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Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ

Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ. “ 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. So, what is Alpha?. The Alpha Course is a 10-week

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Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ

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  1. Giving everybody the opportunity to hear about Christ

  2. “How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can theybelieve in the one they havenot heard?” Romans 10:14

  3. So, what is Alpha?

  4. TheAlphaCourseis a 10-week practical introduction to the Christian faith designed primarily for Non-church goers & New Christians

  5. What doesAlpha do?

  6. So that everybody has the opportunity to hear aboutJesus Christ The AlphaCourseequips the local church with a culturally relevant method of evangelization...

  7. How is theAlphaCourse a culturally relevant means of evangelism? • IT IS CULLTURALLY RELEVANT THROUGH • Food and Fellowship • Teaching • Laughing and Fun • Small Group Discussion • Belonging before Believing

  8. By introducing people to Jesus Christ in a way that is non-threatening, supportive, and fun AlphaChanges Livesand Transforms Churches

  9. A Changed Life:Joan • 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 At age 84, her life was changed for ever Joan, Texas, took the Alpha Course in 2001

  10. A Renewed Life:Larry • 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 For Larry, life is now happy, joyful, passionate & worth living Larry, Texas took the Alpha Course in 2001

  11. A Transformed Church:St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church • Of 970 Alpha Participantshalf 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

  12. The History ofAlpha 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.

  13. The Evolution ofAlpha • 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

  14. 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 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

  15. Why & How does Alpha work?

  16. Introducing the Alpha Course into a church has been shown to dramatically revitalize andtransform congregationsbecause new Christians become passionate, vibrant and actively involved in church life.

  17. Each session of an Alpha Course consists of: Dinner,a Talk, Coffee and a Small Group meeting. During the Alpha Course there is aWeekend Retreat

  18. Dinner (45 minutes) Having Dinner with the Small Group helps participants to relax and get to know one another

  19. Alpha talks (45 min) are about: • 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?

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. Alpha Courses areFlexible:In addition to the traditional Alpha Course, Alpha offers... Alphaon Campus Alpha in Prisons Alpha in the Boardroom Alpha for Youth

  23. Alpha works in all Denominations: Alpha presents the core truthof the Christian faith around which all major denominations unite. • Non-denominational • Pentecostal • Presbyterian • Vineyard • Roman Catholic • …and many others • Baptist • Covenant • Episcopal • Lutheran • Methodist • Congregational

  24. Resources Available for Alpha Courses: • Videos of talks • Questions of Life, Course Manual • Training Videos and Leaders Guides • Director’s Guide

  25. The Principles ofAlpha

  26. 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

  27. Principle 2: Evangelism is a process • New Testament expressions • Process operates at two levels • Gradually seeing the picture • Building trust

  28. Principle 3: Evangelism involves the whole person • Appeal to the head • Appeal to the heart • Appeal to the will

  29. Principle 4: Models of evangelism in the New Testament include Classical, Holistic, and Power Evangelism • Classical Evangelism (Words) • Holistic Evangelism (Works) • Power Evangelism (Wonders)

  30. Principle 5: Evangelism in the Power of the Holy Spirit is both dynamic and effective • The Book of Acts and Pentecost • Questionnaire responses

  31. 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

  32. Come to the Houston Alpha Conference!March 1-2, 2004Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church Contact: The Alpha Houston Office at 713-960-9701 or alphahouston.org and get connected with an Alpha Advisor…or a Resource Church

  33. There are 42 Conferences across the United States each year

  34. For more information, or to sign up for an Alpha Training Conference,please contact Alpha at:1-866-872-5742orwww.alphausa.org

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