Ascension : St Marys Church
Submitted by The Islander (Islander Editors) 26.01.2012 (Article Archived on 09.02.2012)

Opening an e-mail from a mission leader in South Korea I was amazed to read that she is starting an Alpha course in her church on February 4th

St. Mary’s Church

Ascension Island (Diocese of St. Helena)

From: FATHER CHRISTOPHER BROWN

Opening an e-mail from a mission leader in South Korea I was amazed to read that she is starting an Alpha course in her church on February 4th.. She told me that it is part of the “All Nations Evangelism” programme which is taking place throughout Asia. Her Presbyterian Church has a congregation of more than twenty thousand and is one of the biggest in the world ; they place great store by the Alpha Course as a means of outreach. The origins of her particular congregation in Seoul go back to the nineteenth century to a missionary from Wales who moved from China where he was living and teaching the faith. He was sure  that he should take the Gospel to Korea but was brutally murdered shortly after his arrival. The man who killed him took the Bible of the missionary and used the pages  as wall-paper in his bedroom. There came a time when that man fell seriously ill and during his illness he began to read the pages of St. Mark’s Gospel which he had pasted on the wall alongside his bed. He became intrigued with the partial account of Jesus which he was reading and sought to know  more. Eventually, he received instruction in the Christian faith and was converted to Christianity. It was he who founded the church in Seoul which today has a congregation of more than twenty thousand. It stands as a wonderful testimony to the power of God to turn man’s weak-ness into an opportunity to bring good out of evil .

Our own Alpha Course on Ascension begins on Monday, February 6th. at the vicarage and we hope it will appeal to Christians and non-Christians interested in exploring questions about the meaning and purpose of life. The presentation of the Christian faith in the Alpha Course comes from London and is led by  a very experienced and able teacher /pastor named Nicky Gumble.

It ‘s an entertaining as well as informative step by step introduction to Christianity.

For more information ring:  6431 ; 4645 ;  6211