Alpha for Outreach

Alpha USA

My church has just completed our first Alpha. In this post, I will share some information about what Alpha is, why we chose Alpha as an outreach tool, and what we learned from our recently completed Alpha course.

Alpha describes itself on its website as: a space for honest conversation around some of life's biggest questions. It's designed to provide guests an opportunity to connect while providing a time to share thoughts, ideas, and opinions in a safe and caring environment. Alpha helps bring people together while giving them the chance to encounter Jesus.

Alpha begins with a time of food and fellowship. We met on Saturday morning, so we provided breakfast each week. After we finished our meal, we watched a video provided by Alpha on the week's topic. The first week's topic was "Is There More to Life Than This?" After the video is viewed, the group breaks into small groups to discuss the video's topic. Alpha provides discussion questions to help with the conversation.

What I appreciate about Alpha discussions is that all questions and answers are allowed and respected. It's a place where people can be honest about their doubts without judgment. All the resources you need are available for free. For those who may not feel comfortable entering a church building, Alpha can be held in a variety of venues, including restaurants, homes, schools, workplaces, and other locations.

Most of the people who attended each week were volunteers from our church. We were not discouraged about that because it allowed all of us to get familiar with the topics and the format of the meeting. This first Alpha strengthened our relationships, reacquainted us with basic Christian principles, and helped us fine-tune our weekly meetings.

This past week, two of us attended the annual Alpha Conference, which was filled with testimonials, information, and worship. Prayer is a huge part of Alpha. We prayed before we started, especially as we were trying to determine if Alpha was for us. We prayed before each session, and I prayed daily at noon for the Alpha course. I appreciate the emphasis on prayer because if God doesn't show up for our outreach, our success will be limited.

It has been very successful in connecting with Gen Z and the Alpha generation. Our young people are hungry for God, but are suspicious about organized religion. This program allows them to encounter God without the weight of religion. I hope that our next Alpha session will utilize Alpha's revised and updated youth curriculum.

If you have any questions about Alpha, please contact me at pastorsusancg@gmail.com. I will be happy to share more about our experience.