Kim Merwin

Kim Merwin

Last year when our church announced that we would be offering the Alpha Course in our church, I was excited and scared. I so deeply wanted to invite my neighbor and friend Rhonda and her family. I knew my heart was for this and yet the reality that I would need to conquer the fear of being rejected was looming in my heart. In an effort to make a commitment, I told my friend Trinh Getz to ask me if I invited my neighbor…because I really wanted to, but needed to be more accountable to someone. I had also communicated to my daughter, Kaylee, how neat it would be to go to Alpha with Rhonda & Megan. So, I began to pray to conquer my fear and decided that “if I truly loved my neighbor and new friend, I would love them more than I loved myself.” I would totally leave the results to God and just give the invitation in the best way I could. So a few weeks before Alpha began, I went over to Rhonda’s home and told her a little about Alpha…that it helped you grow closer to God and know Him better. That she wouldn’t have to cook dinner for 10 weeks on Alpha night and I would be there with her too.

A few days later, she told me that she had thought about it and wanted to come. Well, I was so excited because I knew that God had been the one who worked in my heart to urge me to reach out and I knew that He was drawing her heart to Him. I give Him all the glory!

Rhonda Reilly

Before coming to Alpha last year I wasn’t attending Church at all. But God has always placed someone in my path to help guide me back in the right direction. I grew up going to church and my Grandmother witnessed to me and brought me to accept Jesus as my Savior when I was 12. But I never really turned my life over to the Lord completely. Through these many years I’ve attended several churches of different denominations. But I never really had a strong conviction for wanting to serve the Lord. That was until I met the Merwin family. When my family and I moved next door to them4 years ago they were the first family to welcome us into the neighborhood. We had never experienced this type of kindness before. We have gotten to know them very well these past few years. Kim and I became friends and I could see her families love for the Lord. So I felt comfortable sharing my struggles with her about my life. She has always had the right words of encouragement for me. So I have grown to trust in her. My life changed when she invited me and my daughter to come to Alpha. She explained to me what Alpha was all about and not to scare me but it was for ten weeks long. At first I was a little anxious about it because I didn’t think I had the love for Jesus anymore to commit to it. But Kim said she would be there with every step of the way. So I couldn’t find any reason not to go. So I gladly accepted her invitation. I knew she was helping me find my way and it would be only a matter of time. At the first Alpha meeting I was a little nervous and kind of quiet. But somehow I felt like I belonged. After a few more weeks went by I started understanding God’s word more and was opening up to the group I was sitting with. I soon realized what being a real Christian meant. God was working on me and soon opened my eyes and was convicting my heart to see that my sin was separating me from him. As the weeks went on I felt like I was coming alive spiritually. I couldn’t wait till Alpha on Wednesday nights. I was beginning to feel like I was getting back on the right track. So my daughter and I started attending Sunday services. Everyone made us feel so welcomed. It’s like we’ve been here all along. It’s been a year since the Alpha meeting. My daughter and I still continue to come every Sunday. Looking back I don’t think I missed a meeting of Alpha because I was so excited to be learning again how God loved me and gave Jesus to save me. I thank God everyday for putting Kim in my path to bring me back to him. To help me to keep learning all I can, my daughter and I joined Jeff & Cindy Thompson’s care group. Jeff was my table group leader at Alpha and I gotten to know and trust them. But I still have struggles in my life but God keeps reminding me to keep my focus on him and to remember his ways. If I hadn’t gone to Alpha I don’t think I would be standing here before you today.