ENI — Few churches see sustained growth as a result of Alpha courses, a new study argues, despite the popularity of this introduction to the essentials of Christianity.
Alpha's organisers claim that more than 8 million people worldwide have attended one of their courses through almost 40,000 churches.
But according to Andrew Brookes, editor of The Alpha Phenomenon, “Most Alpha churches only run the course five and a half times, and not enough to get serious outreach. I think this is an area which needs much more attention.”
The Alpha course was devised 30 years ago by Rev. Charles Marnham, then an Anglican curate in London. The course ran for four weeks and was for people who wanted to know more about Christianity.
Alpha now takes the form of a series of talks addressing key issues related to the Christian faith; each session begins with a meal and the course ends with a special celebration supper.
“The course in itself is not sufficient to sustain outreach, which requires a raft of other strategies to produce sustained growth,” says Brookes. These include greater lay participation through the development of what he calls pastorates, or groups of up to 30 people who meet once every two weeks for study and prayer, and to share a meal together.
Alpha is often seen as controversial. Critics say it offers a comfortable, individualistic version of the Christian faith, and particularly attracts affluent and professional young people.
