Weekend Participation

How can we get more participation on our Alpha Weekend?

It's important to introduce the Alpha Weekend or Day early and gradually.

• Be sure to include the Weekend on your Course Schedule hand-out.
  

• Start talking about the Weekend early. You can begin on Week #1 (Who is Jesus?) with just a simple "save the date" announcement. 
  

• Continue to mention the Weekend in your announcements every week, placing a little more emphasis on it as the weeks progress. 
  

• Coach the Small Group Leaders to talk about the Weekend to their groups, and perhaps ask their Helper to say a few words about his/her previous Weekend experience. 
  

• A week or two before the sign-up deadline you might do a short interview with someone who has had a positive experience on a previous Weekend. Choose someone with whom the guests can identify, and who won't say anything that might scare the guests off.
  

• Finally, some courses show a short video or slide show of a previous Weekend. A picture is worth a thousand words, and being able to see the location and the happy faces of Weekend guests can do a lot to remove fears and reservations.

…And call it the Alpha Weekend (or Alpha Day) - don't call it the "Weekend Away on the Holy Spirit." That can sound a bit scary to a never-churched Alpha guest!