Alpha at TMP
What is Alpha?
Hi there! If you are reading this today we truly hope that you are interested in attending the Alpha Course with us! We are thrilled that you found this page; it may help you decide if you are interested in attending the course to explore your beliefs about life and what you see as your purpose here on planet Earth.
Intro dinner Feb 8th 2010 at The Underground from 6:30-9:00 and every Monday thereafter until May 10th.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The Alpha course is run twice each year, beginning in September and again in February. Each session starts with an introductory dinner that is meant to outline what the Alpha course experience entails; there is no commitment necessary and the door is wide open to everyone from atheist to agnostic to fully devoted Christian.....come and join us for some deep friendship and a safe place to explore your thoughts.
Click here for a map to the location where Alpha is meeting.
Alpha is an opportunity to explore ‘the meaning of life’ in a relaxed, friendly setting. The Alpha course includes ten meals and an amazing weekend getaway that comes halfway through the 10-week course. The course meets once per week.
Alpha has become a worldwide phenomenon, now in 164 countries, where millions of people have come to explore the meaning of life.
Each session people enjoy great food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere where no question about life and God is seen as too simple or too hostile…questions like—Is there a God? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going?
Ladona Pinder
Ladona began attending The Meeting Place Church with her husband Clifton and her three children in 2005. Not a church goer or a believer in Christ previously, Ladona decided to attend the church in order to spend time with her brother and sister in law. The experience at The Meeting Place was different than any other church experience from her past, there was no pressure to “conform to the norm” and she experienced complete acceptance from others around her. The Meeting Place commitment to not put anyone on the spot or cause anyone embarrassment was key to her continued attendance.
In 2006 Ladona attended the Alpha course which turned out to be yet another environment where she was totally accepted for where she was at in her daily life and in her spiritual walk. No question or comment was too big or too small to ask or to state. It was through the Alpha course that many of her questions about faith were answered within herself. Ladona continued helping out with the running of the Alpha course and began facilitating the course with her husband Clifton in 2008; she is always excited to see what new friendships and steps of faith the next course will bring.
Ladona enjoys spending time hiking, taking long walks and would love to learn to dance one of these days! Music is a passion for her and you can often hear her humming or singing quietly to herself.
Clifton Pinder
Clifton is Husband to Ladona, Dad to his children (Riley, Braedan, Mateja), a Youth Worker for the John Howard Society, and a Volunteer for the Nanaimo Ground Search and Rescue Group. In 2006, Clif attended ALPHA for the first time. He says that on his first day, during the introductory dinner, he felt anxious and out of place. Sure that he was the only "non-Christian" there, he stood up at the end of the evening and announced with some fear and trepidation... "I am not a Christian and I don't know if I ever will be! "But I want to know more about what you all believe". Clif was pleasantly surprised when the ALPHA leaders at that time simply responded to his exclamation with a genuine smile and total acceptance. Clif has always appreciated how welcoming the ALPHA leaders continued to be. Now he has become an ALPHA leader himself! He says that life has changed dramatically since then. He believes he has found what he has been looking for; a relationship with his creator: God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.