Alpha for Military LG

The

Alpha Course Leaders’ guide

Alpha for the Military Leaders’ Guide

Published in North America, 2005, by Alpha North America. All rights reserved in North America.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers at 74 Trinity Place, New York, NY 10006.

Copyright Š 2004, Alpha International, Holy Trinity Brompton, Brompton Road, London, SW7 1JA, UK. Contributing Editor, U.S. Edition: Noel C.E. Dawes ISBN: 1-933114-10X 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Printing/Year 08 07 06 05

CONTENTS Foreword

5

1. Introduction

7

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4.1 1.4.2 1.4.3

What is Alpha?

Why Alpha for the Military?

A snapshot of Alpha for the Military since 1994 What types of people run Alpha for the Military?

Chaplaincy Local church Service men and women

7 7 8 9 9 9 10

2. Planning Your Course

11

2.1 Seven steps to a successful course on a military base 2.1.1 Consult the chaplaincy team/contact the Alpha for the Military National Office 2.1.2 Attend an Alpha conference 2.1.3 Choose your leadership team 2.1.4 Train your team 2.1.5 Register your Alpha course 2.1.6 Set the dates and select a location 2.1.7 Order resources 2.2 Seven steps to a successful course while deployed

11 11 11 12 14 14 15 16 17

3. How to Publicize Your Alpha Course

19

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7

19 20 20 20 20 21 21

New arrivals Displaying posters Distributing invitations Local press and PR Personal invitations Guest services Alpha Appetizer event

4. Running Your Alpha Course in the Military

23

4.1 Possible course timetables 4.1.1 Standard Alpha format

23 23

4.1.2 4.1.3 4.1.4 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11

Fast-track Alpha Lunchtime/One Hour Alpha Modular format Creating the right environment for Alpha Prayer and administration meetings Food and Alpha Worship and Alpha Talks Small groups Prayer and Alpha Giving a short testimony Video clips and icebreakers At the end of the course

25 26 27 28 28 29 30 32 32 33 33 34 37

5. The Alpha Weekend / Day Away

39

5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4

39 40 40 41

General information Inviting guest speakers Suggested timetables Checklist

6. Following Alpha

43

6.1 6.2 6.3

43 43 44

Expect fruit and plan Follow-up resources In conclusion

Appendices

45

A.1 A.2 A.3 A.4 A.5 A.6 A.7 A.8

45 47 51 53 55 57 59 61

FAQs What others are saying about Alpha and Alpha for the Military Certificate example Alpha guest’s questionnaire Alpha leaders’ feedback on guests Alpha leaders’ feedback on helpers Religious activities in the US Armed Forces Alpha copyright statement

1. INTRODUCTION This handbook is designed to take you through the various stages of setting up and running an Alpha course on a military base or on operations. The following pages aim both to equip and encourage you to present the Christian message in a way that is relevant to men and women in the armed forces today. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the other Alpha publications, particularly Nicky Gumbel’s books How to Run the Alpha Course – Telling Others and Alpha – Questions of Life.

All Alpha courses being run in the military cover the same content, but all are slightly different in the practical arrangements and delivery of the course, depending on the type of base, ship, or operational environment in which they are being run. Therefore, not all of the suggestions made in this handbook will apply to your course, but the aim is to provide a framework to help you get started. Please read through this handbook before you start planning your course and then use it for reference as you work through your course.

1.1 What Is Alpha?

Alpha is a 15-session practical introduction to the Christian faith designed primarily for non-churchgoers and new Christians. The syllabus for the course is contained in the book Alpha – Questions of Life by Nicky Gumbel.

Depending on the activities of the military base or unit, sessions may be run in the morning, afternoon, or evening, where there is a meal or light snack followed by a talk on a subject central to the Christian faith. People on the course then break into pre-arranged groups (in which they remain for the entire course) to discuss the talk in an environment where each person should feel free to ask or express whatever he or she wishes. There is also a Weekend or Day Away during which the subject of the Holy Spirit is addressed. The course is a low key, non-threatening series of sessions where men and women from any background or belief system can ask questions about the meaning of life. It is a powerful tool through which to present the claims of Christ to those who have little or no understanding of the Christian faith.

1.2 Why Alpha for the Military?

Given some of the unique facets of military life, such as the constant movement of personnel, the difficult conditions on operations, and the Introduction 7

relatively closed community, it is necessary to tailor specific support for those running Alpha for the Military. Alpha has spread rapidly in the civilian church context, with over 29,000 courses now running around the world. Our vision is to provide every member of the armed forces across the world with the opportunity to attend an Alpha course.

1.3 A Snapshot of Alpha for the Military Since 1994 History Alpha has been run in many different armed forces around the world since 1994 and has proved to be a very effective tool for evangelism.

In the US military, the course has been run in all but one of the military academies and is run regularly on a number of large bases such as Andrews AFB, Cannon AFB, Fort Leavenworth and Fort Huachuca—to mention but a few. Alpha has also been run on overseas bases in locations such as Japan and Germany, and on operations in places like Iraq and on deployed ships such as the USS Bataan. Alpha has received the support of many of the senior and chief chaplains in the USA. In the Canadian military the course has been run on several bases and at the Royal Military College. Alpha has also been run on operations in Afghanistan and Bosnia by the Canadian troops there.

In the British Armed Forces the Alpha course enjoys the support of the Chaplain General of the Army –The Venerable John Blackburn, and many other senior chaplains. A large number of British chaplains from a variety of denominations, are running the course regularly on bases in the UK and Germany, and on operations.

In the Australian Forces the course has been run on bases and on ships.

The course is supported by the Principal Chaplain to the Navy – Eric Burton, as well as a number of chaplains.

A Republic of Korea Armed Forces military chapel ran their second Alpha course in the fall of 2004.

8 Introduction

1.4 What Types of People Run Alpha for the Military?

1.4.1 Chaplaincy Chaplains in the military have a challenging role, often being responsible for several hundred men and women, most of whom are not Christians. Alpha is being run in the military by both single denomination and ecumenical chaplaincy teams in the USA, Canada, the UK, and around the world.

Chaplains have access to facilities on the military base and play a vital role in liaising between military personnel, local church groups, and Christian organizations who want to run a course. Chaplains can also encourage and train the military personnel to give talks and lead the small group discussion time.

Support of Alpha from several chief chaplains (as is the case in the USA) gives chaplains an excellent position from which to run Alpha courses as part of their ongoing evangelistic strategy to reach the military. Some chaplains have adopted Alpha as the primary means of evangelism on their base. It is often new Christians who have just attended an Alpha course who encourage others around them to come to the next course.

New Christians should be fed into the existing structures of discipleship and chapel programs run by the chaplaincy. It is vital that the chaplains are involved in the Alpha course, to ensure this continuity.

If you are a chaplain in the military, try to involve any volunteers that may be assisting you in your ministry from the base and your local area. They can lead and help in small groups, assist with other logistics, or even run the course themselves. If you do not have any volunteers, it is often worth contacting a local church to ask if they could help to run the course on your base. You will be able to locate churches running Alpha in your area from the Alpha register found on the Alpha USA website: www.alphausa.org, or on the Alpha Canada website: www.alphacanada.org.

1.4.2 Local church Many local churches are positioned close to a military base and members of the congregation may already be involved there. Some churches have provided speakers, leaders, and helpers for the Alpha course on their local base. Local church support has proved invaluable when planning the Alpha Weekend or Day Away and providing continuity for the follow up of new Christians. Military personnel value local church support and the partnership is vital. In this, and every situation, it is essential that those running the course work closely within the regulations of the base, so that they do not jeopardize the relationship with the military authorities there.

Introduction 9

1.4.3 Service men and women Service men and women may run the course in their homes or at other locations on bases or while on operations. In situations where it is appropriate to maintain a clear divide between officers and soldiers (or, in the case of a training establishment, between instructors and recruits), soldiers usually run courses for soldiers and officers for officers. Those guests that do become Christians on the course will then join a united church of officers and soldiers where all are one in Christ Jesus! “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I may save someone� (1 Corinthians 9:22). It is imperative that they receive the backing of the chaplain on the base and that the transition from Alpha to the base chapel or local church is smooth, thus enabling new Christians to receive ongoing support.

The practice of informal relations within the Alpha course can be justified on the same basis as other situations in the service environment where a temporary relaxation of formal terms of address is considered appropriate – such as between officers and soldiers in a unit sports team or on an adventure training expedition. However, Christian servicemen and women must be careful to ensure that they resume normal military relations upon returning to the professional environment. The Apostle Paul reminds Timothy of the need for members of the early church to observe appropriate formalities within the hierarchical society found at Ephesus, for the sake of the Gospel (1 Timothy 6:25). In summary, the bigger the embrace we give our colleagues on Alpha, the better the salute we should give them around the base!

10 Introduction

2. PLANNING YOUR COURSE Planning Checklist 1. Consult the chaplaincy team and contact the Alpha for the Military office. (See contact information on page 63.)

2. Attend an Alpha conference.

3. Plan your team and appoint a course leader.

4. Train your team.

5. Register your Alpha course.

6. Set the dates and select a location.

7. Order resources and plan your follow-up.

2.1 Seven Steps to a Successful Course on a Military Base 2.1.1 Consult the chaplaincy team and contact the Alpha for the Military National Office Check with the chaplaincy team on the base as to whether they are already running an Alpha course. If not, approach the chaplaincy to discuss starting a course.

The role of the Alpha for the Military office is to support each Alpha course being run in a military environment. We will attempt to answer any questions you may have about Alpha in this environment, and also help to get your course up and running by providing links to Alpha courses being run under similar circumstances. Many other courses are being run in all types of military environments. You may wish to communicate with those running a course under similar conditions. You can also contact the Alpha for the Military National Director (see page 63 for more information).

2.1.2 Attend an Alpha conference Alpha conferences are designed to train and equip you and your team to run an Alpha course. They run over two days and cover the principles and practicalities of the course as well as including a “Model Alpha Session.�

Planning Your Course 11

Nicky Gumbel has said, “Running Alpha without attending a conference is like driving a car without taking any lessons.”

The aims of the Alpha conference are as follows: 1. To explain the theological reasons for running Alpha 2. To provide all the practical training needed to run an effective Alpha course 3. To model and explain the values behind Alpha through worship, service, talks (including a model Alpha evening), prayer ministry, and small group training 4. To provide opportunities for prayer ministry For upcoming Alpha conferences, please call or check the website: www.alphausa.org or www.alphacanada.org. There may be Alpha for the Military seminars at the conferences. In the UK, Consultation Days are held at Holy Trinity Brompton in London to bring together Alpha for Forces Advisers and chaplains to discuss the vision for Alpha for Forces.

We hope to hold similar Consultation Days in the USA. Please check with the Alpha for the Military national office for details.

If you can’t attend a conference, you may want to order the How to Run the Alpha Course Video Set, the Telling Others book and the Director’s Handbook.

See page 63 for more information.

2.1.3 Choose your leadership team It is vital to get the right people leading and helping on your Alpha course. The right team transforms a course and directly affects the number of guests attending Alpha. On many military bases there are often a number of congregations from different denominations; Alpha provides an ideal opportunity to bring the wider church together with a common aim. In this situation it is important to try to have representatives from each of these congregations on your team from the outset, in order to gain maximum support for the course.

Course Director The overall director of the Alpha course would benefit from having attended an Alpha conference and having been involved in several Alpha courses. They will host each Alpha session, as well as the leaders’ training

12 Planning Your Course

sessions, and will have pastoral responsibility for the course. If the director is not already on the chaplaincy team but is from a local church, it is helpful if he or she has had some experience of speaking in a military environment before leading the course.

Small Group Leaders and Helpers We would recommend the ratio of eight guests to four leaders/helpers on an Alpha course (i.e., two to one). In military bases where the Alpha course is run regularly, guests who have completed a course are encouraged, following training, to help lead small groups on future courses. Leaders and helpers should be confident, positive, outgoing people who relate well to those outside the church. They do not need to have been Christians for a very long time – if they are enthusiastic then they will go on a very sharp learning curve but will undoubtedly do a great job. They do not need to be great theologians or have vast spiritual maturity to help or lead in a small group. If a person has been a Christian for just a few months, he or she will make a great helper and will be able to bring honesty and openness to benefit the group enormously.

There is a simple test for good leaders and helpers. Ask yourself: “Would I happily put my closest friend who is not a Christian in that person’s group?”

Core Team For those who are willing to volunteer, but are not as confident or ready to be either a leader or a helper in a group, there is a still a great deal to be done. Your core team is an essential part of your course. They will take care of things that make each Alpha session happen: • Setting up your location • Preparing and serving food • Cleaning up after the meal • Serving tea and coffee, etc.

• Cleaning up at the end of the session Your core team will be the first people into your location each week and the last people to leave. They allow you to concentrate on the guests each week and free you to ensure that everything goes smoothly. For small courses you will need one or two members in your core team. As your course increases in size you will need more people to help. It is advisable to ask one person to head the team and to ensure that every area of duty is looked after. There should be time each week for your core team to meet together and pray – perhaps during the talk or video.

Planning Your Course 13

Leaders’ guide oday, the Alpha course is successfully running in each branch of the armed forces, both at home and overseas, including battlefield deployments.

T

This handbook is designed to help military chaplains and other military personnel make their Alpha course as effective as possible in the military base where they are working, and on deployment. It has been written using the experience gained by chaplains and course leaders in the military from around the world.

“Our prayer is that Alpha for the Military will enable many people to come into a living relationship with Jesus Christ and that their lives will be changed by God.” Nicky Gumbel If you are thinking of starting an Alpha for the Military course, then this step-bystep guide is for you. Full of practical advice, covering all areas including:

• Seven steps to a successful course on a • • • • •

base or on deployment How to publicize your Alpha course Creating the right environment Suggested video clips The weekend/day away What people are saying about Alpha for the Military

Also includes frequently asked questions. © Alpha International, Holy Trinity Brompton Brompton Road, London SW7 1JA, UK Published in North America

by Alpha North America 74 Trinity Place, New York, NY 10006 www.alphausa.org www.alphacanada.org 16307

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ISBN: 1-933114-10X