Andrew, Sally and Jonny Prince, Laura Koonjean, Tim Osmond and Phil Beeson took part in 2 GAT events in Zambia earlier this month. The first one was in the North in Kitwe, the heart of the copper belt. Here very few people had any experience of Alpha but nearly all the delegates had a great hunger to learn more. About 80% of the 50 or so delegates expressed an interest to do Alpha in the next 3 months. We met an amazing Italian family who had done Alpha many years ago and were passionate about running Alpha in the copper industry. It seems that many of local Zambian churches also want to do Alpha sometime this year. There was a constant question of "where do they get their resources from". Through prayer we heard "The Lord will provide an abundance of resources". We thought this meant His people and not necessarily money!

After one day travelling back to Lusaka we started the second 2 day GAT event in the Anglican cathedral in Lusaka. The first 3 hours were full of challenges. Illness, computer problems, the PA system failed, delegates turned up late. We texted a prayer request to our prayer coordinator in the UK and then everything was resolved instantly. Phil was one who was ill and the illness disappeared immediately. "Praise the Lord" and "thank you that you love to involve so many of your sons and daughters in what you are doing through prayer". The Catholic Church was a real blessing to the event, which was hosted by Anglicans. They were a great example of unity in Christ and loved to share their experiences with other denominations. We were amazed at the end of the event when almost all of the 60 delegates said they would be doing Alpha in the next 3 months. One delegate said he represented 40 churches and he wanted to do Alpha in all of them. "Praise the Lord"

We took part in three social transformation visits. The first visit was 40 minutes drive from Kitwe to a charity called Loyando/Cool Bananas. What a wonderful name! This is a farming community set up by and financed by many people in HTB, as a Christian outreach programme. Their Zambian head teacher, William (who is also the village preacher), came to the GAT event In Kitwe and wants to set up Alpha in Loyando. "Let it happen Lord"

The second was the SOS Childrens Village, an orphanage in Lusaka. This is a Charity supported by Phil Beeson's work colleagues. Although this is largely a secular charity, many of their Directors, fundraisers and House Mothers are Christian. Sally, guided by the spirit said "why don't you give the older youth the opportunity to do Youth Alpha"? There were so many God incidents before and after this visit that we firmly believe this is one of the Lord's reasons for taking us to Zambia. "Thank you Lord!"

The third visit was to the Central Lusaka Prison. Everybody said this would be impossible because it needed written permission from 2 government ministers and as the President of Kenya was on a State visit at the same time it would never happen. Phil was convinced the Lord said to him in London: "this will be the opportunity for him to make his first prison visit". So we never gave up. The Lord was true to his promise and the signed permits came through.

And what a wonderful experience the prison visit was. We thought we might just see a few inmates who were doing the Alpha Course. We were escorted into the Prison courtyard where 1052 inmates were ready and waiting to hear about Alpha, receive some verses from the bible and receive prayers of hope and blessings into their lives. At the end when we said the "sorry, thank you, please" prayer just in case one person wanted to give their life to Christ, we asked "how many people responded to that prayer" and 80% of the inmates put up their hands. Wow! what an emotional experience this was. "We did not take Jesus into the prison He is already their big time"

A few final words from Nel Van Der Walt, Alpha's Southern Africa Regional Director: The Alpha team in Zambia have been HUGELY encouraged by the visit. They have now written a three year strategy (for the first time) and are expecting great God things to happen. The team coming from HTB was such a breath of fresh air and inspiration to them! They were particularly encouraged by the commitment and prayers of the team and especially the words of knowledge that was received.