha Youth version is in a lot of schools. There’s so much stress among the youth now. The pillars of a normative family life have been taken away from them. They are stressed and confused.
Relief
“There is an absolute relief and joy which can enter their lives through the work of God,” Dominic says, adding that he loves hearing stories of conversions from teachers and students.
Alongside these moments of enrichment, there are also various challenges in his type of ministry. Very often however, these difficulties don’t arise from non-believers, but from other Christians who are sceptical of Alpha’s work.
“The most challenging part is where you’re trying to appeal to someone who doesn’t want to trust you. I work as a presenter on Spirit Radio and the only complaints you’ll ever see is from Christians.”
In Dominic’s experience, at times Christian’s “don’t want to listen to someone’s idea of evangelisation”, despite the fact that it’s a central value in biblical and Church teaching.
The course is a tool that can be used for everyone and teaches them the core principles of Christianity. Once these fundamental tenets have been taught, those intrigued and inspired by the Faith can be directed to more specific Catholic resources.
Dominic’s parting message for all Catholics is to start giving new things a go. We are “expected to be a perennial presence in the country and culture”, but this is not the case obviously, he says.
“All of us in our parishes have a responsibility to make a way forward.”
For more information about Alpha and how to get involved, see: https://alpha.org/