by Bill Nagel, Deacon and member of the Alpha Planning Team

If you have attended Bethany for very long, you've heard about Alpha, and if you've been to Church recently, you've likely also heard the inspiring testimonials that have been given by past Alpha-goers. Still, if you haven't actually been involved in Alpha before you're probably asking yourself just what Alpha is all about, and whether it something that God is asking you to be a part of.

Alpha is a 12-week course that introduces people to Christianity in a safe environment where they can ask questions and express concerns without judgment or criticism. Each session starts with an (always excellent) dinner, followed by music and a videotaped talk by Alpha founder Nicky Gumbel on a thought provoking topic, that centers around the basic tenets of what it means to be Christian. After the talk, everyone splits into groups of 6-8 for a discussion. Often these small-groups focus on the evening's presentation, but it's really just an opportunity to discuss, maybe debate a bit, and most of all "ask anything."

So where do you fit in? Alpha is as much fellowship and hospitality as it is evangelism and teaching. In fact, hospitality and fellowship may just be the keys to why Alpha has been so effective at introducing people to Jesus. Non-Christians may find it difficult to trust Christ if they can't trust a Christian, and even those who are Christian but lack a church home can find it difficult to get back into things without a personal human connection. Because the format is designed to be friendly, welcoming, and pressure-free, Alpha can be a great place for trust and friendships to form.

For members of the Bethany family, there are several different ways that you can be part of Alpha. The first is to just attend and be part of the course. Even better would be to invite a friend to join you. If you've already gone through Alpha, or even if you haven't but would like to have a more hands-on level of involvement, you can volunteer for one of the many roles that are crucial to Alpha being a success. Lead a group---we'll teach you everything you need to know. Make a meal, or just help to cook it or clean it up. Help out with child care.

I've heard Alpha described as "Christianity 101", which is somewhat true, but that doesn't mean that it's only for new Christians or non-Christians. When my wife and I first started attending Bethany, we were new to Seattle and knew very few people. We first heard about Alpha via a testimonial during worship service. My wife, Sara, thought it sounded like a great way to get to know some people in the church, and though I was a bit skeptical I agreed to give it a try. Although we had both grown up in Church and were committed Christians, we found the experience to be a deeply moving and spiritually nourishing. We also met some of our closest Bethany friends there. So come. Bring a friend. It could change their life…and yours.

Alpha starts February 4th. If you are interested in more information, or if you feel God is calling you to play a part, you can email alpha@bethanypc.org, or even join the Alpha Facebook group: alpha@bethany.