Last week we had Alpha-Japan staff here in Sapporo. Wakako and I worked with them and local church leaders to hold training events and a pastors' luncheon. I was encouraged by:
1. Once again getting to see how Alpha brings together people of vastly different traditions, united by the desire to do effective outreach in a way that reflects the love and warm welcome of Jesus.
2. Seeing one church now preparing to start its first course send more than a third of its members to the training event on Saturday.
3. A story Pastor Kita of Alpha Japan shared. Among fortune tellers common on crowded streets and busy stations throughout Japan there's now a new fad. It's not so much fortune telling, though. Someone sits with a simple sign that says: "I will listen to you." Many young people stop and tell what they long to have someone listen to. Pastor Kita shared that at Alpha we want to extend that same opportunity, to let people have their story be heard.
Thankfully at Alpha here, many Christians' commitment to listening well is resulting in guests discovering that God deeply cares about their lives.
Here Wakako and I are with the Director of Alpha Japan, Nobu Nagai. We're at Living Hope Baptist with the Miyake family. LIving Hope is preparing to start its third Alpha course.
