We Need a Culture of Prayer
Some of our team recently had the chance to attend the Alpha Conference 2022 in Mesa, AZ.
We have attended Alpha conferences and events in the past and I have always left inspired, encouraged and convicted. We ran Alpha at the parish I most recently served and it bore great fruit. I know a number of Catholics have issued critiques about Alpha (“It’s not Catholic!” “It doesn’t touch on the Eucharist!”), but Jesus said you judge a tree by its fruit, and the fruit we saw was abundant indeed. Hundreds of people had life-changing encounters with Jesus. People began to return to the sacrament of confession. A hunger for Scripture was generated. A big parish suddenly seemed small, in that people got to really know each other and became a community. As we brought it out into workplaces and restaurants and bars, the unchurched and fallen away heard the gospel and entered RCIA. And more. A bishop friend of mine is fond of referring to Alpha as “a small cup of water.” And is it ever satisfying to so many who are parched in this dry land in which we’re living.
But here’s the key thing about Alpha. It’s not a program or video series. It’s a culture.
And at the core of their culture is prayer. Alpha is so much more than a series of talks, small groups, and meals. It is fueled by prayer. This is true not only in the successful running of Alpha in a parish, it’s true with regards to their leadership.
To gather with the leaders of Alpha is to be immediately impressed that prayer drives everything for them. Not merely saying prayers. Praying. Worshipping the Lord. Listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Being attentive to what it is He is doing right now in the moment.
And this is why I’m always convicted when I leave.
For example, before the conference started, a number of us gathered for prayer and to go over the evening schedule. Every detail was planned, down to the minute, as is often the case at events like this. I knew, for example, that I had 25 minutes for my presentation, and in case I forgot there was a bright red countdown clock smack dab in front of the stage.
However, when I finished, Pete Grieg, who was going to wrap up the night, scrapped the plan we had just minutes before gone over so thoroughly. God was moving. The Spirit threw a change up. And Pete went with it. He sensed, rightly, that the Lord was speaking powerfully through what had been said so far, and that it called for some sort of response, some repentance - especially with regards to ways we as Christians have fostered division rather than unity. It was powerful. Anointed. Grace filled.
How comfortable are we in doing such things in the Church? How attentive are we on a daily basis to the voice, guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit? How much time do we set aside in our planning at the diocesan or parish level to listen to the Spirit, asking Him what He wants to say, rather than just asking Him to bless our plans?
The Church has increasingly talked about praying for a new Pentecost over the past few decades, but I often wonder, “Do we really want that? Would we be comfortable restoring all the initiative and power back to God? Waiting on His voice for what to do next? Being utterly dependent on His voice and trusting that He will speak?”
If real transformation is going to happen in the Church, and our lives, we need to give Him permission to throw us change ups. Scrap our plans. And be willing to make last minute adjustments. God wants this transformation so much more than we do. Let’s make it a higher and higher priority to get on our knees and beg the Lord to guide us.
“Speak, Lord, Your servants are listening.”