![Page 1: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
1Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ
![Page 2: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
“How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how
can they believe in the one they have not heard?”
Romans 10:14
![Page 3: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
So, what is
Alpha?
![Page 4: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
The Alpha Course is a 10-week
practical introduction to the Christian faith designed primarily for
Non-church goers &
New Christians
![Page 5: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
5
What does Alpha do?
![Page 6: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
The Alpha Course equips the local church with a culturally relevant
method of evangelization...
So that everybody has the opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ
![Page 7: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
How is the Alpha Course a culturally relevant means of evangelism?
IT IS CULLTURALLY RELEVANT THROUGH
• Food and Fellowship
• Teaching
• Laughing and Fun
• Small Group Discussion
• Belonging before Believing
![Page 8: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
By introducing people to Jesus Christ in a way that is non-threatening, supportive,
and fun
Alpha Changes Lives and Transforms Churches
![Page 9: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Joan, Texas, took the Alpha Course in 2001
• Born in England
• Came to the US as a nanny, worked for several
families, ending up in Texas, was never married
• Moved into a retirement facility and was brought
“reluctantly” to church by some friends
• Martha invited her to the Alpha Course
• Joan has a new ministry in the church
A Changed Life: Joan
At age 84, her life was changed for ever
![Page 10: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
A Renewed Life: Larry
Larry, Texastook the Alpha Course in 2001
For Larry, life is now happy, joyful, passionate & worth living
• TV Producer for the Brownsville Independent School District
• Re-Married, 2 children from first marriage
• Grew up attending church, son of a Methodist music minister
• Brought his wife with him to the Alpha course after a visit from
his local priest who had never seen him in church
• During Alpha noticed amazing changes in his personality,
marriage, work, and self-esteem
• Larry has a new understanding of his faith and readily wants to
share his faith with others
![Page 11: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
A Transformed Church:St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church
• Of 970 Alpha Participants half 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
![Page 12: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
The History of Alpha
Alpha has evolved from a course for new Christians at
Holy Trinity Brompton, London, in 1976 to a world-wide ministry aimed primarily to those outside
the church.
![Page 13: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
The Evolution of Alpha• Basic Course in Christianity becomes tool for evangelism
• New attention given to method of welcome
• Atmosphere for dinner: improve the food, seating, flowers
• Small Groups: All questions encouraged
No question considered trivial, threatening, or illogical
• No one pursued
• Growth of the Team
![Page 14: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
In the USA:• 1991 – 0 Courses
• 1996 – 202 Courses
• 2002 – 5,893 Courses
• 1991 – 0 Courses
• 1996 – 3,000 Participants
• 2002 – 1,000,000 Participants
The Growth of Alpha …cumulatively
Globally:• 1991 – 4 Courses
• 1996 – 5,000 Courses
• 2002 – 24,184 Courses
• 1991 – 500 Participants
• 1996 – 259,850 Participants
• 2002 – 5,000,000 Participants
![Page 15: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
15
Why & How does Alpha work?
![Page 16: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Introducing the Alpha Course into a church has
been shown to dramatically revitalize and
transform congregations because
new Christians become passionate, vibrant and
actively involved in church life.
![Page 17: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Each session of an Alpha Course consists of:
Dinner, a Talk, Coffee and a Small Group meeting.
During the Alpha Course there is a Weekend Retreat
![Page 18: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Dinner (45 minutes)
Having Dinner with the Small Group helps participants to relax and get to know one another
![Page 19: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
• 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?
Alpha talks (45 min) are about:
![Page 20: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
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.
![Page 21: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Alpha Holy Spirit Retreat (1, 2 or 3 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.
![Page 22: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Alpha in Prisons Alpha in the Boardroom
Alpha on Campus
Alpha for Youth
Alpha Courses are Flexible:In addition to the traditional Alpha Course, Alpha offers...
![Page 23: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Alpha works in all Denominations:
Baptist Covenant Episcopal Lutheran Methodist Congregational
Non-denominational Pentecostal Presbyterian Vineyard Roman Catholic …and many others
Alpha presents the core truth of the Christian faith around which all major denominations unite.
![Page 24: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Resources Available for Alpha Courses:
Videos of talks
Questions of Life, Course Manual
Training Videos and Leaders Guides
Director’s Guide
![Page 25: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
The Principles of Alpha
![Page 26: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Principle 1:Evangelism is most effective through the local church
• What you see is what you get• Mobilizes a whole army of evangelists• Friendship-based• The more checkouts, the more customers
![Page 27: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Principle 2:Evangelism is a process
• New Testament expressions
• Process operates at two levels• Gradually seeing the picture• Building trust
![Page 28: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Principle 3:Evangelism involves the whole person
• Appeal to the head
• Appeal to the heart
• Appeal to the will
![Page 29: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Principle 4:Models of evangelism in the New Testament include Classical, Holistic, and Power Evangelism
• Classical Evangelism (Words)• Holistic Evangelism (Works)• Power Evangelism (Wonders)
![Page 30: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Principle 5:Evangelism in the Power of the Holy Spirit is both dynamic and effective
• The Book of Acts and Pentecost
• Questionnaire responses
![Page 31: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Principle 6:Effective evangelism requires the filling and refilling of the Spirit
• The filling of the Spirit is not a one time experience• We all need more of the Holy Spirit
![Page 32: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Come to the Houston
Alpha Conference!March 1-2, 2004
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Contact: The Alpha Houston Office at
713-960-9701 or alphahouston.organd get connected with an
Alpha Advisor…or a Resource Church
![Page 33: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
There are 42 Conferences across the United States each year
![Page 34: Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022081511/56813685550346895d9e0ec9/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
For more information, or to sign up for an Alpha Training Conference, please contact Alpha at:
1-866-872-5742or
www.alphausa.org