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Alpha’s Nicky Gumbel: Choose Faith Over Fear
The spark of the Alpha movement shares six steps to hope and peace
Nicky Gumbel’s wife just had lung cancer surgery, and her mom is 93. Both are incredibly vulnerable. Fear is a natural human response.
While walking through London’s Hyde Park praying, Gumbel heard these words:
“Where is your faith? Who among you can add a single hour to your life?”
Gumbel, who transformed from atheist to Anglican priest and charismatic leader, has grown the Alpha movement throughout the Christian world. Looking at his upcoming messages to the faithful, he found the story of Jesus and his disciples in the boat encountering a storm.
In Luke 8:22 (NIV), Jesus again asks:
“Where is your faith?”
In Matthew’s version of the same story, He asks:
“Why are you afraid?” (Matthew 8:26, NIV)
Gumbel said the message can also be interpreted as meaning, “Do you trust me?”
Pope Francis turned to the same passage in his March 27 prayers to the world from Rome.
Fear is constantly pounding at our doors, Gumbel acknowledges. He offers these steps for overcoming fear with faith.
Stay prayerful
“The storm is raging, but Jesus is with us. Fix your eyes on Jesus.”
There is a temptation to keep focusing on the news — the storm — rather than focusing on Jesus.
Stay wise
Combining love and a sound mind means it’s also fine to believe in the power of prayer, as well as the effectiveness of soap. Washing hands for 20 seconds while saying the Lord’s Prayer is being both prayerful and wise.
Stay kind
It’s not nice that so many people have stockpiled supplies, but it happens. Kind people are responding by helping each other, shopping for the elderly, running errands — literally, neighbor helping neighbor.
Stay united
“We’re fighting a common enemy in this virus, so let’s not fight one another.”
Stay connected
Don’t isolate yourselves, even when you are ordered to stay home.
“Even this,” he said, holding his iPhone, “has become a blessing.”
We can use such modern tools to touch people in ways we never before imagined.
Stay confident
One of the main reasons we are so fearful is we no longer feel in control of our lives.
“But, in actuality, we were never in control. We just thought we were.”
“But you know what? Jesus is in control. God reigns, and He rules this Universe.”
Alpha was started by the Rev. Charles Marnham in 1977. Gumbel took the course in 1985, took the helm in 1990, and grew it into a global movement throughout most Christian denominations, both Protestant and Catholic.
He and his wife, Pippa, meet believers and non-believers where they are with each course, including a talk, a meal and shared conversation.
“The most important thing: Jesus loves you,” Gumbel adds. “Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.”
This story is published in Koinonia — stories by Christians to encourage, entertain, and empower you in your faith, food, fitness, family, and fun.
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