How exactly is the senior pastor supposed to make possible a great Alpha course?

I’d like to take a fresh run at that question by suggesting one uncommon way the word leader is used: a channel of water through a field of ice. We tend to think of leadership as setting the course or the aim of a congregation. Or we may think in more personal terms like being out front, setting off in a direction, etc. Those are all appropriate ways to think of leadership—and for sure that is what a congregation needs to keep going in evangelism—leadership.

 

Another way to use the term “lead” is the have the principal role in a dramatic production. Let’s put these two definitions together to create an effective role for the senior pastor to facilitate evangelism through the Alpha course.

 

To warm a body of believers, thus creating an opening in the ice for evangelism, the following practices come easily to mind: align the church to the Great Commission to make disciples. This is like an ice breaker ship - it will allow all else to then fall into place. Warm the church waters with your own stories of seeing people on the course come to faith. Tell funny stories on yourself about your ineptness at witnessing, and how much you therefore prefer the community approach of Alpha, etc. This warms and makes way for more water to follow because it says “anyone can participate in evangelism” through Alpha.

The senior pastor’s principal role in the Alpha story is as a cheerleading/facilitator, opening the ice so water can flow. Do this by giving Alpha a budget, give it priority in the church calendar, give it room space and pulpit space. All this adds up to creating a warm current for evangelism.