The Alpha Course

Accelerate (UK only)

Accelerate is a regional Alpha Conference held in the UK over a day or evening, ideally once a year. Accelerate events help to equip churches in your region to run effective Alpha courses and provides an opportunity to hear about Alpha related ministries.

They facilitate the sharing of local experience, encourage prayer for the region and allow time for personal prayer ministry and commissioning.

For more information about hosting Accelerate in your area, please contact the Alpha team or call 020 7052 0484.

Alpha open meeting

An open meeting brings churches in a particular region together to find out more about Alpha. For some churches that have not run Alpha before, an open meeting will help them discover the vision behind Alpha, and explore the practicalities of running the course. For other churches, who have run Alpha, an open meeting is an opportunity to share ideas and experiences, and to broaden the vision for Alpha and its related ministries in their area.

Alpha party or launch

An Alpha course launch event is for people to invite their friends to, acting as a taster of the Alpha course before people commit to doing the course.

Launch events can take different forms, e.g: informal drinks party, curry night or a comedy evening; all with same purpose, to get the course started with a bang!

This is an easy way to bring non-Christian friends and introduce them to the feel and style of Alpha, offering an invitation to come to the next Alpha course.

A celebration party, usually held at the end of the course, can act as the launch for the next Alpha course as well.

Alpha weekend or day

Usually held in the middle of the course, the weekend or day away is a crucial component of Alpha. Ordinarily, the weekend or day will be held away from the usual Alpha venue, perhaps at a retreat centre or holiday camp.

It provides guests with the opportunity to explore the person and work of the Holy Spirit, experience prayer ministry, and generally relax and have fun away from home with their small group buddies.

Global Alpha Training (GAT)

Global Alpha Training (GAT) is localised training delivered in a localised style. It has been designed to equip people from churches that run Alpha courses to train others where there is a training need:

• wherever there is a training need around the world, at home or abroad (Alpha-matched)
• with mission partners in other countries (Self-matched)
• across their own country, or in their own town or city (Local GAT)

GAT is for anyone passionate about Alpha, passionate about mission and passionate about travel. Get involved and see the difference you can make around the world. 

Host / leaders training

Three sessions preparing your Alpha hosts & helpers to run a great course:

Session 1

Covers 'Hosting Small Groups', and explores how to make guests feel welcome, the dynamics of the small group, how to facilitate discussion, and how to train others to host.

Session 2

Covers 'Pastoral Care on Alpha', and explores the aim of the small group, how to encourage guests to build friendships, and what is expected of you as an Alpha host.

Session 3

Covers 'Prayer Ministry on Alpha', and explores the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the method of prayer ministry used on Alpha.

Prayer meeting

A local or regional event where a church or a group of churches get together to pray specifically for Alpha in their area.