Three... No, Five Essentials of Alpha

Part of every training or informational presentation on Alpha is a review of what we call, "The Three Essentials" of every Alpha. They have traditionally been Food, Teaching and Discussion. And I specify each time, "Do not leave any of these out! If you do, it’s not Alpha!"

So, to review:

Every Alpha evening involves food. Some do a meal every time, but that takes a larger team and more commitment. Some do a full meal to introduce the course, then just dessert and coffee for the rest of the sessions. Connection happens over food: eating together is seen as a sign of friendship and it provides a non threatening start to the course. As people connect over the meal friendships are formed. Laughter breaks down barriers. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says,

 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  

Eating together was considered an important and intimate occasion in those days, and it's significance is still important today. I have heard of atheists who keep coming to Alpha just because of the food and the company. And at this time, we do our best to avoid any religious conversation.

Teaching: Alpha gives solidBiblical teaching on various Christian topics. It involves, Biblical teaching, humour, stories and examples from every day lives. 

Small group discussion – where guests are made to feel they can ask any question or express any opinion without embarrassment or condemnation. This is the chance for any Alpha guest to speak and our chance to listen! Listening tells people, “What you have to say matters to me.”  Maybe no one ever asks them what they think about things? In Jail Alpha, inmates would often say, “This is the first time anyone ever really asked me what I thought and listened to me.”
We need to be peacemakers. It’s difficult to argue someone into becoming a Christian… not likely in fact! 2Tim 2:23 says to avoid stupid arguments. We may state the Christian view on some subject, but never as a rebuke or a correction – rather as a point of discussion. And we NEVER criticize other Christians, Christian denominations or Christian organizations…it just isn’t helpful... or fruitful!
Remember St Peter:

 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

But now, the other two Essentials:
These are two that are essential to the effectiveness of any Alpha, but which we sometimes find are omitted. They are: the Day/Weekend away and Prayer on healing night.

The day or weekend away is important to the true success of any Alpha course. The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity is an essential, yet sometimes ignored, part of our faith, and the opportunity to hear about, learn about and be filled with this Spirit is often the highlight of a person's entire time on an Alpha course. If there are aspects of the Holy spirit teaching that you or your church are not comfortable with, discuss them with your guests, but don't try to avoid the subject. I often tell people that trying to avoid this subject is like not telling your children about the facts of life, hoping they will never hear about them from anyone else.
And it is best to devote the time to the subject. Even if you cannot get away to a retreat centre, at least spend a Friday evening and a day-long session on Saturday at your usual venue, so that guests can take time to focus, to meditate, to consider this subject.


Likewise, don't neglect prayer following the session on healing. It may be that we are sometimes fearful that if we pray for healing, we will be embarrassed if God does not answer. Well, that's not an option for us. It's our job to pray; it's God's job how He answers. Often a guest will be blessed just by our offering to pray for them. So don't be timid about it. Just pray.
I actually experienced a healing myself on an Alpha healing evening. For years I had back problems - compressed discs. When they flared up I was unable to stand straight for days at a time. I had experienced the excruciating pain enough times to  know my back would eventually get better, but that it was a gradual process and I would need to endure the pain for several days. Well, one Alpha healing evening was one of those times. I was bent over practically double the whole evening (and I was the Alpha Course leader at the time). After Nicky's talk, I went forward for prayer for my back.  I was prayed for, but nothing seemed to happen, so I thanked those who prayed for me very much and carried about my business. I didn't really realize when it happened, but at some time later in the evening, I came to the realization that I was standing perfectly upright! It wasn't a conscious thing; I didn't make up my mind at some point that I was going to force myself to stand up straight (I couldn't have anyway if I'd tried). But suddenly, at some later point in the evening, there I was - standing straight! Now, that may not seem like much of a miracle (I've probably had back problems since, although none in a few years), but it certainly was not a completely natural occurrence.


So there you go - the Three Five Essentials of an effective Alpha. Don't leave any out. If you do, it's not Alpha!


Blessings,
John