Lives transformed by Alpha collaboration in Shiregreen

Charlotte Codina tells us, "In January this year we began an Alpha course in Shiregreen Sheffield, pulling together a crowd of guests, supported by teams from two churches.

"Pastor Isaac and the International Church and Worship Centre (ICWC) kindly hosted a group of us from St Thomas Philadelphia at the former Bellhouse Working Man's Club and provided some wonderful team. Our missional community in Shiregreen, and friends from Network Church Sheffield, Philadelphia provided more wonderful team. It was blessed, collaborative and cohesive time for our churches, serving together in what was so clearly a time of God moving and drawing people to himself.

"As we know, Alpha takes time and energy and I wondered if I would had enough of it! God blessed us and we found more energy and grace as Alpha continued. Since we finished I have found myself missing the warmth and Kingdom spirit I felt in those weeks!

"Our Alpha guests came mostly from personal invitations - from those on team, friends, family, food bank users, those who we might have met locally and guests brought more guests with them - there were 30 of us the first night and we quickly had to form another group. A hot meal together on cold nights was definitely a winner!

"We gradually added more "extras" as the weeks went on - live worship, the holy spirit evening and some prayer ministry team. It was

Healing for Jonathan Haigh

so wonderful to watch as the room went from a group of people looking a little lost on the first week, to people more confident, knowing God loves them, most of them singing and praying to God by the end.

"More than one person told me they'd thought about suicide prior to coming on Alpha but now feel they have hope! My heart is so thankful for all God has done for us and I'm already hearing asks of when we might run another one! Running Alpha is most certainly a team effort and the prayer and intercession running alongside us were invaluable. I'm deeply thankful for everyone who helped both there and behind the scenes. It's a beautiful thing to receive and share in God's saving grace at work!"

Those of you who know Rev Jonathan Haigh, who has been ministering in Sheffield for well over a decade will know that he always wears two hearing aids… until now.

During the recent Gather Summit in Sheffield - which Jonathan hosted at Victoria Hall - Jonathan was offered prayer for his ears. He’s experienced terrible tinnitus for over a decade. After the prayer for healing he said, “I felt completely different, the buzzing in my head has stopped and the next day I woke up without buzzing in my ears for the first time I can remember. I kept trying to see how low I could put the volume on the telly!”

Jonathan also said “ I felt so spiritually refreshed after receiving the prayer, and I thank God for his marvellous love and blessing.” It’s now been over two weeks since Jonathan received prayer and he hasn’t worn his hearing aids since!

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." ~ 3 John 1:2

The Reverend Jonathan Haigh is a minister at Victoria Hall Methodist Church in Sheffield city centre, and Greenhill Methodist Church.