Alpha 

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Trinity has been involved in organising and running Alpha courses - including a Youth Alpha. We have held several now and are planning more - see below for the latest news. You can see below some feedback we have had from our first few Alpha courses. Do contact one of the Ministers if you are interested.

What is Alpha?

The Alpha course is a ten week practical introduction to the Christian faith. It is designed primarily for non-churchgoers and those who have recently become Christians. It was established at Holy Trinity Brompton twenty years ago and there are now more than 4000 Alpha courses all over the UK and overseas. At HTB, Alpha courses are held throughout the year and have over 500 people attending each week.

Alpha is for:

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Christian faith.
People of all ages are welcome.
Learning and laughter.
It is possible to learn about the Christian faith and have fun at the same time.
Pasta and pudding.
Eating a meal together gives people an opportunity to get to know each other.
Helping one another.
The small groups give you a chance to discuss issues raised in the talks.
Ask anything.
Alpha is a place where no question is regarded as too simple or hostile.

If you want to know more about Alpha, or to come along to an Alpha course, please fill in our visitor's book, and let us know.

Feedback

We asked: Why did you decide to do Alpha?

Replies:

To revise the basics
Curiosity
A need to go back to basics after many years as a Christian
To explore the Christian faith
To understand the Jesus-God relationship
To make the next step
To meet people and thought it couldn't do any harm
Haven't been to any sort of study group for a long time
Make me think more about my faith
Wanted to re-affirm to myself the various principles of Christianity
Thought it was a good way to get to know people
To deepen my faith and understanding
To explore the Christian faith further

How would you describe yourself now? (in terms of the Christian faith)

Revitalised
Christian (would not at the start of the course)
More committed, more time in prayer, more attendance at Church
Growing
More enlightened and still a believer
Further on
Refreshed
Some fundamentals of faith remembered

In what ways did you benefit from doing the Alpha course?

Able to revisit my faith
Able to get to know more people
New meaning to certain parts of the Bible
Helped me to actively read the bible more effectively, and to set aside more time to spend with God not using excuses (e.g. too busy)
more able to mention my faith outside Church
Started regular Bible reading/prayer on a daily basis
Got to know others
Kick-started me into re-evaluating where I am and what I'm doing
The start of more learning which I missed over the last couple of years
From the conversations I found most of the people I met are, like me, struggling to understand
Learned more about the Bible
Useful time to discuss questions, doubts etc
Improved friendships
Didn't realise how much I didn't know
The course has kept me searching and questioning and made me think
I met wonderful fellowship
I was allowed to talk, think, be still, listen if I wanted
I was able to understand how God moves through others and through me

What did you enjoy most about Alpha?

Meeting others
Social
Chance to discuss in a non-judgmental environment
Discussions
Listening  to various people's opinions on their Christian faith
The discussion and the food
Returning each week
Meals
People
Video

"I think the Alpha course will probably be of benefit to anyone who approaches it with a relatively open mind - regardless of the current state of their faith".

    Latest News

We have been running the Alpha course at Trinity for over 2½ years now. In fact the Alpha course is now being run in 7,000 churches in Britain, 15,000 worldwide, covering every Christian denomination. It is also run in 80 of our 170 universities and colleges and 120 out of 158 prisons.

A typical Alpha group would be a mix of folk who have done Alpha before (now ‘leading’ or ‘helping’) and those who are new (‘guests’). The leaders or helpers prepare food, set up the room and generally ‘host’ a dinner party, video and discussion evening.

We Need Your Prayers!

The Alpha Course 

 
We hope to be running another Alpha course here at Trinity soon.
The Alpha course is a structured programme of workshops, involving fun, food, fellowship, video and discussion, which makes up an engaging introduction to Christianity. While it was devised primarily for the non-churchgoer, it has also proved remarkably successful in giving a new dynamism to existing Christians.
 
Could Alpha be for you?
 
Are you available on one evening a week to find out more about yourself whilst finding out more about Christianity.
Do you struggle with the big questions of life, would you like to explore some answers?
Are you a Christian with questions and gaps in your knowledge that you'd like address?
Are you disillusioned with Church? Receive a warm welcome on the Alpha course.
Would you like to meet and get to know some more people at Trinity?
Have you done the Alpha course before, and can you help in making next term's course successful? If you have done Alpha before you are well qualified to be some kind of helper - from washing up, to babysitting, to driving, to greeting, or being a discussion facilitator..
 
Could Alpha be for someone you know?
 
Can you invite someone to come to Alpha? (tempt them with offers of food, laughter and merriment!) Do you know someone whose faith battery is low, and could do with a recharge?
Perhaps someone you know needs proof of God's existence - be that proof - bring them to the Alpha course.
 
Please send your details via our visitors book in the 'Visitors' section and we'll get back to you.
 

This page was last amended on 08 December, 2008 . Please comment via the visitor's book with any comments you have about this page