In the final session of our 2026 Alpha course Nicky Gumbel spoke about the wonderful thing that happens in an Alpha small group when a handful of strangers start meeting regularly and sharing life together. Such a bond develops between group members that, come the end of the course, there is a real sadness that this rich communal life is coming to an end.
But of course, there is no reason why this experience should end. In fact, what routinely happens in an Alpha small group should be the heartbeat and engine room of the church. The early church and the first Methodists found this to be true - small groups are the place where we are cared for, encouraged in our faith, and where we grow.
And so for a number of our 2026 Alpha graduates, this course is going to be just the beginning. A new small group will be starting (contact Nosipho Makhanya or the office for more info). And pencil the 2027 Alpha course into your diary if you haven't done one yet!