Alpha

Alpha

Originally developed by Holy Trinity Brompton and particularly its vicar Nicky Gumbel, the Alpha course has achieved worldwide fame as a means of enabling people to discover more about Christianity. With its nation wide poster campaigns and an estimated 1.3 million people in Britain having attended an Alpha course, it is well known and amazingly successful. Alpha courses are now being held in 130 countries throughout the world.

Christ Church has been holding Alpha courses since 2004. Through them, a number of complete newcomers to the church have become regular and established members, and a large number of existing members have also found that the course has considerably deepened their faith. It has also proved an especially good course for people to invite their friends to in order to find out what Christianity is all about.

The Alpha course is usually held on a midweek evening and lasts for eight weeks. The evening begins with a cooked meal at 7.45 for 8.00 pm in the Christ Church lounge. This is a really important part of the course allowing the various guests and leaders to relax and get to know each other. Then from 8.30 pm a talk is given on part of the Christian faith by our Vicar, Stephen Kuhrt or one of the clergy team. Then from 8.50 to 9.50 pm, the Alpha guests split into different groups for discussion. The ‘rules’ of Alpha are that no one is instructed in these groups and the whole emphasis is upon guests being able to discuss, question or rubbish whatever they wish about the Christian faith. Alpha works best when people are completely honest and say exactly what they think and the leaders of groups are chosen particularly on the basis of their ability to facilitate and encourage this. A number of additional Alpha resources are also available on the bookstall for guests to purchase and read during the week if they wish.

The exception to the midweek setting of Alpha is the ‘Holy Spirit session’ which takes place on a Saturday morning beginning with a cooked breakfast to which guests’ partners and children are also invited. After the partners and children have departed, the rest of the morning comprises two talks on the Holy Spirit plus discussion and also the chance to be prayed for by members of the leadership team. This is completely optional but a vital part of the Alpha course showing that Christianity is based on a living relationship with Jesus Christ rather than a set of ideas. Many Alpha courses do this part of the course as a whole weekend away. Whilst this is not possible for most of the people who attend the Alpha course at Christ Church, the ‘Holy Spirit morning’ very often turns out to be the most significant part of the course for them.

Following the Alpha Course, many guests are keen to continue meeting and we therefore have a series of follow-on groups which we call ‘Alpha Plus’. Continuing to be based around food, friendship and discussion, these groups are usually effective in consolidating the progress that people feel they have made on the Alpha course.

If you would like to know more about Alpha courses at Christ Church, please contact our Vicar, Stephen Kuhrt.