We encourage churches to provide more interactive experiences for guests to continue their faith journey. Here are some ideas, and scroll below for links to specific resources:
1. Invite guests to serve on the next Alpha team.
Over the years, we have seen Alpha guests serve as helpers, and many become empowered to serve as Alpha hosts! Recommend a role that best matches their interests and gifts (technical help, kitchen team, small group helper etc).
Top Tip 💡Consider running Alpha again but in a different context. Sometimes guests feel more comfortable meeting in a neutral setting than in a church. Alpha has been run with great success in coffee shops, a gym, a motorcycle shop, community centres, a hockey rink, etc. Where is God calling you?
2. Invite Alpha guests to join a small group/home group.
Look for ways to provide the same environment that guests enjoyed while attending Alpha – like fun, talk, discussion, and prayer. Meet every week (or two) on the same day and time for consistency and provide an atmosphere that is casual and friendly.
3. Plan social events together.
Encourage Alpha guests to exchange contact information and to meet together regularly. Help them connect with people who have the same interests. Meet up for coffee or plan an outdoor weekend activity like a hike or BBQ.
4. Attend Sunday service together.
If Alpha participants are not churchgoers, small group hosts can suggest meeting up and going as a group so it is less intimidating. Introduce them to your friends and go for coffee afterwards to discuss their experience at the church service.
5. Keep guests connected.
If you or your church are active on social media, invite your guests to stay connected so they know what’s happening in your church community. Ask if guests want to be part of a Whatsapp group to keep in touch. Follow Alpha Canada on social media for updates (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).
6. Chat with your pastor or leadership team about your church's discipleship strategy. There are many one or two-year discipleship programs to help Alpha guests get connected and grounded in the church community.
On average, you will need to run Alpha 7 times to work out how Alpha fits your context. It also takes about this long for the percentage of non-churchgoing guests to exceed the percentage of churchgoing guests.
Over time, running Alpha will spark an even greater culture of hospitality and invitation as new leaders are empowered and God does something new in your church! (Run Alpha Handbook, p. 59)
Resources that churches have used after Alpha:
4 episodes: Life Shared Series (for Christian adults)
4 episodes: Life on Purpose (for Christian youth)
5-week course: The Unanswered Prayer Course
5-week course: The Pre-Marriage Course
7-week course: The Marriage Course
8-week course: The Prayer Course
8-week course: The Sanctuary Course (mental wellness)
9-week course: Life Revealed (Bible resource for teens)
10-week course: A Life Worth Living (online only)
26-week study: The Bible Project (New Testament overview)
For more discipleship resources, please check with your pastoral leadership, local Christian bookstore, and online Christian resources.
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