Re-Energize Your Alpha Team

by Gerard Long

As we develop our plans for the Alpha courses in the fall, there is one thing in particular that the Lord will be looking for – our faith. Without faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb 11:6) and it’s our faith that brings victory (1 John 5:4). Faith releases the Kingdom of God and unbelief stifles it. It’s not faith in any old thing, it’s faith in our Lord Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the one who is with us and who goes before us.

And so as you gather your Alpha team together for a new campaign to spread the Gospel through Alpha, remember to ask each other, ‘where is your faith?’ and, if it’s waning, help to encourage one another and build yourselves up in your most holy faith, Jude 20. And there are lots of things to be encouraged about because God is blessing Alpha with some wonderful fruit, including:

28 cities are now planning to run an Alpha Invitation and in our pilot location (Lake County, IL) we have seen a 400% increase in Alpha churches;
Thousands of new courses are starting in the fall inspired, in part, by the outstanding success of our Converge conference in June. This includes 800 courses starting at a church in Muncie, IN (i.e. through the home groups)!!;
Wonderful partnerships are developing with other parts of God’s Body, including Moody Broadcasting, Wheaton, Trinity and many other seminaries, the Luis Palau Association, Harvest Unlimited, Young Life and many others; and
God is bringing to us some outstanding people who will be leading new regional teams across America.

The Lord is doing a great work with Alpha and there are lots of things to encourage us and to stir our faith. As your team prepares for the next Alpha course, please remind each other who goes before us and the wonderful fruit He is brining. Expect big things because we have an awesome King – Eph 3:20,21.

With much love

Gerard