What is Alpha?
The Alpha course is a basic course on the Christian faith, and is
commonly referred to as "an opportunity to explore the meaning of
life". Originating with the Church of England, the course is
currently offered in 152 countries by many different denominations
including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal
and Orthodox churches.
Alpha was started by Rev. Charles Marnham, a curate at Holy Trinity
Brompton Church, a Church of England church in London. It started as
a course for church members on the basics of the Christian faith,
but then began to be used as an introduction for those interested in
the faith. In 1990 Rev. Nicky Gumbel, at that time a curate at Holy
Trinity Brompton, took over the running of the course, and oversaw
its revision and expansion. In 2007, over 33,500 courses were
offered in more than 160 countries, and in many Christian
denominations. By 2007 it was reported that over 10 million people
worldwide had attended an Alpha course.
Is Alpha for you?
Everyone is welcome to the
Alpha course! Some may come to investigate whether God exists.
Others wonder what life is all about; still others wonder whether
there is life after death. Others may have attended church, but feel
that they have never really understood the basics of Christianity
and want to learn more about their faith. Attendees come from many
different backgrounds and have many different views, but most come
for the same basic reason: to find out whether a belief in Jesus
Christ has meaning for them.
Structure
The Alpha course is organized
as a series of sessions over ten weeks. Each session starts with a
free meal, followed by a short video presentation by Nicky Gumbel,
and then discussion in small groups. The talks aim to cover the
basic beliefs of the Christian faith. The complete list of topics
is:
- Is there more to life than
this? (or, Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?)
- Who is Jesus?
- Why did Jesus die?
- How can I be sure of my
faith?
- Why and how should I read
the Bible?
- Why and how 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 resist evil?
- Why and how should I tell
others?
- Does God heal today?
- What about the church?
- How can I make the most of
the rest of my life?
Attendees receive the The Alpha
Course Manual, which contains an outline of each talk, and space for
making notes.
Doctrine
The teaching on Alpha is
intended to center upon the aspects of the Christian faith about
which all the denominations are agreed. The Rev'd Nicky Gumbel,
pioneer of the course, says "What unites us is far greater than what
divides us".
Praise
The Alpha course has attracted
praise as a technique for spreading an understanding of the basics
of the Christian faith. Although begun in the Anglican church, it
has subsequently been used by a variety of denominations and groups.
It operates through unpressured discussion in a non-threatening
environment. The Alpha course has been endorsed by a number of
leaders, including many Roman Catholic cardinals, Anglican
archbishops and leading figures of all the main Christian
denominations. The current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams
was an enthusiastic supporter when he was Bishop of Monmouth and
Archbishop of Wales and has carried on his support into his new
role, opening Alpha conferences, even accepting an invitation to
speak at an Alpha supper in London in 2005. He describes it as "a
very special tool" and "a unique mixture of Christian content and
Christian style".
Other Christian leaders which have endorsed Alpha are:
- Cardinal Walter Kasper,
President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity
- Cardinal Keith O'Brien,
Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
- Most Rev Andre Vingt-Trois,
Archbishop of Paris
- Dr. Richard Chartres,
Bishop of London
- Rev. Alister McGrath of
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and Regent College, Vancouver
- Rev. Luis Palau,
international evangelist
- Rev. J.I. Packer, Anglican
theologian and evangelist
- The late Rev. John Wimber
of the Association of Vineyard Churches
- Dr. R. T. Kendall of
Westminster Chapel
- Joel Edwards of the
Evangelical Alliance
For more information about
Alpha, visit the web site at
www.alphana.org
The next Alpha course will
begin with an introductory dinner and celebration on April 6, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the parish hall of:
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
66 Market Street
Onancock, VA
The regular sessions
will meet Wednesday evenings beginning on April 9, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Childcare is provided.
If you want to know
more, please join us for dinner on Sunday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m.
To let us know that you plan to attend the
introductory dinner, please call the Very Rev. RJ Johnson at Holy Trinity
at 787-4430 or
e-mail him.
