Quiet Guest

One of our guests is extremely quiet. She has hardly said a word and it is already Week 5! What should we do?

Here are some great suggestions from Sue Dennison - Alpha Regional Advisor, San Jose, CA:

• Relax.  It is OK. Many guests have had a life changing experience on the Alpha course and have never opened their mouths.

• Talk to the quiet member at meal times; ask what they hope to get out of the course…what sorts of questions they have…are we meeting their expectations?

• Make use of a comment or question they told you at mealtime by asking them to repeat it during the small group time.

• Affirm them and their contributions.

Real life illustration

Steve and Annette were very reluctant Alpha guests. Although neither of them spoke during the entire small group time, they were slowly drawn in by the others' questions and the discussions taking place in their small group over the ten weeks.  Annette knew something was happening deep inside of Steve, but she avoided talking with him about it so she wouldn't start crying and possibly jeopardize Steve's experience of the course. By the end of the course both of their hearts were deeply touched, and a new commitment to Christ had been birthed.

They returned on the next course to be Helpers.  Steve comments that the first time he went through the course he did not speak (which is unusual) and the second time as a Helper he could not shut up (which is not necessarily advised!)