Now, four Alpha courses later, we are amazed at the way in which God continues to impact the lives of people through this every effective evangelism tool. While Alpha is not a quick fix, it can be a strong component in a congregation’s wider strategy to reach new people for Christ.

Consider these evangelistic strengths of the Alpha program, which:

• Finds its foundation in a holistic understanding of evangelism;
• Relies upon the ministry of prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit;
• Takes seriously the role of the laity and provides training opportunities for greater effectiveness and comfort in sharing faith;
• Enables the local church, rather than just isolated individuals, to engage together in the work of evangelism;
• Treats the seeker with complete dignity and respect, allowing time and space for faith exploration at an individual pace without any pressure;
• Creates a natural bridge between the world and the church, making the transition somewhat easier for those skeptical about or unacquainted with institutional religion;
• Addresses effectively the need of post-modern adults to feel and experience in order to know;
• Presents the central truths of the Christian faith in an intelligent and personal manner; and
• Encourages new Christians to share their faith and enthusiasm with built-in opportunities to invite friends and to become involved.

Can Alpha work in your church? The people of First Baptist, Bloomington, Ill., answer, “YES!”

If you want to find out more about Alpha, attend one of the Alpha Conferences with key leaders in your congregation. If you have questions about our experience of Alpha, send me an e-mail at spencer@fbcblm.org.

Spencer Gillespie, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Bloomington IL
Church website: http://www.fbcblm.org
Pastor's email: spencer@fbcblm.org