This is a well known extreme charismatic church, and a centre of the 'Toronto Blessing' phenomenon. The Rev. Sandy Millar is the vicar of Holy Trinity (HTB as it is known) and is a popular speaker on the charismatic/renewal events circuit.

 The Alpha Course was started at the end of the 1970's in the above church by Charles Manham as a series of talks on the basics of Christianity. Over the years it was led by a number of different people until the Rev. Nicky Gumbel (also of Holy Trinity) took charge in 1990 and revamped it. It has grown rapidly and is now widely used in churches, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, in the UK and overseas.

The first U.K. Roman Catholic Alpha conference was held in May in London's Westminster Cathedral. It was led by Sandy Millar and Nicky Gumbel themselves, with the blessing of Cardinal Basil Hume. There are others arranged. Many 'Christian' bookshops have become official Alpha stockists, selling a variety of books, audio and visual cassettes, and manuals. Also available are the usual array of T-shirts and car stickers. The latest gimmick is an Alpha Course cookery book!

 The course lasts for 10 weeks and includes a weekend called the 'Holy Spirit Weekend'. It is designed to be a non-threatening/user-friendly introduction to the 'Christian' faith. In reality it is a socialising and networking method of spreading a charismatic gospel. Note the following revealing words of Sandy Millar:-

"By taking account of literally thousands of questionnaires, the Alpha Course has been adapted and improved so it is truly moulded to the perceived and experienced needs of this generation."

  The Alpha Course fits in easily with many other reaching and evangelism courses run by a plethora of new evangelical charismatics. The general concept seems to be

(1) bring people into the circle of the church (any denomination will do) using any means (worldly or otherwise)

(2) water the message down to cross denominational and cultural barriers and

(3) make the 'Christian' lifestyle inviting and exciting. To quote Sandy Millar again:-

 "Stripping the gospel down to its bare essentials, it (the Alpha Course) makes Christianity accessible to men and women of today's culture."

  As is the norm in charismatic circles, everything in the Alpha Course is underpinned by the teaching and promoting of Pentecostal/charismatic gifts and experiences. This is obviously the reason for the 'Holy Spirit Weekend', described in the Alpha Introduction newspaper as a "crucial element of the course".

In the Alpha Team Training Manual we read the following instruction:-

"Stay facing the person you are praying for and ask the Holy Spirit to come. Welcome Him when you see signs of His working and wait on God as you pray for further direction. Encourage the person to start to speak in another language - tell him/her you will do so yourself."

  In the Alpha Youth Manual under the section on the gift of tongues there is instruction on 'How to get it' (the gift of tongues). Part of the instruction is "Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit ... co-operate - open your mouth."

 The following extract from the book 'The Collection' published by HTB is from a sermon by the Rev. Sandy Millar and indicates how dangerous is the Alpha Course, and how extreme are the charismatic views of the man-- "Alpha is a work of the Spirit and like most other works of the Spirit, it takes time for the fruit to grow. Of course, some of the manifestations may be of the flesh. Occasionally (but in our experience, it is much rarer than people might think) some may be of the devil ... The manifestations vary from time to time. I think it was John Wimber who was quoted as saying that if the price we pay for all this increase in the fruit of the Spirit is an occasional 'moo', it is a price worth paying."

 The Alpha Course cannot be separated from extreme charismatic beliefs and behaviour (such as the Toronto Blessing). To quote Nicky Gumbel himself.- "I believe it is no coincidence that the present movement of the Holy Spirit (Toronto Blessing)has come at the same time as the explosion of the Alpha Courses.

I think the two go together." (RENEWAL, May 1995, p 15.) Sadly, the abundance of books, tapes, videos, courses etc. by false teachers is rapidly undermining the understanding of what is the true gospel of grace. Many once sound churches and fellowships are abandoning the good ground of gospel truth, and embracing error. As the deceptions of the last days multiply, it behooves every truly born-again believer to stand fast, and oppose the error and danger of ecumenical charismatic evangelism in whichever form it may appear. Many charismatic leaders mix a little truth with their error, but this is Satan's way of deception, and should not be used as an excuse to support such people, or to give any credibility to their teaching.

  To conclude, the Alpha Course is definitely not a series of sound Bible studies, or talks to teach true Biblical Christianity, and to point the way of salvation. It is most definitely a cleverly thought out way of promoting 'another gospel'.

 (From Olive Tree Missions, 91 Donegall Park Avenue, Belfast BT15 4FQ)

 From the Roman Catholic ECI Newsletter, April 1998. "Another example of the Holy Spirit's work is the Alpha Bible Study Courses that are spreading throughout Ireland." The same newsletter has the heading "The Alpha Course in Ireland - Key Tool for Catholic Renewal."

It further states, "while Alpha is not a complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, it doesn't contain anything that is contrary to Catholic doctrine." (Copied from Ulster Bulwark, July/August 1998.)