# @hopewdm on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DGl3m5FOIP_
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26949367-hopewdm-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/68392a23ae.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-27T21:40:52.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** HOPE (@HopeWDM) — https://gondola.cc/HopeWDM

## Caption

Being raised a pastor’s son, there was never a time when I didn’t consider myself a believer. I was given a Christian upbringing with weekly church attendance and active participation. This continued into marriage and parenthood with baptism through confirmation of our three (now adult) children. So, when my wife and I started attending Hope in 2006 and we heard about Alpha, I thought I was beyond the need for that experience. I held this attitude for 10 years until 2016 when I finally gave Alpha a shot. 
 
Looking back, I realize I was being held back by pride. During the Holy Spirit Retreat (now called Alpha Day Away), God went to work on my pride as Pastor Mike talked about the Holy Spirit. I thought he would point to Pentecost in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit fell on all people, but instead, Pastor Mike read Genesis 1:2. “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” 
 
My mind was blown! I’d read this verse dozens of times and never picked up on the fact that the Holy Spirit was at creation. Passage by passage, Pastor Mike continued to open my eyes as my pride began to melt away. 
 
Fast forward to the prayer and reflection time near the end of the retreat—I was still too prideful to go for verbal prayer, but I tried soaking prayer. As (my now friend) Scott silently soaked me in prayer, I was overcome with emotion, and my prayer to be filled with the Holy Spirit was answered in a powerful way! 
 
There were many things about Alpha I enjoyed, oftentimes answering questions I didn’t even know I had. In the next session, I continued my involvement, this time as a host. Through each experience, I’ve grown in my faith, calling on the power of the Holy Spirit to fill and bless me with the spiritual gifts. 
 
As I’ve walked this journey, I’ve come to fully believe the living word of God. Now I understand and experience the power of the Holy Spirit through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ— all because after a lifetime of believing and 10 years of passing on Alpha, I said “Yes, and Holy Spirit come!”

Mark P.
#HopeStories

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hopestories

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