Alpha

[Vic VDB]

I confess I have enjoyed a love-hate relationship with Alpha for a number of years for a number of reasons.

Against - I have met too many churches (leaders and members) who when asked about evangelism blithely tell me that the 'do Alpha!'. This, once a year, offering apparently absolves them from entering into relationship with those around them.

For - It's a 'known' brand name in terms of being an introduction to Christians and people appear to be comfortable with the whole event. The positive attitude towards it is a great help in getting people to come.

Against - I come across a number of people who run Alpha courses which are in fact Alpha in name only. I attended one course where the leader did three of the sessions as one woman monologues and cringingly self-disclosure sessions! Not the fault of Alpha (who used to say that changing any of the course meant it was no longer Alpha!) but something that makes me cautious regarding Alpha!

For - I've met some great people and seen them come to faith through the relationships and material. It's a great opportunity to form relationships and I can see that for some who came to faith, it was this rather than the material that was the key factor.

Against - I was asked to lead an Alpha course a while back and three quarters of those attending were not only Christians but they had come on their own and one proudly boasted (when I asked the group) that this was her fifth Alpha! The majority knew the material better than the speakers and they were opinionated and a real hindrance to those who had come for the first time as 'nonnies' (I really hate that term - gets the righteous anger going - not that I needed it with this Alpha groupie group! ).

Bottom line - I'm about to embark upon another one. A proper Alpha with all the required units and covering all the points that make it Alpha. We'll have an away day rather than weekend and I'll be blessed. let's hope those who come will be!

Vic

[3 Gen Rev]

We're joining in an Alpha with the local New Frontiers church. We do it in the local community centre and have a variety of non Christians (but looking for an argument!) new Christians looking to grow understanding and the folks who're walking with them in their journey.
I do find it helpful but need to lead our discussion group as some of the the NF folk can have a fairly prescriptive approach and lack a little imagination!

[Vic VDB]

I do struggle with people who lack imagination and who draw lines regarding the Christian faith!

It seems that we're so keen to have people toeing the line that we can miss the fact that we're dealing with people, not processes, and broken people at that!

I meet a number of people who seem to regard the Christian faith as more of a legal transaction rather than a relationship and therefore it's all about conditions and compliance.

All food for thought as we embark upon our next course in October.

thanks,

vic

[Vic VDB]

We've just done the fourth week of our latest Alpha and I have to say that I really don't like the new square books with the twee and trendy format.

Perhaps I'm just getting old

[paul]

I've led two Alpha Courses here, stuck pretty much to the proper format and gave the talks 'live' myself.

We tend to use Start! these days. It's shorter, more down to earth and seems to work in our context

As a slight aside, I was told by a very good source a couple of years ago that Alpha was be significantly revamped to reflect the fact that most people need to start 'further back' than Alpha starts. But nothing seems to have happened. I think Alpha looks a bit jaded and dated now - or is that just that it seems so to those of us who have run it over the years?

[WV]

One of our Alpha guests asked Jesus to 'step inside' during the week. Please pray for him and the others currently doing the course.

[Simon Heron]

We begin an Emmaus course this week. Worth a look for those who find Alpha or Christianity Explored not pushing their theological buttons.

[WV]

Our Alpha course finishes this week: what to do with the rest of my life? Three of the four are now regular Sunday attenders. Fourth is still peripheral, preferring socials to services, and only managed to make a few of the Alpha sessions. Prayers for protection and continued [spiritual] growth

Have done Emmaus and like it - especially the tiered approach.

[WV]

Our Alpha graduates have asked to keep meeting - they want to form a new 'house group' in a local pub

[3 Gen Rev]

That's one of the best ways of starting a housegroup...they've nbeen through the same stuff together and have built relationships too over the course.
We've a couple that started that way..

[clockman]

Our Alpha graduates have asked to keep meeting - they want to form a new 'house group' in a local pub

good for them! Go for it... - get the church into the market-place... and meet the public where they are not where you want them to be.
Anderw

[WV]

That's one of the best ways of starting a housegroup...they've nbeen through the same stuff together and have built relationships too over the course.
We've a couple that started that way..

It was always our hope. We do need to introduce some leadership though; otherwise we could end up with some really interesting theology 

[WV]

This group is now meeting regularly... an all-male house group (now that they've finally got rid of me ) It has been a wonderful privilege to watch it develop.

Reading the pictures of the Kingdom of Heaven from Matthew's gospel this week, the penny suddenly dropped for one of them: this is all or nothing! A moment of deep-penetrating silence followed....