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Eric Watson helps coach other Alpha Leaders at Westminster Church in Bellevue, Washington. Here he shares his greatest joys and struggles in running a course.
 Greatest joy:
Alpha has been an amazing thing to be involved in, for myself, our church and our community. When I attended my first Alpha course at our church two years ago, there were about 40 people on each course. Now there are close to 240. Alpha has created an environment where it is OK to explore issues of faith. It allows people to address the questions they have in a safe place.
The Alpha course has changed the spiritual climate at our church. It has opened our eyes to new ways to experience God. It has changed our worship services, prayer, and even the topics talked about on Sunday mornings. People outside of the Alpha team now invite people to the course, and people from all walks of life, including five language groups - attend our course.
Greatest challenge:
A huge challenge of our Alpha course has been keeping up with the growth, and finding the volunteers to help put it on. But being there when guests have their lives changed, makes it worth all the effort.
Eric Watson: Table Host and Alpha Coach
Church home: Westminster Chapel
City, State: Bellevue, Washington
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| A Thanksgiving to remember | | This past Thanksgiving at the London prison in London, Ohio there were tears of joy shed as families gathered together for the first ever Alpha Thanksgiving service.
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| Eddie's story | | God rescued Eddie from addictions and gave him a faith foundation on an Alpha course. He now has peace, hope and purpose.
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| Alpha and a latte on Campus | | There’s a new Hot Spot near the University of Minnesota campus for young adults, where the lattés are served on the house, WiFi is yours to use and music flows freely.
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| The Warmth of Hosting a Home Alpha | | We have had four Alpha courses in our home with anywhere from 6 to 17 guests. It has been successful due to the personalization and hospitality you can give to making guests feel special and cared for without the pressure of a big production or holding it
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| Beth Patrick | | Seeing people's lives transformed and watching them grow in their understanding of Jesus in their head and heart. Sometimes the changes look small on the outside. People move from never coming to church, never opening up or never leaving the side of the
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| Dave Housholder | | I didn’t go into ministry so that I could sit in meetings, run stewardship drives and for building programs, it was for this! What I love about Alpha is stories of radical life transformation. This is what I went into ministry for!
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| Eric Watson | | Alpha has been an amazing thing to be involved in, for myself, our church and our community. When I attended my first Alpha course at our church two years ago, there were about 40 people on each course. Now there are close to 240. Alpha has created an e
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| Rick Warren | | Over 30 years ago in London, England, God began a movement that has now spread all around the world. It’s called the Alpha course, begun by my dear friends Nicky Gumbel, Ken Costa and other friends. We’ve seen this course expand to be used to reach litera
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| Bobbi Good | | My greatest joy in running an Alpha course is watching people as their faith comes alive, or as long-time Christians reconnect on a more personal level with Jesus. It’s satisfying to hear someone say that they feel much better prepared to share their fait
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| Paul Dugan | | Alpha testimony by Paul Dugan, Associate Pastor and Alpha Director, from Community Presbyterian Church
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| Art Greco | | What I love about Alpha is that so many people have come to Christ through it. There is a man in our church who used to be the drummer in the band “Heart” who became a Christian at our Alpha Course. This guy is now asking me for more books to read all t
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| Peggy Lively | | To see the fruits of being obedient to God’s call to fulfill the Great Commission. The Holy Spirit has worked in the hearts of our church family at Trinity United Methodist Church to embrace the Alpha course as an important faith building and evangelisti
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| Deacon Mike Thoennes and Mary Hagar | | Deacon Mike Thoennes and Mary Hagar have founded CORE Ministries in rural Minnesota. The Alpha course is foundational to this ministry and the Holy Spirit is moving in powerful ways to draw people to Jesus and bring denominational walls down. They train
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| Kirk Wulff | | It is a privilege and a joy to witness lives being transformed, marriages strengthened, people coming to faith in Christ, people being set free from addictions and, in general, watching the "light come on". Equally, it's a blast being a part of the proce
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| Archbishop Harry Flynn | | Archbishop Harry Flynn and other Catholic leaders encourage Catholic parishes to consider Alpha for these four reasons...
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| Dick Hertel and Janet Johnson | | Our greatest joy is in seeing people’s lives change once they have a relationship with Jesus. Seeing hearts turn from lukewarm to being on fire for God is amazing to watch. One woman took the Alpha course a few years ago, then her daughter came on the c
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| Martha Virginia Spivey | | It is rewarding to see men coming from horrible situations give their lives to Jesus and start walking with him. One man recently gave his testimony and said up until he came to the ARC and began the Alpha program he had never heard the name of Jesus exc
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| Mike Housholder | | Alpha is the most effective evangelism tool I’ve witnessed and has become a powerful assimilation tool for new members at Hope, helping them to get connected within the church. The course also provides an important first step on a discipleship path for ma
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| Jeff Scott | | Watching the Alpha course work so well. This is a new way of doing church and it has been very fruitful. It is awesome to watch as our guests experience God’s love and respond to His Holy Spirit in their lives. One of our challenges has been to keep up
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| Eldon Eddy | | Without a doubt, the greatest joy is seeing the transformations in those who participate in the Alpha course. I should point out that this includes the Leaders and Helpers in the small groups also, as they experience so much change themselves!
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