Getting the best out of Alpha
Alpha is a powerful evangelism tool used all over the world, but how can we make the best use of it? Matthew Gault leads our newest church plant in Tullycarnet and is an experienced Alpha Course practitioner. He shares his experiences and tips below…
Tell us about your previous experiences of running Alpha and why you were keen to run a course at an early stage in Tullycarnet Church?
I have had the privilege of being involved in leading Alpha courses for some years now having been involved in upwards of 10 Alpha campaigns. Each Alpha brings unique challenges and no one course is the same.For instance, on one course you may see many new Christians or disciples being raised up, whilst on another, you may see God bringing renewal to an existing group of Christians.
We were keen to run Alpha early on in our journey planting and hope that it will become an established part of our missional DNA in the community we serve. We are assisting St. Molua’s Parish Church in running an Alpha whilst simultaneously running our own Alpha in the estate that we serve.
What’s your approach to inviting people to Alpha?
There are many methods of promoting your course from producing flyers, making use of social media and carrying out door–to–door work. Sometimes on courses you have “walk–ins” who hear about it, however, the majority of people attend via simple friendship and word of mouth. This is why it’s important that churches have a culture of invitation so that the pressure of invitation isn’t on church staff alone. If this is the case, it is unlikely large numbers of those outside the church will attend.
How do you prepare to run an Alpha course?
Running an Alpha course is simple, especially, as Alpha offer much support, training, and pointers towards success.
My most successful courses have usually met in environments outside of church – cafés, restaurants or pubs, or have had targeted audiences, for instance, young adults or compassion ministry clients. Try and think outside of the box, letting the Holy Spirit guide your steps and don’t be afraid of failure.
How do you try to make people feel welcome and free to ask questions?
Sharing a meal or having excellent desserts is a great way to create a welcoming culture. Alpha works best as a discussion and good group facilitation is key. It is also important to set boundaries in discussion to avoid a participant ruining the space.
How do you support participants after the Alpha course is over?
The greatest challenge is bridging the gap between Alpha and Church. Running programs such as a follow–up small groups or other courses can bridge this gap. However, the solution is often simply through building strong friendships with guests. This takes time but is well worth the investment. My advice is to think about how you can increase your volunteer base and involve previous participants as helpers.