Alpha is Changing


No, not its message! But often in the way it is being run. When I first became involved with Alpha, over twenty yearss ago, the customary way to run it was in a church hall with as large a group as possible. Mind you it is still done, and is still effective, that way. Some churches still regularly have a hundred or more guests at their Alpha.

But more and more Alphas are being run in more intimate settings, with much smaller groups. Groups of half a dozen or even fewer are not uncommon, in coffee shops or homes. It may be a sign of the changing times that it seems more difficult to gather large groups for a course on the basics of Christianity. The wonderful thing about Alpha is that you don't have to.

So I'm hoping to remind Pastors and other interested parties that Alpha doesn't have to be a big deal. It's nice when it is, but it works just as effectively in more simple formats.

Everything needed to run a 7-week or an Alpha for Youth is available online for free download, including all the talks, training, promotional material and guest and leader notes. Learn more about how to get started here. Even more exciting is that more new products are coming soon - also downloadable for free: new Nicky Gumbel 30 minute talks, and an early-twenties Alpha based on the faster-paced Alpha Youth Film Series.

So in short, I'm hoping pastors who are looking for an effective and proven tool to reach those who do not yet know Jesus, will consider (or reconsider) Alpha, even in a smaller setting such as a program for their home groups. It is still the easiest and most effective way I have ever seen to communicate the Good News to people who desperately need to hear it.

Blessings,

John

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