Alpha Milestone
A milestone was reached last week in the history of the Alpha Course here at Chatham.
The Alpha Logo
Steve and Melanie Scoulding, who have been involved with Alpha for the last five years, have decided that the time has come for them for them to relinquish the leadership.
Steve & Mel
Steve has sent us the following final report: He says:
The latest in a long line of Alpha courses came to an end last week. It’s always a bitter sweet occasion as with every course, those attending have become close through exploring and sharing in a new found or renewed experience of Christianity. But last week was doubly sad as it signalled the end for Mel and me as the leadership of Alpha at Chatham.
Most folk only get to go through the course once or twice, but Mel and I have been there for the last five years and to say that we have been blessed by this is an understatement beyond measure. We would be lying if we said that it has been a breeze ~ there have been times when we could have both chucked the towel in and walked away ~ but God has kept us close, as He has done with all those who have experienced this basic course in Christianity and this together with the sound footings that were placed in our Christian lives by Majors Malcolm and Angela Westwood and our predecessors in Alpha, Murray and Verna have kept us fighting for the Lord.
What never fails to blow us away is that God keeps showing us miracles, the miracle of Salvation in and through Jesus Christ, in so many varied people. What an awesome God we serve!
That the Alpha course has been repeatedly uplifted to Him in prayer by members of the corps has been so much comfort to all who have been part of this incredible piece of evangelism. In the time that Mel and I have been associated with Alpha at Chatham, Plumstead and HMP Belmarsh we have seen nearly 80 new souls become rooted in God (more than 15 as soldiers at our own corps) ~ and they say miracles don’t happen today, We beg to disagree!
Our prayer is that God will send someone to take over this side of our corps mission ~ it’s so important. Alpha changes lives ~ it shows people where to find Jesus.
One last thank you to Majors Drew and Bev McCombe and Majors Neil and Chris Webb (DC’s Southern Division) who have supported us both in prayer and in practical matters.
As Steve and Mel move on to new areas of service (they shortly begin training as Salvation Army officers) we offer them our support and prayers and ask that God will bless them in all they do for Him