My Experience with Alpha

My name is Cindy. I am a believer in Jesus Christ, recovering from drug addiction. I was born and raised in Fairfield County as a full-blooded Catholic. The God I grew up with is the same God I know now. However, in my childhood, I was brought up to believe that if I did not obey the 10 commandments and confess my sins to a priest, I would certainly spend eternity in hell. I feared God.

I moved into a sober house in the New Britain area in early 2007 after leaving an in-patient drug treatment program. I was first introduced to Wellspring Church because of the Celebrate Recovery meetings that gather here every Friday. It took a few weeks before I was brave enough to attend a Sunday Service. After a few weeks of both, I had many unanswered questions. Why is there an empty cross hanging in the front of the church and not a crucifix? Why is communion only once a month or so? I learned of Alpha after attending services for a few months and was excited to get answers! I relapsed on drugs a few weeks into my first Alpha class, but the next time I was able to enroll, I was committed! I will never forget my small group leaders or the Saturday retreat when I felt the Holy Spirit in me for the very first time. It was an indescribable physical experience, and the emotion that went with it -- I can only describe as refreshing, cleansing, and even redeeming.

The lesson I learned the most from was the lesson about prayer. I learned that some prayers may go unanswered, and I may never know why, until I am with Him in eternity. I learned that some prayers are answered in a way that I may not have been looking for, but most importantly I know I can trust God, because He loves me. I learned that God loves to hear about the little things, too. That nothing is too small or unimportant to talk with Him about. I now talk to Him wherever I go, and very often with whatever I am doing. I made the choice to be baptized in the spring of 2008, as an expression of my new found love and personal relationship with Jesus.

I was reunited with my family in the fall of 2008 when we purchased and moved into our home in New Britain. My husband was also attending Alpha at this time. He made the choice to be baptized a few months later, unexpectedly. We walk together, with our children, with God leading the way.

Cindy Pough