Ep 43: Nicky Gumbel (Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, London & Pioneer of the Alpha Course)

What this episode covers

Nicky Gumbel is an English Anglican priest, vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, London and pioneer of the Alpha Course - a course that has reached over 25 million people who are looking to discover the meaning to life! This episode is so special to me not least because I used to attend HTB myself! In this STIMY episode, we explore Nicky’s incredible faith journey - how he went from being an argumentative atheist to someone completely on fire for God! - and what HTB and the Alpha course was like back in the 1970s, including the pivotal moments that led to what it is today. As well as his thoughts on online church and online Alpha! Highlights: 3:48: Growing up in London in the 1950s 5:13: Having an eventful conversation with his mum at the age of 14 11:44: Why Nicky labelled himself a “logical determinist” while at Eton 12:50: Why Nicky entered Cambridge University to do economics (before switching to law!) 13:56: The Nicky lunches 15:02: Coming to faith in February 1974 19:46: How Nicky ended up in Kitchen with Phil Lawson Johnston 22:13: How Sandy Miller came into Nicky’s life 24:01: The change in HTB culture from robed choirs to contemporary worship 26:25: Why Nicky went from working as a barrister in a tax chamber to criminal then a mix set 27:34: Meeting John Wimber in 1981 28:10: “Come, Holy Spirit” 29:23: Why Nicky studied theology at Oxford 30:46: Learning that he had tied his self-esteem to his job 32:12: Being rejected from 9 parishes! 32:55: How Nicky went from Agnostics Anonymous to the Alpha course 35:36: How the first Alpha training conference in May 1993 came about 37:58: The 1994 Toronto blessing that spread to HTB 39:35: Alpha Asia Pacific 40:42: Doing online church & online Alpha 42:34: Where Nicky gets his drive from Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/43