Frequently asked Questions
1. Can we invite students at the nearby university on our congregation's Alpha Course?
2. How can we shorten the typical Alpha evening?
3. What does a TYPICAL EVENING look like?
4. Can I run the course in one semester?
5. Can you give us some suggestions for running a DAY AWAY rather than a weekend retreat?
6. How can we lower the cost of the course and the 'WEEKEND AWAY?'
7. What are the most popular VENUES for running the course for students?
8. What are the most common approaches to doing the FOOD?
9. What are the most significant elements in running a fruitful Alpha Course for university students?
10. What is the PATHWAYS program and how can I get a discount on Alpha resources?
11. Is Alpha successful with international students?
1. Can we invite students at the nearby university on our congregation’s Alpha Course?
Yes! Many congregations like Holy Trinity Brompton (where Alpha began) are inviting students on their course. In most cases it is best to keep students in their own small group and to have students leading and helping in the group. The course will attract more students if the small group is completely composed of peers. There are exceptions. Many students enjoy interacting with older adults who are taking the course. This is particularly true of international students.
However, we would love to help you get Alpha on campus and work out a creative strategy to engage the campus. Please email Dave Short to see how we can help.
2. How can we shorten the typical Alpha evening?
The two ways that the evening can be shortened is by allowing less time for the food and to shorten the talk. With our new 25 minute long, 7 week course videos you should have no problem.
3. What does a typical evening look like?
6:00 pm Preparation and Prayer (Administrative details and praying over the topic)
6:30 pm Food and Conversation (Keep the conversation light and positive)
7:00 pm Welcome (This should contain some wholesome humor and an overview of
the evening)
7:10 pm The Talk (Either the video or a live Alpha talk)
7:40 pm Break (Transition into small groups with refreshments and desserts; i.e.
coffee and donut holes:-)
7:45 pm Small groups (Discussion-led conversation over the talk; no pressure
atmosphere)
8:30 pm Finish (End on time! Guests are invited back and free to leave)
8:45 pm (Optional) Hosts and helpers on the course discuss the evening; positives
and negatives. This is optional but very helpful for the leaders!!
4. Can I run the course in one semester?
Yes, because of our brand new 7 week Campus Alpha course videos it is possible to make Alpha fit into a normal semester. Promote your course using our flyers and postcards, hold your launch party, run your course including a day or weekend away. All doable within a semester.
5. Can you give us some suggestions for running a day rather than a weekend retreat?
The following is a typical agenda for a Day Away.
10:00 a.m. Arrive, registration and coffee
10:30 a.m. Welcome/Introductions and Worship
10:45 a.m Talk 1 - Who is the Holy Spirit?
11:15 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. Small group discussion
12:15 a.m. Lunch?
1:00 p.m. Talk 2 - How To Be Filled w/the Holy
Spirit
2:30 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. Talk 3 - How Does God Guide Us?
4:30 p.m. Final (Journal down what God has been saying to you during the
weekend; get in groups and ask the question, What's one risk
you can tak this week to make the world a better place
or yourself a better person?")
5 - 5:30 Finish
Additional items:
6. How can we lower the cost of the course and the weekend retreat?
Many students approach their contacts with local churches to help underwrite the course. Our partners in Scotland have found that using an adopt-a-student approach to funding the course has worked quite effectively.
Students involved in one course sent a letter to other churches running Alpha asking for resources (cooks, promo materials, guest manuals, etc.) with a promise to promote the churches involved and encourage students to attend those churches after the course. The response was overwhelming.
Many campus courses have found it very productive to partner with a congregation running the Alpha Course. Congregations often provide money to support the weekend or an available venue from within the congregation. For example, it is not uncommon for a member in an Alpha congregation with a vacation home to make it available to a campus group.
7. What are the most popular venues for running the course for students?
The most popular venues for running fruitful courses are totally unrelated to the organized church. Coffee houses off campus, local restaurants, bookstores, apartments and faculty homes are some of the most popular venues. In the UK, the pub has been an important venue for non-Christian students who would never enter a church building. The best advice, select a site where students congregate.
8. What are the most common approaches to doing the food?
Most courses provide a full meal for students. In some cases students prepare their own food and in some cases the food is prepared by others and brought to the venue. Many course administrators have contacted local churches running Alpha and ask if they would be willing to furnish a meal. Many have agreed to support a campus course in that way. Some courses offer dessert. This is especially true if a university requires students to participate in a meal plan.
Some courses seek out individuals within their local church to "adopt-a-student." If you estimate that it might cost $5 a meal and you are running a 7-week course then ask people if they would be willing to donate $35 per student. Just be sure to send an update following the course to those who invested in the meals!
Some courses have found success by running the course later in the evening (i.e. 9pm - 11:30) and offering some significant finger food or lots of salsa and chips :-) This way you can keep the costs down. Having some relational time and being together is the key.
9. What are the most significant elements in running a fruitful Alpha Course for university students?
Our experience has shown that there are five factors that most fruitful courses share.
1. Conducting the small group time according to the Alpha model. It is extremely important for the Small Group Leader or Host to refrain from teaching or making another talk in the small group. We have supplied Training Videos just for that purpose.
2. Devoting at least a day and a half for the weekend retreat and to find a venue off campus (NOTE: our example in #5 has a schedule for a single day away)
3. Understanding the importance of ministry on the course and allowing a significant time for ministry on the weekend retreat.
4. Making a long term commitment to the course despite the challenge of student turnover.
5. Allowing time for food and conversation. It's during these informal times that relationships are really built and wall begin to come down.
10. What is the Pathways Scholarship program and how can I get a discount on Alpha resources?
Pathways is a new program by Alpha USA whereby a qualified student group may get up to 100% of their resources subsidized.
After you select a team and have chosen a date for your course to begin, write the Campus Alpha National Coordinator, Dave Short who will confirm the start of your Alpha Course and send you a Pathways application. Once the application is filled out and returned, the information will be submitted to Alpha USA. After the details have been approved and added, you will be contacted by Alpha USA and given further instructions.
11. Is Alpha successful with international students?
Yes! Alpha has been extremely successful with international students especially those from Southeast Asia. In fact, one out of every five courses currently running on campus is being run for Chinese students or has a few Chinese students on the course. Alpha has been a very valuable tool for local congregations using Alpha to reach out to international students on nearby campuses.
Another popular resource for reaching internationals is Alpha for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
|
Register/Update a Course
Contact Us
