#RunAlpha
WHAT IS ALPHA? Alpha is a series of FREE interactive sessions that explore the basics of the Christian faith.
Alpha is an Idea
Alpha is a Story
Alpha is a Tool
Alpha creates a space that encourages conversations in a relaxed, friendly and open environment.
Over the past twenty years, Alpha has expanded across borders and boundaries, with over 29 million participants and as many unique stories.
Alpha is a free, easy-to-use, flexible tool that helps the church in transformation of individuals, families and communities as they spread the good news about Jesus.
Alpha is for everyone, welcoming people from all backgrounds, religions and viewpoints.
Alpha explores questions about life, faith and God.
EAT // WATCH // CHAT These are the Key Elements of Alpha Alpha sessions include food, a short talk (on video or live) about the Christian faith, and a space to share your thoughts in an open discussion while trained hosts facilitate the conversation. 2
more than
Alpha is a great tool, the best tool of its type. While there are other
350,000 people in Australia have experienced Alpha
tools, Alpha is presented in a simple but thorough way. It can appeal to all demographics from various backgrounds and
29,000,000
nationalities.
people have experienced Alpha globally
Richard Warner Lighthouse Christian Church
26%
of non-churchgoers who attended Alpha began or restored a relationship with Jesus Christ
92%
of attendees would recommend Alpha to their family and friends
Alpha is a very welcoming, warm and hospitable environment. 3 No one’s gonna bite you. It broke down some stereotypes I had about Christians. STEVE / ALPHA GUEST
Customise Your Alpha
Alpha Film Series
NEW
15 talks (10–12 weeks) Video hosts: Toby Flint and Gemma Hunt This new product communicates the full content of Alpha in a contemporary visual format. It features stories from around the world, amazing illustrations and motion graphics to take the audience on a journey that is innovative and interactive – with a truly global DNA. Available now | Read more on page 14
Alpha with Nicky Gumbel Released in 2015 15 talks (10–12 weeks) Alpha pioneer Nicky Gumbel delivers a complete revised set of 29-minute Alpha talks for a new generation. These videos provide the definitive version of Alpha talks for tens of thousands of churches of all denominations around the world. | Read more on page 18
Alpha Youth Film Series 12 episodes (8–10 weeks) Video hosts: Ben Woodman and Jason Ballard The Alpha Youth Film Series is 12 video sessions designed to engage students in conversations about faith, life and Jesus. Discussion time is interspersed throughout the video talks to allow teens to share their thoughts. Great for youth groups and easy for students to run for their friends.
Register your Alpha at alpha.org.au/run to access the Alpha talks and training videos for FREE, and/or transcripts that you can customise.
VIDEO OR LIVE? How do you want to give the Alpha talks? You can use the Alpha videos or present live talks. Register your course at alpha.org.au/run then get the videos for FREE, and/or transcripts that you can customise. A full suite of Alpha resources are available online in Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Italian, Hindi, Greek, Spanish and many more. We also have Alpha for ESOL materials (English for speakers of other languages).
4 Alpha changed my life, plain and simple. It was the best thing I could have done to jump start my faith. KATHLEEN / ALPHA GUEST
ALPHA EXPLORES THESE QUESTIONS: Is there more to life than this? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How can I have faith? Why and how do I pray? Why and how do I read the Bible? How does God guide us? Who is the Holy Spirit and what does he do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I resist evil? Does God heal today? What about the church and telling others?
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WAKE UP LOG ON #RUNALPHA Everything you need to run Alpha, free online. Register today.
alpha.org.au/run
alpha.org.au/run Gain access to free training resources for your team and promotional material; all to help you prepare and run a great Alpha. 6
We’re here to help
You can’t lose by running Alpha – you can only win. The fact that you give people an opportunity to take the time to learn more about Jesus is a win all the way. Tina Waldrom CityLife Church
Church Relationship Development Team Alpha Australia is home to a diverse team who are passionate about Jesus and committed to serving churches and leaders in Australia. Our experienced and trained Church Relationship Development team will meet with you, listen to your vision and help you get started on your Alpha, whatever the context and whoever you are called to reach. Connect with a team member in your state. Contact our office on 1800 811 903
Alpha Leaders Facebook Group Our Alpha Leaders Facebook group is a supportive and safe place where you can share fun photos, videos, stories and tips to prepare and run Alpha. Just like any Alpha group, feel free to ask anything! On this page, you can also discuss your challenges with running Alpha as well as share tips and ideas with other leaders i.e. how to host great small group discussion, how to incorporate fun into Alpha. facebook.com/groups/runalpha
Training Events Alpha Training Events are local gatherings that provide a space for leaders to discuss, collaborate, dream big and prepare for the challenge of running Alpha. These events are beneficial to all leaders as they explore the invitational life as well as other topics in an interactive format that will help them run a great Alpha and become a strong leader in their church.
76%
say the free online Alpha resources are beneficial
60% say they now have people in leadership who came to faith on a previous Alpha
I was living a very fast life… drugs, alcohol, partying. Through Alpha, Jesus pulled 7 me in out of the darkness and opened my eyes. MARCO / ALPHA GUEST
THE BIGGEST
CHURCH INVITATION OF THIS GENERATION
GLOBAL ALPHA CAMPAIGN FEATURING BEAR GRYLLS
In 2017, churches all over Australia and around the world will invite their communities to explore life, faith and God in conjunction with the Global Alpha Campaign. Our goal is to creatively capture the interest of Australians and help local churches create a space to see lives transformed.
Find out how you can be involved
InviteAustralia.com
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Bear Grylls is known as the face of outdoor survival and adventure. With 1.5 billion fans worldwide, he is recognized from New York to New Delhi. This year he shares his journey to faith on Alpha in a way that the world has never seen before.
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After years of success as an architect and interior designer, Tadros was living a good life. However all of it was stripped away when he had to escape his country. Here is his story.
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HOME AWAY FROM HOME I used to live in Egypt. I had a great life and a great job - I worked as an architect and interior designer for some of the country’s wealthiest clients. I was proud of my work and my family. However, all of it was stripped away when I had to escape my country.
“I ended up running away from Egypt and came to Australia where I applied as an asylum seeker.” I found this process humiliating, for both my kids and me. Back home, they had a great life friends, family, they even had a nanny. They went from having everything to having nothing. For the first time in my life, I cried out “I don’t know what to do. I’m so lost.” Looking back I am now certain I came to Alpha on God’s plan. It just so happened I was walking with a friend around the city, trying to take my mind off my situation, and was in complete awe of the soaring buildings. As we kept walking we happened to look through a café window and saw a lively gathering of people. This made me curious.
I knocked on the door and the Alpha leader opened it with a peaceful smile. I asked her ‘What are you doing? What is this gathering?’ In a friendly way she said to me, ‘We are talking about Jesus. Come join us.’ In that moment, I truly felt God’s love. Moments before, I had been walking down the city streets without any thought of Jesus. I was only consumed by my pain and worry. I was thinking about my kids and the lifealtering season they were now living. I felt so alone.
“The moment I walked into Alpha, I felt something really extraordinary. I actually felt like I wasn’t alone.” If the walls of that café could talk, they would tell you that the Holy Spirit was there. I couldn’t stop crying and I didn’t know why. I just felt like He found me. He really found me. The great thing is that He is alive and He is always reaching out to everyone.
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HAIR SALON LASERTAG #RUNALPHA FAST FOOD SPOT CAFÉ NIGHT CLUB SENIOR HOME ANYWHERE FITNESS CENTRE POOL HALL 12
ONE ALPHA, MANY CONTEXTS
Seniors
Who are you called to reach?
ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)
Students
Working Professionals
Youth
Couples
Inmates
Alpha for Prisons There are over 36,000 prisoners in Australian prisons and this rate continues to rise each year. Of those who are released from prisons, there is a relatively high rate of recidivism, at above 60%. Alpha is running in prisons all around Australia, in men’s prisons, women’s prisons and in juvenile justice centres. Not only does it provide prisoners with an opportunity to explore faith, it helps to build a sense of worth and dignity in their lives and has helped many prisoners to make positive changes in their lives. My life was a mess. I was arrested for selling drugs. In prison, Alpha 13 gave me hope for the first time in my life. MISSIE / ALPHA GUEST
NEW
ALPHA FILM SERIES ALPHA LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE
The new Alpha Film Series explores the basics of the Christian faith in an engaging and relevant way for the next generation. This series features stories from all around the world with a full range of gender, ethnicity and location, as well as top-notch visual illustrations and motion graphics. It is a resource for the local church that will enable you to run Alpha easily and effectively engage those outside the church. The Alpha Film Series features footage from the UK, Canada, France, India, Hong Kong and Israel.
Find out more about the exciting series at alpha.org.au/alphafilmseries
alpha.org.au/run Gain access to FREE promotional and training resources.
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Along with Alpha Pioneer Nicky Gumbel and his wife Pippa, the series introduces two new presenters – Toby Flint and Gemma Hunt. Toby is a curate at Holy Trinity Brompton church in London and Gemma is an award-winning BBC children’s television presenter.
Alpha was a complete change from the negativity that I was so used to 15 living every day. After the night on healing, I felt free. MICHAEL
ALPHA IS FOR EVERYONE
It’s simply about doing what is right for your situation and doing what works for you and your church. Richard Warner 16
Pastor Richard Warner shares the challenging but rewarding journey of running Alpha at Lighthouse Christian Church.
HOW DID ALPHA START AT LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN CHURCH? I was inspired to use a method that would really engage people and encourage them to invite new people. I wanted to create a sense of discipleship; a safe environment that would help lead people to Christ and and enter into a discipleship process. The greatest problem the church faces today is normality. In this present day, there are believers that possess a faith which lacks passion in bringing others to Christ. This was why I was inspired with Alpha - it was a great answer but more importantly was a catalyst to reveal particular areas which churches today need to address. Our church was desperate for disciple-making people and we faced this exact problem. In result, we used Alpha as an outreach as well as a place for people to come if they were unsure of where they stood spiritually. HAS THIS LED TO GOOD MOMENTUM IN YOUR CHURCH? The truth is it was only in the last few years that Alpha has had an ongoing flow in our church. This was due to the change in our school’s enrolment policy. We initially only took in students that were from Christian families with the prerequisites that they attended church regularly, agreed with our church doctrine and had a pastor’s reference. Unfortunately this meant that we were refusing more than we were accepting. Many students didn’t have a pastor’s reference because they didn’t regularly attend church. It was then that I felt the Lord say to me that I actually needed to see some of these families because they were divine appointments. As I went to visit them I found myself presenting the gospel to them and leading some of them to the Lord.
During this time, I found myself becoming unstuck - we decided to accept people that were brand new Christians who recently made the decision to know Christ. This meant that there was a strong need for spiritual growth and there needed to be something more substantial so we introduced Alpha to them. At that time, over half our Alpha attendees were school inquirers. Now about 80-90% of our Alpha guests are school inquirers. HOW DO YOU RUN ALPHA AT YOUR CHURCH? At Lighthouse, we run Alpha twice a year. We start by sending out invitations to people then we follow them up by ringing them. After that, we then organise our catering team by putting together a roster. We purposely have a table of no more than 8 guests with 2 facilitators to each table. We also like to have musical items every week. For each session/week we have a team briefing and debriefing, we have found this helps in making improvements week to week. Along with a brief survey, we have found it helpful doing post Alpha interviews. This is simply so we can get feedback to help people along their Christian walk. For new believers, we don’t just want to know if people have received Jesus but we want to help continue their spiritual growth by leading them in one of our post Alpha courses. called ‘One-To-One’ or ‘Freedom In Christ’ which both consists of small groups.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLETED ALPHA AT LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN CHURCH? At the beginning of last year we had 300 people complete Alpha in 4 years. At present we’ve had around 450 people complete Alpha. We are amazed that many of these people started out as atheists, Hindus, Buddists, Muslims and now they are worshipping God in church. Alpha is a great tool, the best tool of its type. While there are other tools, Alpha is presented simply but thoroughly. It can appeal to all demographics - an academic as well as the less educated. It also appeals to people from various backgrounds and nationalities. HAVE YOU FOUND ALPHA TO BE A GREAT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TOOL? Yes, definitely. Quite a few of our Alpha leaders and facilitators were saved through Alpha. Since there was a lack of discipleship and leadership training, people did feel less confident and incompetent to lead. Alpha is a wonderful starting point because you don’t start off as a leader but as a helper, then table host and so on. It’s great that we have some leaders that have been doing it consistently for three or four years.
This has really helped people transition into church life and has even led some to baptism. This is all part of our discipleship process. As Christians, not only do we get to work for God but with God. 17
Since the last update of the Alpha video series with Nicky Gumbel in 2006, the content and format of Alpha at HTB has been significantly improved and updated. This product will provide leaders of local Alphas with the best, most relevant examples of talks to learn how to effectively deliver their own Alpha talk to their community. Alpha International
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ALPHA WITH NICKY GUMBEL Alpha pioneer Nicky Gumbel delivers a complete set of 29-minute Alpha talks for a new generation. Filmed live at Holy Trinity Brompton, London, these much-awaited videos provide the definitive version of Alpha talks for tens of thousands of churches of all denominations around the world.
alpha.org.au/run Gain access to the talks for FREE online.
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THE POWER OF QUESTIONS 20
From a hesitant skeptic to passionate Alpha Leader, Sandro shares how Alpha completely changed his Christian beliefs, allowing him to explore faith in a whole new way.
While living in England, Sandro was initially skeptical about Christianity. He was invited along to Alpha which at first he described as ‘sketchy’, but it wasn’t long before questions began to well up and his perspective began to change. Read on as Sandro shares his story... Looking back, my faith journey developed as a result of Alpha but at the time I had no idea what it was. I just remembered it was held in a cold, dingy church. I grew up in a church where we didn’t open the bible. Everything was pretty much said to you.
“I was unaware I had the right to ask questions. I had no idea it was about relationship.” When I first started Alpha, I thought to myself “oh this is a bit sketchy, I am just going to do it out of respect for the Pastor who invited me to come along.” I made the conscious decision that I wouldn’t ask anything, I was just going to sit and listen - that was it.
By attending Alpha, I had the opportunity to really explore these questions and that’s when things started to make sense to me. I finally understood who God was and I started to see myself the way He saw me. After I got saved through Alpha, my family and I joined a church in Central London. We began serving where we could and that’s when everything I had learned in Alpha became cemented in my heart. The thing I like about Alpha is it’s very laid back. You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to but there’s also plenty of opportunity to share your own thoughts, beliefs and experiences.
“At Alpha, you can feel at ease to ask any question you like.” Now as an Alpha leader here in Australia, I love taking people on this journey of exploring faith. By providing a fun, relaxed environment and building relationship with guests, we have seen many lives transformed.
The truth was I had questions deep inside me. Questions that many people have - “Is there more to life than this?” “Is God really who He says He is?” “Why should I go to church - is it just to please my in-laws?”
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Churches are discovering that Marriage and Parenting courses are an effective, welcoming bridge to the community. The Marriage Course The Marriage Course is for any couple who wants to invest in their relationship, whether they have been together 1 or 61 years and whether they have a strong relationship or are struggling.
The Marriage Preparation Course Most couples spend countless hours preparing for the wedding, but little, if any time preparing for married life. The Marriage Preparation Course can help couples develop strong foundations for a lasting marriage.
The Parenting Children Course The Parenting Children Course is for parents, step-parents, prospective parents or carers of children aged 0 –10 years. This course provides relevant, practical help from parents and professionals.
The Parenting Teenagers Course The Parenting Teenagers Course is for parents, step-parents, or carers of children aged 11–18 years. This course helps build a strong family, centered on love. We provide effective tools and resources for you to start your course. They are very easy to run, particularly because the talks are available on DVD. Purchase The Marriage & Parenting Course materials at your local Koorong bookstore or online at koorong.com/alpha.
marriageandparenting.org.au
22 At The Marriage Course I learned the importance of letting things go. I learned the power of forgiveness for the first time in my life. FAYE / MARRIAGE COURSE GUEST
Is it possible to be happily married to the same person for a lifetime?
What are some practical tips to being a good parent and staying sane?
How can engaged couples establish a strong foundation for marriage?
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Once it all clicked and I found what I was looking for, I knew this was where I belonged. Thanks to Alpha, I continue to be greatly motivated to discover new things and help others through their own journey in faith. Lee Buurman Busselton, WA
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24 I feel like God invited me and drew me back to Him through Alpha providing such A fun and welcoming environment where I could grasp the basics of having a relationship with Christ. ALPHA FOR YOUTH GUEST
THE ALPHA WEEKEND A crucial part of Alpha is the Alpha Weekend or Alpha Day. This can feel like a difficult thing to organise but it doesn’t have to be. It is a pivotal element of Alpha and is often the part which guests find most transformative, so it’s worth putting effort into running one if you can. A good way to make the process easier is to pair up with another Alpha in your city and run a weekend together.
There is nothing like the Alpha Weekend. The truth is it’s so much more than an event because it has the ability to establish a great sense of community, and help people develop solid friendships. Spending time together helps them feel like they belong and that others are walking the road with them. We talk about our Alpha Weekend from the first week because we want to build expectance early and allow people to prepare for it. We often have such a great turnout as guests see it as something that is significant and worthwhile. Not only is the Alpha Weekend transformative for the guests but it has a profound impact on the leaders and volunteers. There is something special about people going away together and spending uninterrupted time eating good food, having great conversations, playing games and just getting out of the city. It really helps facilitate the forging of lifechanging friendships. The Alpha Weekend is really about creating a space for people to encounter God. It can happen through fun activities like playing games or going for a walk, at free time or during late night conversation around a fire, or in worship. The key is balancing the time for learning and reflection as well as fun. Planning an Alpha Weekend is a bit of legwork, but watching people grow in their relationships with each other and more importantly Jesus is revitalising and the best thing anyone can do! Fiona Hall, Alpha Leader
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5 STEPS
TO GET STARTED
01 Get Trained Alpha is a really simple tool but there are a few key things that you need to know to run a really great course. There are a series of training videos you can watch to learn everything you need to know to run a great Alpha. You can access these videos on alpha.org.au/run.
02 Plan and Prepare Before you get started with Alpha, you’ll need to do some planning and preparation. A few key decisions you’ll need to make are: Where will you run your Alpha? What time will work best for those you want to invite? What dates will work best for you and the venue? Get some of your key people to help you think this through.
03 Build and Train Your Team One of the vital parts of running Alpha is having a great team. This might just be one other friend to help you on a smaller Alpha or you may need a large team if you’re planning a big Alpha. Whatever the size, ensure you pick the best possible team to help and support you. Once you’ve picked your people, make sure they get training too. Refer to the training videos to equip your team, maybe think about an evening to get them all together to be trained.
WHO’S ON THE
ALPHA TEAM?
04 Spread the Word Once you’ve got everything planned and got your team together you’ll need to think through how to spread the word! Alpha is designed for those who aren’t usually church-goers or who might not call themselves Christian. Think through how you are going to get people inviting their friends and how to advertise your Alpha to the local community. We’ve got loads of resources available to help with this and there is another training video to give you some more tips.
05 Go for It Finally, the best way to learn more about running Alpha is to go for it! Running Alpha takes a bit of work but it is totally worth it and you’ll learn so much by having a go and seeing what happens. Get praying and get going with your Alpha. We’re so glad you’re part of the global story of Alpha and can’t wait to hear how it goes!
alpha.org.au/run
Course Leader Carries the overall responsibility for running the course, leading the team, and delegating tasks. A great administrator is well organised, detail oriented, and friendly.
Small Group Hosts & Helpers Facilitators who ensure that the small groups are a safe place for guests to share openly.
Support Team This fun, servant-hearted crew of volunteers cook meals, take care of logistics, greet people, and provide administrative support.
Prayer Team An additional team who prays for your Alpha regularly. Be intentional about praying not only for logistics but for each guest weekly.
26 I was far away from God but because of this I want to be so much closer. ALPHA FOR YOUTH GUEST
PRAY WITH US Prayer is an essential part of Alpha. It is not always a prominent part as it often takes place out of the public eye, but it is absolutely essential to the success of any Alpha. We cannot run it without God leading us as a team and working in the life of each guest by His Spirit.
How can you mobilise your community to pray? 01 Facilitate The Prayer Course These interactive group sessions based on The Lord’s Prayer, have been designed to help people go deeper in their relationship with God and to unlock the power of prayer in their lives. Over six sessions, group members will get better at talking to God, better at listening to him and they’ll probably start seeing more miracles too. The basics covered by The Prayer Course are: 1. Purpose in Prayer: Adoration 2. Power in Prayer: Petition 3. Prevailing in Prayer: Intercession 4. Perseverance in Prayer: Dealing with Disappointments 5. Perspective in Prayer: Learning to Listen 6. Partnership in Prayer: Spiritual Warfare Download the videos, cheat sheets, leaders guide and promotional resources for free www.prayercourse.org. Receive additional points to assist your group by emailing phil.fielding@alpha.org.au
02 Host a Prayer and Worship Event Consider holding a prayer and worship event to launch your Alpha. Or maybe you could work with other churches in your area to host a joint Alpha launch prayer event? Go to alpha.org.au/try to see who is running Alpha near you.
03 Open a Prayer Room Open a room at your church or office where people can come and pray for those they are inviting to Alpha, for courage and opportunities to invite, for the preparation by your Alpha team, and for special events that those who don’t usually come to church may attend. Different groups (Youth, Young Adults, or small groups) or individuals can host the room for certain periods e.g. early mornings, lunch times, or evenings. Create a timetable or booking sheet For more creative ideas, go to 24-7prayer.com/prayerrooms. We would love to hear the stories of what happens when you pray. If you need any further information or ideas don’t hesitate to contact our office on 1800 811 903.
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Alpha Australia 1/5 Court Street Box Hill, VIC 3128 Office: 1800 811 903 Email: info@alpha.org.au
@ausalphacourse /alphaaustralia @alphaaustralia youtube.com/alphaaustralia alpha.org.au #TryAlpha 28