MINISTER FINDING INSPIRATION ON HIGH

After leading a small group in prayer, the Rev. Clayton Smith, pastor of Centenary Methodist Church climbed a shaky aluminum ladder to the top of the church's bell tower Saturday, prepared to spend the night.

He gave thanks for the quiet time and for the prophets who inspired him to "take spend time alone with the Lord."

His goal was spend 12 hours in prayer for the success of "Alpha," an upcoming program designed to attract the "unchurched" or lapsed members of the Christian community.

"I've been so concerned that this ministry might make a difference," Smith said.

Recently, Smith described candidates for Alpha as people who perhaps stopped attending church as a teen-ager or young adult and have not returned.

Roman Catholics, Presbyterians and a variety of independent congregations are participating in Alpha, which got its start in England more than 20 years ago. The 10-week course will begin Sept. 20.

An informational meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at the church's Family Life Center.

At a recent planning meeting, Smith felt the urge to do something that points to sacrifice and devotion.

Since he recently returned from a trip to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and has visited the Swiss Alps, the idea of climbing somewhere to pray was appealing.

"I'm inspired by heights," he said. And since he gazes out at the bell tower each morning, it seemed like the perfect place. If he's standing, his wife, Lori, will be able to see him from their kitchen window.

The church tower dates back to 1906 when the church was built and is estimated at six stories high.

The top of the tower is accessible only by ladder and Smith used a rope to pull up a knapsack with supplies, a sleeping bag, a cell phone, two pads to sleep on and some water.

Smith planned to make himself useful while he was up there and fix one of the lightning rods that had worked itself loose.

If the weather turned foul, he said he'd be forced inside and said he'd sleep inside the tower instead of on top.

Want to go?

WHAT: Alpha information dinner

WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Family Life Center at 320 North Ellis.

FEE: Free

INFO: For reservations, call the church office at 334-2869. There will also be a short talk entitled "Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?"