Student Alpha

It’s the fear we all have........isn’t it?

When it becomes that time of year again…well guess what, Student Alpha is on the horizon.

I love Alpha. I did my first Alpha course a month after becoming a Christian in 2007 and I felt that if I was going to give this Christianity thing a shot, then I better learn what all these mad folk natter on about all the time.

So me, my Mum and Nan would roll up on a Tuesday with our guest manuals week in and week out and I loved it! It was definitely the best start for the journey I was about to start in coming to University.

Then last year I moved into a house with three boys I had lived with in Halls in first year and I learned so much more about them in those 5 months than I had ever done the previous year. But when it came to sharing who I was with them, it became quite difficult… I was bricking it.

Fear of ‘scaring them away’ or convincing myself it ‘wasn’t the right time’ just took over and sometimes I felt that talking about who I was and my faith would put our friendship at risk. Let alone inviting them to Student Alpha!

Well firstly, is it really at risk? I mean the worst they can say is no.

And secondly, sharing Christianity with your mates is to share a big part of who you are, in a way that is not intense or cheesy but relaxed and casual. If you are a Christian, take advantage of this opportunity to talk about who you are with your friends. Student Alpha is modelled in a way that guides us through what it is to be a Christian today, with plenty of time open for discussion. I am sure as they learn about this stuff you believe in, and you learn what they’re all about, your friendship will be better for it.

Thirdly and most importantly, they might meet Jesus!

After a beautifully pastoral word from our lovely Student Pastor, Ben Doolan, the night before our Student Alpha Launch (he said: “get on with it”) I asked my house mates if they’d like to check it out on the premise it offered the best coffee in Sheffield. (It really is!).

And you know what? …

Five came, two stayed for the whole course and one became a Christian and is now involved in our Student Cluster groups. This is just one of many testimonies from Student Alpha… So why not consider getting involved.

The challenge to each of us is: Who are you going to invite? Who are you going to share yourself and Jesus with? Who will you take that risk with?  

James Brown is a student from St Thomas Crooks Church in Sheffield.

If you’re keen to share your faith with your friends at Uni and want to find out more about Student Alpha then check out the website studentalpha.org or get in touch with boz@alpha.org as we’d love to hear from you!