Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ

1. Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ

2. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19

3. “How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can theybelieve in the one they havenot heard?” Romans 10:14

4. The AlphaCourseis a 10-week practical introduction to the Christian faith designed primarily for non-church goers and new Christians

5. So that everybody has the opportunity to hear aboutJesus Christ The AlphaCourseequips the local church with a culturally relevant method of evangelization...

6. By introducing people to Jesus Christ in a way that is non-threatening, supportive, and fun AlphaChanges Livesand Transforms Churches

7. ChangedLives

8. A Changed Life:Veronica • Born in a prison • A stripper, drug addict • Served time in jail • Ladies at local church introduced her to the Alpha Course • Her life was changed

9. A Changed Life:Whitney • Successful business-owner, President • Married, 2 children • Grew up attending church as a social duty • Accompanied wife on Alpha course • One night, prayed the acceptance prayer together • His life was changed

10. Belonging Before Believing! What Helped Transform Them? • They were welcomed as they were • They weren’t judged … they were loved • They could say anything … they felt accepted • They found new friends and were supported

11. “My Life WasForever Changed”… • “I saw for the first time that it was possible to come to faith in Christ in an intelligent way, rather than through blind faith.” • “I have discovered people like me, struggling in life but much more happy inside than me.” • “I asked those questions that I had never dared ask before. I felt accepted whatever I said.” • “New hope. New faith. New friends. New life.”

12. TransformedChurches

13. Introducing the Alpha Course into a church has been shown to dramatically revitalize andtransform congregationsbecause new Christians become passionate, vibrant and actively involved in church life.

14. A Transformed Church: St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church • Of 970 Alpha Participantshalf of them were complete strangers to St. Bart’s • Sunday Service attendance has risen from 250 to 1000 people • 600 Participants have become further involved with St. Bart's • 315 Participants became givers of record • The annual pledge given has increased from $450K to $4M

15. What Church Leaders Say: “The experience of our congregation with Alpha has been profound. People have come to new faith, older Christians have been renewed, and all those involved are wildly enthusiastic about it!” Dr. Roberta Hestenes, former Senior Pastor, Solana Presbyterian Church, CA

16. What Church Leaders Say: “For many who are now in our church the Alpha program was the first place where they experienced thewelcoming love of Christiansand discovered thatcoming to Christ does not mean having to commit intellectual suicide.” Gordon P. Hugenberger, Senior Pastor, Park Street Church, Boston

17. What Church Leaders Say: “I’ve seen the Alpha course touch the hearts of seekers and bring them immediately to a deep faith in Christ.” Revd Dr. G Prince Altom, Pastor, Past President, American Baptist Churches of the West

18. AlphaHas BeenEndorsed By: • Jack Hayford, Church on the Way • George Hunter III, Asbury Seminary • Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church • Cardinal William Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore • Louis Palau, Louis Palau Evangelistic Assoc. • Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church • Bill Bright, Campus Crusade • Tony Campolo, Eastern College • George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury • Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship • Leighton Ford, Leighton Ford Ministries • George Gallup, Gallup International Institute And Many Others...

19. What is an Alpha Course? • Anyoneinterested in finding out more about the Christian faith is welcome • Learningand laughter. It is possible to learn about the Christian faith and have fun at the same time • Pastaand pie. Eating a meal together is an opportunity to get to know one another • Helpingone another. Small Groups enable people to form authentic relationships • Askanything. Alpha is a place where no question is considered too simple or too hostile

20. Each session of an Alpha Course consists of: Dinner,a Talk, Coffee and a Small Group meeting. During the Alpha Course there is aWeekend Retreat

21. Dinner (45 minutes) Having Dinner with the Small Group helps participants to relax and get to know one another

22. A Talk (45 minutes) Alpha Talks are Clear, Simple, Thought-Provoking, and contain Pure Theology “Genius is the art oftaking the complex and communicating it with warmth and simplicity.” Luis Palau, Evangelist “The Alpha course has solid Christian teaching. It is grounded in Scripture.” The Rt. Revd Frank Cerveny, Former Bishop of Florida

23. Alpha talks are about: • Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant? • Who is Jesus? • Why did Jesus die? • How can I be sure of my faith? • How and why should I read the Bible? • How and why should 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 Holy Spirit? • How can I make the most of the life? • How can I resist evil? • Why and how should I tell others? • Does God heal today? • What about the Church?

24. Small Groups (45 min) Alpha Participants meet with the same Small Group each week. Small Groups discuss the Alpha Talk, and bring up questions. …become closely bonded and remain friends.

25. Alpha Retreat(2 days) Each Alpha Course includes a Weekend Retreat where the person and work of the Holy Spirit are examined. Many Alpha participants’ lives are transformed during the Weekend Retreat.

26. Alpha Courses areFlexible:In addition to the traditional Alpha Course, Alpha offers... Alphaon Campus Alpha in Prisons Alpha in the Boardroom Alpha for Youth

27. Some Background on Alpha... • Alpha was developedin a local churchfor local churches. • Alpha islay-runandprovides an opportunity for congregations tofulfil their potential as Christ’s disciples. • Alpha has beenrefined over the course of 25 years.

28. Alpha is International… • Globally: • 1996 – 5,000 Courses • 2002 – 24,184 Courses • 1996 – 259,850 Participants • 2002 – 5,000,000 Participants In the USA: • 1996 – 202 Courses • 2002 – 5893 Courses • 1996 – 3,000 Participants • 2002 – 1,000,000 Participants

29. There are Alpha Resources available in 46 Languages across 130+ Countries

30. Alpha works in all Denominations: Alpha presents the core truthof the Christian faith around which all major denominations unite. • Non-denominational • Pentecostal • Presbyterian • Vineyard • Roman Catholic • …and many others • Baptist • Covenant • Episcopal • Lutheran • Methodist • Congregational

31. Resources Available for Alpha Courses: • Videos of talks • Questions of Life, Course Manual • Training Videos and Leaders Guides • Director’s Guide

32. AlphaRelies On God: “This is the first time that thevery same courseis being used byevery Christian churchin pretty well every country in the world. That is an incredible achievement. It’s very hard to think that it is other than a work of the Spirit, in which we should rejoice.” -Bishop Ambrose Griffiths

33. How can I get an Alpha Course started in my church?

34. Come to an Alpha Training Conference! Contact a Resource Church, or One of ourAlpha Advisors…

35. There are 42 Conferences across the United States each year

36. For more information, or to sign up for an Alpha Training Conference,please contact Alpha at:1-866-872-5742orwww.alphausa.org