The Alpha effect
OTTAWA, ON—Eighteen years after its Canadian launch, the Alpha course is still gaining momentum and transforming lives. The course, which creates a safe environment for open dialogue about faith, is helping churches reach out and engage the culture beyond their walls.
"Alpha is a tool for churches, like a hammer for a carpenter," says Carl Santos, Ontario regional director of Alpha Canada. "Our mandate is to support local churches."
Santos says pinpointing exactly how many people become Christians through the Alpha course is difficult, but church surveys suggest 80 per cent of non-believing participants are still involved in a local church a year later.
"The program brings participants to a point of crisis where they have to confront how they are living," says Santos, who became a Christian through the course in 2001. "I had my life planned out. Becoming a Christian turned my life completely around."
Santos' experience set off a chain reaction. His father-in-law decided to see what Alpha was all about. When he too became a believer, other family members joined courses and became Christians, as well.
"Through Alpha, I grew to understand the gospel," says Sherri Towaij, whose family was also dramatically impacted by the course. "Alpha explained it very clearly and answered the questions I had. It was a great starting point to find out about the Lord."
After the course, Towaij joined a church where she felt at home and grew in her faith. She started praying for her husband and brought her daughter to Sunday school. In the following months, her husband decided to follow Christ and is now a successful Christian musician. Their daughter leads a Bible study in her high school.
"There are people who come to church who are seekers," says Towaij. "Just sitting in a big church, hearing the message, you often don't connect with it. It's invaluable that [participants] meet other new believers, have fellowship, and grow in their faith together."
Shirley Kennedy got involved with Alpha just after she became a Christian. An acquaintance invited her to a Bible study and then to a Billy Graham crusade. Shortly after the crusade, her church offered the Alpha program.
"Alpha brought fellowship to our group and church," Kennedy states. "It's such a positive atmosphere. It allowed me to meet many people one on one."
The Alpha course also features a weekend retreat where Kennedy says those bonds grew much stronger. After the Alpha course, Kennedy became very involved in her church and gained a whole new confidence.
"I finally understood what it meant that Jesus died for our sins," she relates. "I learned to pray with meaning and how to express my beliefs in public."
Santos explains that, "Alpha lets you come to your own conclusions. You end up owning your own faith."
Alpha Canada is currently in the midst of production for a new film series for youth. The program launches in September with more than 5,000 youth participating in hundreds of courses across the country.
"The programs will meet youth where they are, in a laid-back, culture sensitive way," says Santos. "Any time we make Christ more known, we are going to benefit Canada."
Alpha by the numbers
• 533,000 Canadians have taken the Alpha course over the last 18 years.
• 29,000 Canadians took the course last year.
• More than 7,800 volunteers helped with Alpha courses last year.
• This year, almost 500 courses are registered in Ontario alone—a 25 per cent increase from last year.
• Churches in Alberta are aiming to host 30,000 participants, this year.
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
