The Greater Shepparton Ministers Association is at the helm of the initiative, which aims to answer life’s big questions and foster a sense of unity among community members, irrespective of their religious affiliations.
“It’s really about asking the really big questions in life – is there more to life than this? What are we here for?,” Encounter Christian Church pastor Bernadette Loudon said.
“Alpha helps us discover that there is more to life than just living this life and then dying.”
Pastor Loudon said the program reflects a modern approach to spiritual inquiries and is open to all.
“It’s not a church-based program as such; it’s for the community, but it’s the churches that are bringing it to the community,” she said.
Greater Shepparton Ministers Association chair Jeremy Rensford emphasised the community-focused nature of the program.
“It’s not a group for Christians to come to; it’s a group for community to come to,” he said.
The collaboration among the churches not only strengthens the outreach but also significantly enriches the program’s offerings.
“We thought, why don’t we all just be better together, put our heads together and run the program together?,” Pastor Rensford said.
Beyond being a platform for spiritual discussions, Pastor Rensford said that Alpha extends a warm hand to the participants by providing free meals and childminding services, underscoring the program’s commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all.
The program starts tomorrow, Wednesday October 4, and will run for seven weeks.
It will be held every Wednesday at 6.30pm at Shepparton ACE Secondary College, 123-129 Maude St, Shepparton.
Those interested can register by emailing alphashepparton@gmail.com
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