Pray for Laurie-Ann and Tony Copple—Global Alpha Training trip

to Freetown, Sierra Leone   April 19 - May 3, 2010 with Ottawa team

Tony is somewhat less experienced in short term missions than his wife Laurie-Ann.  She had already been several times to Kenya, when she and the Holy Spirit worked on his heart and he accompanied her to Migori, Kenya in 2005 to plant Alpha. The joys of that experience did not fade.  Tony had long had a latent wish to  minister in some way in Sierra Leone after meeting Emma Dupigny in 1985 in Norwich, England. Now, reunion with her and husband Albert in their own country has become a reality since Laurie-Ann also had received a divine word in 1994 that she should minister in Sierra Leone.  All it needed was the opportunity, provided by Global Alpha Training; a unique initiative from Nicky Gumbel which has seen many small teams of experienced Alpha leaders being invited by countries worldwide to teach local clergy and lay leaders how to run Alpha conferences with the aim of starting Alpha courses in large numbers.  

 

Through Emma, Tony was able to connect with Christian leadership in Freetown, which led him to Joseph Francis Williams, Alpha Sierra Leone director.  From  that has come the network of connections that has proven valuable in planning this trip.   Joseph is featured in the GAT promo video available via alpha.ncf.ca/gat.html.   We will also work with Sarah Land, Alpha West Africa Relationship Manager, based in Ghana. Sarah Drummond is the GAT Project Manager based in London.   Rosie Olunloyo is Alpha Regional Director E/W Africa.  We see them all as our extended team.

 

Global Alpha Training was first used in India in 2007 following a Billy Graham mission.  BGEA had asked Alpha to handle discipleship after the mission.  At that time there were only a few Alpha courses in India.  Since GAT teams from several countries (including Canada) have been there, more than 1500 Alpha courses are now running in India.  What an incredible tool to spread the Gospel to folk in desperate need.  We hope to see many Alpha courses running in Sierra Leone in the next two years.

 

Tony is an Alpha Advisor and a Prison Alpha Advisor for Ottawa, a member of the organizing committee for the Global Day of Prayer,  a committee member of the International Pastors and Leaders Forum, and earns his living as a financial consultant with Investors Group.

 

 

Laurie-Ann is also an Alpha Advisor and Prison Alpha leader, secretary for  Anglican Renewal Ministries and bookkeeper for the Anglican Gathering of Ottawa, missions-outreach director for St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Kanata, as well as a host of two radio shows on CKCU 93.1 (ckcufm.com).

 

Joining Laurie-Ann and Tony are Dwight McDougall from Kanata Baptist Church and Richard Gilman from St. George’s Anglician Church, Ottawa. We leave Canada (Montreal) on April 16, with a one night stop-over in London, England.  We fly via Casablanca, to Freetown; arriving early on April 19. Our first GAT (conference or 4 day training event) is April 21 - 24 and the second is April 26 - 29.  We return to London on May 3rd.  Tony and Laurie-Ann will visit family in England before returning to Ottawa.

 

Our prayer needs include good health, no roadblocks to getting our visas (in Washington DC), finances for our trip, travelling details—especially with Royal Air Maroc, the Holy Spirit’s direction in speaking and ministering, touched/equipped lives, harmony on the team between Laurie-Ann, Tony, Dwight and Richard,  good relations with local coordinator Joseph Francis Williams, Alpha International staff, local translators and worship leaders; for family left back home and for special divine appointments that God has in mind for us.   If you feel led to join our prayer team, we have 3 levels—Team 1 are our generals—who pray for specific needed areas. We will need to know what these are. Team 2 are those on an email prayer list—and you will pray as needed. Team 3 are you who will pray regularly from the needs posted on this prayer letter.  If you would like to be on any of these teams, please e-mail Laurie-Ann at lcopple@igs.net. There is a Facebook group: “Ottawa Area GAT to Sierra Leone” where updates and photos will be posted. Our web site for the mission is http://web.ncf.ca/aj624/sierraleonegat2010.html.      

 

If you feel led to help Tony financially, please write your  tax-deductible cheque to the Anglican Gathering of Ottawa, with the notation “GAT mission - Sierra Leone - Tony Copple” and mail to PO Box 13612, Kanata, ON K2K 1X6. 

 

Thank you for your prayers and support!  

Tony Copple, 61 Highmont Ct. Kanata ON K2T 1B2

Tel: 613 591-3903, 

e-mail:  tcopple@anglicangathering.ca           .