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About the Network of Alpha Churches
The Network of Churches is not just a good idea...
It has evolved from a group of Pastors who have become the heart of the Alpha Regional Leadership team. They believe passionately in the importance of the local church as the heart of Alpha and its evangelistic effectiveness. Here are the five main reasons why we think that Network of Alpha Churches is God’s way forward for our movement.
1. We want to do what we see the Father doing.
Biblically, God is in the business of making “a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). Jesus is building his Church. In the West, we see life from a very individualistic standpoint and often our evangelistic strategies have reflected that. This is not to belittle the transformation of individual lives but to see them in their wider Biblical context of God’s plans for the Church. Our strategies and organizational models should reflect God’s plans and purposes for His world.
2. We believe in the strategic value of the local church.
The first New Testament principle on which Alpha is based is that “Evangelism is most effective through the local church.” We cover this principle during the first talk at an Alpha training event. The Network is an attempt to give an organizational framework for that principle.
3. We love the whole Church.
One of the hallmarks of Alpha has been its ecumenical spread. Alpha is for the whole Church. To have a Network of Churches joining together across denominational and regional divides to reach a nation for Christ is, we believe, a wonderful expression of Alpha and Kingdom DNA.
4. Alpha is a great model for “doing church.”
Sandy Millar, co-founder of Alpha, has often described Alpha as “modeling the church we’ve always wanted to have.” Alpha is more than just a great evangelistic tool and it can help churches make the paradigm shift we need to make to be effective in the 21st century.
Centering the Network on healthy, lively churches that exhibit Alpha’s DNA will not only help churches do evangelism better, it will also give them a model for doing church better.
5. We believe a network approach is the most effective methodology.
A successful Alpha course happens when individuals, whose lives have been touched, bring their friends on a future Alpha. As Nicky Gumbel often puts it, “People are invited by their friends; they come to know Christ; they are filled with His Spirit; they get excited about Jesus; and they bring their friends to the next course.”
Similarly the spread of Alpha has been primarily from church to church – one church that has been blessed by running the course telling another church. In the US this has been particularly true Pastor to Pastor.
The Network of Alpha churches has two primary practical functions:
• To be a means of spreading the word about Alpha from church to church, connecting churches to a wider movement;
• To be a way for churches to help other churches to do their courses better and better.
In short, our desire is not just to build our own churches but to build God’s Kingdom and to reach this nation for Christ one life and one church at a time.
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