What Does It Take To Run Alpha?

The following is an overview of what you need to start an Alpha course.

Prayer
Guests	Think about who you will invite to your Alpha course. Most churches start by inviting members of their congregations.
Administrator	Someone needs to coordinate course logistics such as: setting dates and times, finding a venue, coordinating meals, advertising the course, registering guests, establishing leaders, helpers and musicians, coordinating training, ordering materials and organizing the course retreat.
Leaders and Helpers	At least two people are needed to lead and help each small group. Also, you might want someone to give the session talks; however, many courses use the Alpha DVDs instead (especially when starting a new course.)
Course materials	Basic course materials (such as the Alpha DVDs, guest and leader guides, and training resources) are found in the Just Beginning Kit. These and other resources can be ordered through the Alpha Resources website.
Meeting place	Someplace where you can share a meal and easily divide into small groups for discussion.
Meals/cooks	Sharing meals helps Alpha guests to feel relaxed and build relationships. Many churches ask people in their congregation to provide 1-2 meals for the Alpha course. You might ask people to donate the meals, or you might reimburse them for the costs. Depending on the size of your course, you may also need a task force to set up and clean up each week.
Music	Some courses have live musicians lead the short music time each week; others use CDs.
Retreat arrangements	The Alpha weekend or day retreat is a key part of the course. You’ll need a retreat place (with meals and sleeping arrangements).

Next: How much does it cost to run Alpha? >>>