Week Seven: Retreat: It's Good To Be Wrong

I remember saying about Mr. Kusano, after he came to Alpha the first week:

"I doubt he'll come again, and if he does return, he probably won't talk much!"

Sometimes it's great to be wrong.  Mr. Kusano hasn't missed Alpha once, and actively joined the retreat this past weekend.  After Saturday evening's session on being filled with the Holy Spirit he stayed up late to talk with Pastor Fujiyama about faith.

Thank you to those of you who prayed for our retreat.  It went well in every way.  In addition to seeing more of Mr. Kusano's desire to know God, I was thrilled to see more evidence of God's work:

• in Michiko Iida's life -- she was able to rearrange her schedule to join much of the retreat, and is very interested in understanding the Holy Spirit.
• in Noriyuki's life.  He actively joined, but was quiet as always.  I heard why.  He dislikes one of the leaders!  That makes me especially grateful that he comes to Alpha at all.  Please pray that this strained relationship can improve, and that Noriyuki can get to know Jesus.
• in Hiromi Fukuoka's life.  I was impressed that she made time to attend the retreat in the midst of a busy day.  Between a big work event in the morning and a drinking party in the evening, she came to our afternoon session.  Like Noriyuki, Hiromi was quiet.  I wonder if she, too, isn't connecting well with some of the people in the group, and am praying about that.
• in the leadership team's work.  It's been good to see improvements in each course's retreat.  This was our fourth "Alpha Weekend" and in every way it seemed to go more smoothly than the others.

I realized this weekend that through Alpha this church has come a long way in expanding its capacity to minister to seekers.  An amazingly long way.

We have four weeks remaining in this autumn's Alpha Courses.  Please pray that guests will respond to God's work in deeper and deeper ways.

Tim

Daily Prayer Requests

Monday:  Please pray for guests who didn't attend the retreat, that they'll all return to Alpha this Friday.

Tuesday:  Pray for this Saturday's "Experiencing Alpha Day" for church leaders in Sapporo.  There's no shortage of last minute preparations to do the next couple of days.

Wednesday:  Pray for Motoya Shinpo who was a guest in our spring Alpha.  His mother died last night after a very long illness.  In several conversations with Motoya, who's been actively seeking for 2 1/2 years,  I've wondered how his mother's death (and the completion of her funeral, which he and his sisters have different ideas about) could possibly help make it easier for him to become a Christian.

Thursday:  Pray for Hiromi, Michiko, Noriyuki and Mr. Kusano, that each will experience God's presence today, and in a special way at Alpha tomorrow.

Friday:  Today's theme at Alpha is  "How Can I Resist Evil?"  Pray for good meetings and lively discussion times.

Saturday:  Pray that many churches here in northern Japan will start Alpha as a result of today's Experiencing Alpha event in Sapporo.

TIM CLARK