Quick links:
Youth Alpha
Alpha in the Workplace
Alpha in the Township
Alpha for Prisons
Student Alpha
Alpha for Forces
Alpha for Catholics
Alpha for Seniors
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Youth Alpha
Looking for answers?
The Youth Alpha Course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed, non-threatening way over ten thought-provoking sessions.
It's low key, friendly and fun. You get to ask any questions you want and chat through the issues in a place where your views are respected. You're not on your own either. More than 16 million people around the world have done the Alpha course in churches, homes, schools, youth groups, universities and prisons.
So why not come check it out? There's a Youth Alpha course running somewhere near you.
Who is it for?
Anyone 11-18 years old. Basically, if you're interested in getting some of life's big questions sorted, and want to work out what you believe for yourself, then come along.
How much does it cost?
The good news that it's FREE!
The course itself won't cost you a penny, although you may be asked to make a small donation for the food and weekend or day away. But if you are totally strapped for cash, we don't want that to put you off - just come along anyway.
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Alpha in the Workplace
Have you ever felt like you spend more time with your work colleague than your best friend? We spend on average 40 hrs a week with our colleagues, who often are people we might not normally cross paths with. Sometimes we end up wanting to understand more about their views, which is where the Alpha Course is brilliant. Even still, by the time the day is done, the last thing you want to do is spend an evening with the person you've spent all day with (as much as we love them).
That's why we have Alpha in the Workplace.
An Alpha in the Workplace course is designed to sandwich nicely into your normal working day. Most run in an hour either during lunch or after work when you'd normally have a drink or end of day meeting. Some are run in your office meeting room, others in a neutral venue nearby. Yet it retains the aspects that famously make Alpha so special: it's sociable, informative and you most certainly will have the chance to give your opinion or question what has been covered.
If you've ever thought about exploring the bigger questions of life, in particular if there is more to life than work, the Alpha course is a great way to find out about real Christianity in a relaxed, non-threatening manner over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions.
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Alpha in the Township Context
Alpha in a township context is the same course and is done in mostly the same way as in other contexts. The program is run for 10 weeks and there is also a weekend away. The only difference that one can experience in the township context is that the course is usually run on a Saturday afternoon. We only serve a full meal on the first day of the Alpha course and at the end of the course as a celebration. During the other weeks of the course we serve tea and biscuits or sandwiches.
The Nicky Gumble DVD may not be as appropriate in a township context especially where we are hosting older people because the British accent and humour sometimes makes it difficult for guests to understand. The solution here is live talks.
Live talks are great for the township context as the speaker is able to use different spoken languages in the area at the same time to accommodate all the guests.
Live talks are definitely preferable to the DVD's at this stage - but it must done by a person who is trained to present a live talk. Alpha can assist with this training.
Says Josephine, Alpha in the Township coordinator, "The crucial thing for the township is that the host must be very sensitive to issues of culture as we are working with a lot of different groups and we have learnt that to help them to come to Christ we must respect where they come from by being polite and sensitive."
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Alpha for Prisons
Alpha for Prisons was launched in 1995 in response to demand from offenders. Since then enthusiasm for Alpha for Prisons has grown. It is now registered in 25% of the correctional centres in South Africa as well as running in the centres of over 74 countries on all the continents around the world. The course is run successfully in all types of correctional institutions for both men and women and is also used in young offenders and juvenile institutions.
The Alpha course is normally run over a period of ten weeks, although it can be presented over a shorter or longer period of time depending on the specific centre. At each session there is a chance for fellowship over snacks and drinks followed by the talk. After the talk, participants divide into pre-arranged groups - each group has two leaders and two helpers who may have completed a previous course, or be correctional centre staff or volunteers.
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Student Alpha
Student Alpha is a seven-week course introducing people to the Christian faith.
Over the last ten years Student Alpha has proved to be one of the most effective tools for university students and young adults to explore the Christian faith, with over 600 courses now running worldwide. Its simple format has seen courses run everywhere from churches and halls, to McDonalds restaurants, coffee shops and night clubs! It contains the same material as ‘classic' Alpha, except that it's been ‘squeezed' (into seven weeks), ‘squashed' (into thirty minute talks) and ‘spiced' (with multi-media ingredients).
Talks include:
Launch Party: IS THIS IT?
Week 1: WHO IS JESUS?
Week 2: WHY DID JESUS DIE?
Week 3: HOW CAN I HAVE FAITH?
Week 4: WHY & HOW SHOULD I PRAY?
Week 5: WHY & HOW SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE?
Weekend talk 1: WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT & WHAT DOES HE DO?
Weekend talk 2: HOW CAN I BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Weekend talk 3: HOW DOES GOD GUIDE ME TO MAKE THE MOST OF MY LIFE?
Week 6: WHAT ABOUT EVIL & DOES GOD HEAL TODAY?
Week 7: WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH & TELLING OTHERS?
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 25can attend a Student Alpha course.
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Alpha for Forces?
Given some of the unique facets of military life, such as the constant movement of personnel, the difficult conditions on operations, and the relatively closed community, it is necessary to tailor specific support for those running Alpha for Forces. Alpha has spread rapidly across the world in the civilian church context, with over 33 000 courses now running around the world. Our vision is to provide every member of the Armed Forces in South Africa with the opportunity to attend an Alpha Course.
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Alpha in a Catholic Context
The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed manner over ten, thought-provoking weekly sessions. It also serves as a refresher course for practicing Catholics or for those who have lapsed in their faith and want to clarify their thoughts about belief. It is run in thousands of Catholic parishes around the world, hosted either by the parish priest or a lay member of the parish.
Alpha is an effective initial presentation of the core of the Gospel, ‘the Kerygma'. It is wholly compatible with Catholic teaching, its name is most appropriate as it is the beginning of faith.
Not a substitute for catechetical programs, Alpha works best as part of an ongoing process of evangelization and catechesis within a parish.
Benefits for the parish
Alpha helps to reach the unchurched and the lapsed
Alpha feeds adult education programs (such as RCIA)
Alpha encourages people to become active in the life of the parish
Alpha provides a witness to Christian unity
Alpha builds community - friendships grow
Alpha builds outward looking parishes
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Alpha for Seniors
Senior Alpha is Alpha tailored to the 65 and above generation. Whatever views you may have about the Christian faith, Senior Alpha will give you an opportunity, together with people who are at the same stage in life and experiencing the same things, to explore the meaning of life. You may have attended church for much of your life but don't really understand what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Come on a small group and discover what that means. You don't have to have all the questions worked out. This is the place to ask all the questions you have in a friendly and non-threatening atmosphere. No question is too small or too big.
Senior Alpha follows the same format as Classic Alpha - running over a period of 10 weeks with each meeting consisting of a meal, a brief talk and group discussion. We have large print Guest manuals with all the Bible verses printed out and in ring bound design. Courses are run in churches, people's homes, in sheltered accommodation and residential homes.
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