An Interview with Nicky Gumbel

By Nicky Gumbel    8th October 2002    0 responses

gumbel

Image: David Castor

Can you tell us briefly who you are and what you do? What does your job involve?

Well, my name is Nicky Gumbel, and I was ordained at this church (Holy Trinity Brompton) in 1986. My main interest is Alpha though, and I got involved in that in about 1990. Obviously it has been going a lot longer than that, and I had been sort-of involved before then, but 1990 was when I started on it properly! My job here covers various aspects of the church service on Sundays at HTB, pastoral care, and of course Alpha.

Can you briefly tell us about Alpha?

I guess the best way to define what Alpha is would be something along the lines of “an opportunity to explore the meaning of life”. It’s focussed on non-Christians, although of course Christians can also get a lot from Alpha, and covers many issues that everyone thinks about and wants answers to, such as forgiveness and suffering. One of the most important things about it though is the non-confrontational ethos of Alpha. It’s designed to allow people from all walks of life to ask these questions freely in a friendly environment where they can feel comfortable.

How did you come to faith yourself?

Well I wasn’t brought up in a Christian family – my father was a secular Jew and my mother was a nominal Anglican. I didn’t actually become a Christian myself until my first year at university. My best friend came into my flat one evening with his girlfriend and announced that they had both become Christians. This was a bit of a shock to me, and to be honest I was a little worried about them both! Nevertheless, I felt I had to find out more, to find out what all the fuss was about. So I read the New Testament, and was subsequently converted.

Alpha is an interdenominational course, yet you are an Anglican minister. If you were doing the course purely for Anglicans what would you add or take out?

Actually, Alpha started out in the Anglican church, and only later spread to other denominations. As such, Alpha mainly focuses on issues that everyone agrees with, no matter what denomination they come from. I guess if we were going to do Alpha just for Anglicans, maybe we would have a bit more on the sacraments, but nothing needs to be taken out for any denomination.

How would you distinguish the Alpha course from other introductory courses to Christianity?

Well, as I have never really studied other courses I can only really speak for Alpha and what was in place at Holy Trinity Brompton before Alpha. I think Alpha offers a broader view of Christianity, as it covers many of the key aspects of the faith such as the cross, faith and the Bible. I also think that Alpha gives a feel of the whole package and the inclusion of the Holy Spirit weekend seems to have a big impact on peoples lives. If we had been designing an evangelical course, we would not have come up with Alpha. It wasn’t worked out in an academic environment. We simply came across a framework that worked, and then tried to work out why it worked.

What advice would you give to someone who was discouraged with their evangelistic work amongst their friends?

I would encourage them. I am not a natural evangelist either, and I have tried all sorts of evangelism with very limited success. One or two of my friends did become Christians but not many. I had never seen large numbers of people coming to faith before Alpha. However, I would stress the importance of running the course according to the recipe. We know it works.

There is no denying the success of Alpha. When you started Alpha did you expect it to work in other contexts outside your church environment? Do you think it is right for those running the course to expect results?

All I can say is that generally the closer people stick to the formula, the better it works. It is working in over one hundred countries worldwide and in many different cultures and age groups. As for expecting results, it’s often better to consider the wider effect of Alpha rather than just one course on its own. If you have twelve people in a group and two come to faith, which would be well below average, then multiply that by three times a year in seven thousand churches around the UK, you come close to the sort of numbers of people converted in the Welsh revival! So I would encourage people involved in running Alpha to focus on the larger picture.

How would you answer to the charge that Alpha rushes people into a response – either of elation in faith or deflation and dejection at feeling left out?

I don’t think that it does rush people. We stress very strongly the importance of everyone going at their own pace. Alpha hangs on an unpressurised environment in which to find answers to questions. It’s a fact that some people have completed the course and not come to faith, and yet return on future courses as helpers. I think this alone demonstrates that people don’t feel uncomfortable with Alpha. The whole course is designed so that people don’t feel rushed.

As someone committed to evangelism, how do you view the challenge of an increasingly post-modern society who reject the concept of objective truth?

I think every generation faces its own challenges. We do face a challenge, but I also see huge opportunities. I think that this generation on the whole is very open to the supernatural. The truth of the gospel is amazing and we must package the Gospel in a relevant way to reach our generation.

Where next for Alpha?

Well wherever the Spirit leads. Already Alpha has been conducted successfully outside the UK, and also in some more specific areas – Catholic Alpha started in 1996 and Alpha for Prisons in 1994. I think Alpha for Students is currently a big growth area. I would like every student to have the chance to attend Alpha. Every student should have the opportunity to hear the gospel. Just come and see it’s great fun!

Crossring places a strong emphasis on discussion, which we believe furthers people’s understanding of their faith. Is discussion an important part of the Alpha course?

It’s absolutely key. Alpha gives everyone a chance to ask questions, but also to share their own thoughts and views. It really is an opportunity to explore Christianity from whatever background you are from, with others in the same position. Most people who come to Alpha are non-Christians, and so they would all be coming from the same starting point.

What role do you see the Internet and new media playing in tomorrow’s evangelism?

I have to admit I don’t use the Internet much myself! But I can see it’s the way most things are going today, and almost everyone is familiar with it now, so spreading the word there could be very effective. It could be huge. Definitely the way forward!

Quick Fire Questions

Which famous person would you most like to see turn up for an Alpha course?

Maybe Tony Blair, or David Beckham.

What is your favourite film?

Cactus Flower, with Goldie Hawn! Bit old now, but a great laugh!

Last book read?

PD James, Holy Orders.

Last CD bought?

I’ve never actually bought one!

When travelling, what one item can you not live without?

My wife.

Anything else you would like to say to the readers of Crossring?

Come and see. It’s such fun!

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