Dick Kiernan, Director of Field Ministries, Alpha New England

Alpha New England is delighted to have Dick Kiernan serve the many Alpha churches of New England. Dick’s personal goal agrees with Jesus’ statement in Luke 12:49,“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.” Here is a brief summary of his accomplishments, which reflect this personal goal.

Dick has lived and worked in New Hampshire since the early 1980s. He received his B.A. in English Teaching and MAT in Education from the University of New Hampshire, and then worked as a teacher and assistant principal for seven years in New Hampshire schools. In 1988, he departed for Steubenville, Ohio, where he obtained an M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville (and where he met his wife, Stephanie). Upon obtaining his Master's degree, Dick returned to

Manchester, NH, where he served as the Associate Director of Spiritual Renewal Services, Diocese of Manchester, for 13 years before taking on his current role as Director of Field Operations for Alpha New England.

Dick was (and is!) a teacher and has enjoyed teaching English, theology, and Language Arts to a wide-range of students in elementary schools, high schools, and community colleges. In his spare time, he (because he is a soccer fanatic) coached soccer, as well as helped organize school devotions and extra-curricular student ministries. As the Associate Director of Spiritual Renewal Services, Dick coordinated the Office of Evangelization, edited the evangelical column for the Diocesan newspaper, served as spiritual advisor to the Catholic Young Adult ministry and the Crown NH ministry, chaired the New England Catholic Men's Conference, coordinated interdenominational fellowships of pastors’ and couples' retreats, and led Alpha groups in NH. He also served as the Northern New England representative to the National Committee of Charismatic Renewal (NSC) and was the Catholic Coordinator of the New Hampshire March for Jesus.

Dick has published several guides in the areas of leadership training and spiritual direction, including "Men of St. Joseph Manual", "Men of St. Joseph Pilgrim's Guide," "Come Follow Me" spiritual leadership training, and several articles for "Tidings," the newspaper for the Diocese of Manchester. He has developed specialized Alpha for Catholics guides.

Dick’s passion for building unity among evangelicals and Catholics is evidenced by speaking about this unity at conferences, and promoting and practicing it wherever he travels. Dick and his wife Stephanie live in Bedford with their five children: Theresa, Richie, Bethany, John and Christopher.

Willard Cook, Director, Alpha New England

 Willard and his wife Sally come to the New England area from the big skies and open spaces of northern Wyoming. Sally was born and raised in Cody, which is one of the gateway towns to Yellowstone National Park; Willard was raised in Sheridan, in the eastern part of the state near the Big Horn Mountains. Upon graduating from Dartmouth College and Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, Willard served in Vietnam. He spent some time in Washington, D.C., where he met Sally. After they were married, Willard brought his bride back to Sheridan where they lived, worked, worshipped and raised their family of two daughters near the foothills of Willard's beloved Big Horn Mountains.

Willard's first career was as Sheridan's Ford, Lincoln-Mercury dealer--a family owned business which he shepherded in partnership with his father, and then on his own for 30 years before selling the dealership in 1998. With an empty nest and an exciting new freedom to contemplate, Willard and Sally decided to spend the winter of 2000 - 2001 in Marblehead, MA, to avail themselves of the culture of Boston--Sally's affinity for music and the arts having been a defining factor in her life in Sheridan for many years. The decision proved to be a good one. The Boston Symphony Orchestra, the museums, and the many suburban music offerings were just a few of the delights they found, and their relative proximity to New York City allowed them to attend the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera as well. The many and varied handball games available to Willard throughout metro Boston, and the excellent teaching and warm community provided by Christ Church, Hamilton, MA, simply made their experience all the better.

The result of Willard and Sally's experiences during this transitional year was that the summer of 2001 was a critical decision making time for them. After much thought and prayer, they decided to sell their home in Wyoming, and relocate to Boston's North Shore.

Upon their return to Boston in November of 2001, the de facto Alpha New England Board of Directors approached Willard to become the first Director of Alpha New England. The timing was perfect for both Willard and Alpha. The Lord had clearly moved the Cooks to the Boston area, and into the circle of Alpha New England.

Willard finds working with Alpha to be an invigorating endeavor. He appreciates the people, the course, and the blessings of the Lord on a daily basis. He wants to be of service in any way he can to those running Alpha, or those curious about it.

Lisa Smith, Alpha New England, Regional Director-Metro Boston

Lisa was first introduced to Alpha when she attended the course as a guest in 2001. Having had a long series of negative experiences with “religious people”, she took what seemed to her to be a huge risk and attended the course. She realized, for the first time in her life, she had found a safe environment to ask questions about faith. She fell in love with Jesus; and as a result, became passionate about working to provide safe places for others to come with their questions.

Lisa feels privileged to serve with her pastors and teammates at Grace Chapel, Lexington, MA. Over the past ten years, she has seen Alpha consistently provide a safe and loving environment for people from all different backgrounds.

A few years ago, after the untimely death of a young friend, Lisa was compelled to search for new ways to reach more people with the life-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. In August 2007, the Lord called her to serve on staff with Alpha New England. Lisa raises her own financial support to assist and equip churches and leaders.

Lisa has two sons, Neil and Casey, and loves dining with friends, horseback riding, tennis, and relaxing on the beach.

Mark 2:16-18 (NIV), When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Luke 10 (NIV), After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”

Les and Eunice Hanscom, Alpha New England

Marriage Course Directors

Les and Eunice have been involved in most aspects of Alpha since 2001. They have served as leaders, intercessors, prayer team members, church coordinators, and advisors. In 2005 they were directors of the New England Alpha Conference, and in 2006 directors of the first USA Marriage Course Conference with Nicky and Sila Lee.

The Hanscoms married over 50 years ago, and started the challenging and joyful adventure of a life committed to one another. Their family includes two children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In 2005, when they were introduced to the Marriage Course, they felt God’s call to use their experience, to encourage married couples to focus on improving marital relationships. They have led eight Marriage Courses, and continue to help throughout New England.

1Peter 4:9-10 (NKJV) as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Linley Ruoss, Alpha New England, Regional Director, Connecticut

Linley Ruoss is no newcomer to Alpha, but has been a part of the Alpha Network in her home church, Calvary Presbyterian in Enfield, Connecticut, for three years. It was during Alpha Team Lead Training with Dick Kiernan that she clearly heard the call to become an Alpha missionary. She completed her training over the summer of 2008, and now serves as the state coordinator for Alpha in Connecticut.

Linley’s service to her church has included the Welcome Ministry, the Healing Ministry, VBS, and teaching Sunday school. She is now retired from a nursing career, but continues her hands on and healing ministry as a Hospice volunteer.None of Linley’s gifts are wasted; since she plays the harp, she brings heavenly music to the bedside of those who are sick.

She and her husband Chris are blessed with grown children and six grandchildren, God’s special gift at this time in their lives. They are enjoying their retirement together as they play golf and garden at their new retirement home in Broad Brook, Connecticut. Linley is no less active than when nursing, but now her schedule can include time for tending to her orchid collection and, once again, knitting and quilting.

Each new Connecticut Alpha Course is a “YES!” moment for Linley. Being an Alpha missionary answers Linley’s heart-felt prayer that she may help people know Jesus, and serves as a reminder of how God continues to devise ways her gifts might be used to spread the Gospel. 

Peter Dewberry, Regional Coordinator, Alpha in Prison 

Peter Dewberry was born in South Africa and became a Christian at age 15. He was called into Christian ministry in his early twenties, and after Seminary, he received ordination from the Baptist Union of Southern Africa.

He met his wife, Sheila, in 1970, they were married in April 1971. Sheila was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a professional Radiographer, she qualified in this field at the Johannesburg General Hospital. She has since worked in a variety of hospital and private practices in South Africa and the USA.

In July of 1971, Peter and Sheila, along with a small group of supporters; planted Goodwood Baptist Church (GBC). During their ministry at GBC, they were blessed with the birth of a son and two daughters, Michael, Anne and Fiona. In the years that followed the founding of GBC, Peter and Sheila were instrumental in planting three more churches, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Durban, South Africa, White Marsh Baptist Church in Gloucester County, Virginia and NewLife Christian Fellowship in Glastonbury, Connecticut. They have 4 grandchildren, 3 girls and 1 boy.

While pastoring NewLife Christian Fellowship in Glastonbury, Connecticut, Peter and Sheila were introduced to Alpha by friends visiting from Montreal. “One evening we watched the first session after dinner. We were hooked and decided to introduce Alpha to the Church. They held courses a school, and in private homes and saw the faith of many come alive. They watched many go deeper and grow in their spiritual lives and also saw the establishment of several home groups which owe their origin to Alpha”

Toward the end of 2002, Peter began to sense an interest and concern for the spiritual needs of prisoners and realized that God was calling him away from pastoral ministry and into prison ministry.

Peter's experience in using Alpha in a Church made him realize that Alpha is a perfect tool to reach the incarcerated. The message is clear, the presentations engaging and the format is adaptable to many different situations and environments. Inmates respond to Alpha in a remarkable way, they especially appreciate the Alpha approach which allows them to ‘Explore the Questions of Life”

During the course of 2003 Peter founded Free Inside, a Christian Ministry to Prisoners, with the express purpose of making Christ and His love known to prisoners using Alpha as a tool.”