Students at Alma

Hello! I came to Bristol from a big lively C of E church in Twickenham, which was great. I was very blessed at that church by youth ministers of ginormous youth groups, big noisy bands and all sorts of things, but when I came to Bristol I was looking for something a bit different. I wanted to find a church that was small enough that I could maybe give something back and become part of a real church family. I knew I was going to become part of Alma after about 15 minutes because the pastor wore shorts, kids danced for joy as we sung, and because I was greeted by a gentlemen who immediately wrote my name down with a tiny pencil on a bit of paper he kept in his pocket.

These things actually do say a lot about Alma. Stu wears shorts. And I soon found out plays football, and reads a lot of books. Serious books. Which thankfully translates into meaty talks. Usually including a word of wisdom from Martin Luther. Alma is a 'Free' church, and is an example of a community where everybody has a voice. When I first came I thought to myself, ooh it'd be great to have a noisy evening of praise here one day so I mentioned it to Stu who probably didn't even know my name, expecting him to ask me why, have a meeting, sign something and help somebody do it, but he just told me to go ahead and organise something on an evening when the church was available. Alma is a church where the pastor wears shorts, and everybody has something to offer (as you do anywhere), but at Alma you will feel needed, which is nice.

The kids danced. Alma is a church for all ages which as a student is incredibly refreshing. Bumping into golden oldies from church in the street is often the highlight of my day. It doesn't cater to 'students' exclusively, which was something that really attracted me. For your one-to-one and cell group nutrients at Alma you join a home group with grown ups which I didn't do last year and regret. At Alma you'll be part of a family with 80+ to those who've hardly seen 80 minutes. There is a growing student number, but it's soo good to meet older wiser people who you don't get to meet as a student unless you really hunt. If you go to CU you'll meet lots of students there anyway...

At Alma you will be welcomed very quickly as one of the diverse family, and people will be interested in you. Come, get involved and see!

Sam

I found Alma before I came to Bristol - partly because it was the first church alphabetically on the 'Church Search' list on the university's Christian Union website. From the church website I gathered it was the most similar to my church from home - a small church in rural Suffolk with a congregation of about 40 who know and support each other in every way. Alma is considerably bigger, but still small enough to get to know most people there and to feel welcomed and encouraged by those around you.

I came to Alma in my first week and loved it. I love the fact that anyone can get up and share any thoughts or news from the week. I love that there is no specific student group but that students are completely integrated into the church, whether it's by being linked up with a family for lunches, going to home groups, having one2one with a more mature Christian or just mingling on a Sunday morning. It's so great to get to know people who aren't students and get a bit of perspective on life from outside the student bubble. Everyone is so friendly and helpful and always willing to make time for you. Stu the minister takes an interest in every aspect of the church and makes the effort to get to know you and make you feel valued in the church. Alma is somewhere that makes you feel like you belong there: it becomes your home, just as a church should.

The teaching is excellent - there are several different members of the church who do the talks mixed in with the occasional visiting speakers. Each month there is a different theme or a different section of the Bible studied, so there is time to study a topic in enough depth to properly get to grips with it. There is a prayer focus each week and I appreciate how the church unites to pray for its missionaries, or people in the workplace, or whatever the focus happens to be that week.

I play in one of the music groups and I feel I have learnt to worship more genuinely since being at Alma. There's always a mixture of hymns and modern songs to suit everyone, plus there are evenings to introduce new songs to the church, meditative and loud worship evenings.

Alma is an inclusive, forward-looking church that you can find your place in regardless of your background. The leadership is always keen to try new things so if there's something you think the church isn't doing that they should, just tell them!

Hope to see you there!

Rachel