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 Alpha: A Holistic Approach
By Todd Hunter, Board Member and Consultant, Alpha USA, and noted speaker on evangelism and culture
During an Alpha leaders’ meeting not long ago, I stood at the doorway to the sanctuary at Holy Trinity Brompton, Alpha’s home church in London. My eyes took in the most heart-warming sight: hundreds of people from every corner of the earth. Like the book of Revelation says, there were people from “every tribe and nation,” all dressed in the fabrics and colors of their culture. It was a great snapshot of what the whole church looks like.
When I was first interviewed by a media outlet upon my appointment as national director of Alpha, I said something like:
“The Alpha Course is the most holistic approach to evangelism available to local churches. While covering sin, the cross, the resurrection and the like, through talks on the Bible, prayer, the church, and the person and work of the Holy Spirit, Alpha also shows seekers that being a Christian is about a new kind of life in this life, not just the life to come.”
In the three years since that interview, my initial observation has proven to be even more spot-on. A holistic view of life underlies Alpha.
Tory Baucum, a pastor and friend, suggests that the Alpha Course is unique and impressive because it marries sound theology with relational community. This, to me, epitomizes wholeness, or a holistic approach. We focus on the big picture — on all parts of our faith — which makes us ecumenical without even trying.
We simply see the body of Christ as one. This is not an initiative, or special focus. It is intuitive. It is inherent in the Alpha DNA. Alpha is holistic in its message as well. This is hugely important.
Evangelism should never give a seeker the idea that being a Christian is merely about going to heaven when they die. That kind of thinking has made modern-day discipleship almost impossible. Alpha, however, gives seekers a vision for life in the Spirit, not simply for life after death.
Finally, Alpha is holistic in its approach. It mixes 15 talks from the Bible with conversation that is intellectually, emotionally and relationally honest. The talks and the conversations work in tandem, sparked by the work of the Holy Spirit.
When people’s deepest questions and concern of life are listened to in the context of Christian hospitality, guided by the Spirit, then you have an ancient-and-yet-future formula for effective evangelism. |
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