Alpha Course

Over 8 million people have now attended an Alpha course, an opportunity to explore the meaning of life, running in tens of thousands of churches of all denominations across the world.

What is it?

The Alpha course consists of a series of talks addressing key issues relating to the Christian faith. It provides a very helpful method of introducing people to Christianity. There is a light meal together at the beginning of each session, which gives people a chance to get to know each other. We then watch a video dealing with the topic for the evening. After each talk we divide into small groups to discuss issues, ask questions and express opinions. You can ask anything. Alpha is a place where no question is too simple or too hostile.

Talk titles
Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?
Who Is Jesus?
Why Did Jesus Die?
How Can I Be Sure of My Faith?
Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
Why and How Do I Pray?
How Does God Guide Us?
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
How Can I Be Filled With the Spirit?
How Can I Resist Evil?
Why and How Should We Tell Others?
Does God Heal Today?
What About the Church?
How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?

Alpha has steadily gained worldwide momentum, with thousands of churches of all Christian denominations including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Salvation Army and other Home/New Churches throughout Britain running Alpha Courses.

Alpha is for everyone, especially:

Those wanting to investigate Christianity
New Christians
Newcomers to the church
Those who want to brush up on the basics

Cost

There is no charge for the Alpha course, although you may be asked to make a donation towards food.

Where did Alpha begin?
It was originally developed for new churchgoers over 20 years ago by a Vicar, Charles Marnham at Holy Trinity Brompton in West London. In 1990 Nicky Gumbel joined the staff at Holy Trinity Brompton and has since developed the course extensively for non churchgoers rather than new churchgoers.


How is an Alpha evening run?

The evening begins with a delicious two-course meal followed by coffee, notices, book reviews and short break for bookstall browsing. The actual course is in the form of video presentations with Nicky Gumbel as the speaker. This is shown upstairs in the Warneford Room. and lasts about 45 minutes, followed by another short break and discussion groups until 9-45 pm. Week by week people come back for more!


Is this revival?

Someone said recently that perhaps Alpha may be the modern face of revival. Although promoted for non-churchgoers, Alpha makes its appeal to all kinds of people, - old and young, rich and poor, intellectual and simple, traditional and modern, - all denominations find a focal point in Alpha. It has a gospel presentation that faces reality head-on. It is full of humour and is entertaining, yet manages to be serious, challenging and thorough in its presentation. Nicky Gumbel's style is full of amusing and pertinent anecdotes, skilfully woven with the accurately Bible-based facts to remind us of areas of our Christian faith often forgotten or neglected.


Is Alpha for you?
Find out! - Come to a Guest Night.

Guest night.

If you are interested in attending the Guest Night and/or the course, please speak to Tim. Alpha is an excellent introduction to the Christian faith and is great for new Christians and those who are seeking. It also serves as a very good refresher course for those who have been Christians for some time but would like to 'brush up' on the faith. In addition, Alpha is a good way for people who are new to All Saints' to get to know others. So, why not come along and bring a friend? You can be sure of a very warm welcome!

Perhaps you feel that Alpha is not for you. If you could take time to examine your reasons for this perhaps you would then think again, for it is interesting to note that without exception, those who have been on Alpha Courses feel it has been encouraging, enjoyable and fun. People know they have learnt something and have been renewed in their faith. One of the effects is that it has inspired them to want to reach out to non-churchgoers.

The need to know
Isn't it true that often we refuse to be involved in something new because it may mean moving away in our thinking from long-held opinions and attitudes. Plato said that opinion without knowledge is a shabby sort of thing! So it is good to make sure we are crisp and clear in our thinking and knowledge of Christianity. If at the end of your thinking you do not wish to embrace Christianity it is wise to be aware of what it is that you are rejecting. Or, if you become confused, full of doubts and questions after thinking things through then Alpha is definitely the chance to sort yourself out! Woolly minded Christians are their own worst enemies!

Why is Alpha succeeding?

There is little doubt that Alpha is reaching people who would not normally consider going to church, and the reasons seem to be the following:

The meal : - this is a chance to relax and enjoy the company of other people without tension or effort an opportunity we do not often give people in church. The fact that the meal is given in love also has a silent impact.
The speaker - Nicky Gumbel: - an ex-barrister before entering the ordained Anglican ministry, hits the right level he is not full of jargon, his material is littered with credible anecdotes which he uses skilfully to retain interest and reinforce his points.

The message: - this is presented without jargon, emotion or assumption of previous knowledge. In today's confused society the chance to start again on our faith in an objective way is helpful and valuable. It helps to point people in a direction that gives purpose to living.

The discussions: - the opportunity to ask questions or to listen to others asking questions and to hear some varied opinions and debate is stimulating.

New friendships: - the chance to meet new friends is very helpful to all kinds of people, the lonely, the bereaved, the separated, the young, the retired, people new to the area.

Last but by no means least: - The Alpha Course seems to have God's anointing on it. There is just something about it which makes it appeal to todays society. Surely God seems to be at work.

What the press say

"What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions - life and death and their meaning."
Madeleine Bunting, The Guardian

"Alpha is an unqualified triumph."
Clifford Longley, The Daily Telegraph

"What distinguishes Alpha from other initiatives is the easy-going, relaxed feel of the proceedings - that, and its astonishing success."
Damian Thompson, The Times

"Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life."
Julia Llewellyn Smith, The Express

"It is clear that Alpha is already changing British church life."
The Economist

"A novel approach to Christian education that has been catching on nationwide."
The New York Times

"The miracle formula church leaders are hoping will reverse this religious decline...many claim Alpha has changed their lives and appear genuinely happier for the experience."
Time Magazine

"Alpha...uses modern marketing methods to promote and explain Christian teachings around the world."
Newsweek

"The world's most popular course in Christianity."
The Independent on Sunday, London

"Alpha, in the hands of skilled church leaders, has succeeded in many cases in turning faithful churchgoers from an inward focus on church work to an outward focus on evangelistic outreach..."
Christianity Today

"...The only unqualified success there has been in recent years to arrest the seemingly inexorable decline in attendances - the Alpha course."
Evening Standard, London


INVITATIONS TO GIVE TO FRIENDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM TIM.

Please contact us for a free ticket for the Guest Night,
or with any other queries or comments you may have concerning Alpha