Alpha is arguably the most effective evangelistic tool available: more than 50% of those who complete the full course and come to see themselves as followers of Jesus go on to join a church.
Many people, once they see the Alpha materials, immediately want to drop the latest video series into their existing model of ministry. We would urge you not to do that, but instead to study the principles that made Alpha work. There are essential elements which, if ignored, leave you with good material you cannot use the way its creators intended.
The Alpha team spent thousands of hours of research creating and refining the course. Take our advice: find the strength and the patience to learn how to organise and run an Alpha course properly.
The simplest way is to attend the National Alpha Conference or a regional seminar. Another option is to visit an existing Alpha course and go through it with a team that already has experience running it.
One more piece of advice: do not expect quick results. Run your first course, then review it with your team to improve it, and repeat it at least two or three times. Or come to the Alpha office after your first course for a joint review — our coordinators will help you travel this road faster.
What you need
- Read the article "How to start an Alpha course" — it contains all the links you will need.