ALPHA
What
is Alpha?
Everyone
is welcome on an Alpha course and people attend for a wide variety
of reasons. Some want to investigate whether God exists and if
there is any point to life; others are concerned about what happens
after death. Still others may have attended church on and off
all their lives but feel they have never really understood the
basics of the Christian faith.
People come from many different backgrounds, holding many different
viewpoints - but all come with the same objective: to establish
whether Jesus Christ has any real relevance for their lives.
Alpha is a ten-week opportunity to explore the validity and relevance
of the Christian faith for our lives today. It is a practical
introduction to the basics of Christianity with loads of opportunity
for debate and discussion. The style of Alpha is informal, friendly
and non-pressured - a style which seems to be appreciated in Canadian
culture.
Alpha
is enjoyed and appreciated as much by those who have never set
foot in a church as it is by those who once attended and by the
regular churchgoer. No matter what their background, whether investigating
Christianity for the first time or revisiting their faith, participants
get a lot out of an Alpha Course.
Each
week people meet together for a meal, a talk on topics such as
"Who is Jesus?", "Why Did Jesus Die?", "How
Can I be Sure of My Faith?", and "Does God Still Heal
Today?" , followed by small group interaction. There is a
day retreat midway through the course which focuses on the person
and work of the Holy Spirit.
