When:        Wednesdays  April – June 2012 (10 week course)

                   Alpha Launch Dinner- March 28^th 2012

Time:          7.00 pm

Where:       Kilsyth South Baptist Church, Liverpool Road, Kilsyth South.

Telephone No:  9762 8954 for more information or to sign up for the course

In Australia, around 2,000 churches of all denominations offer Alpha Courses as a practical introduction to the Christian faith. As a result, every year literally thousands of people come to faith in Jesus Christ!

The Alpha Course is a 15-session program run over 10 weeks, including  a launch dinner, and a weekend or a day away. Each session includes a meal, a talk by Nicky Gumbal on DVD and a small group discussion. Core topics include Who is Jesus?, Why Did Jesus Die?, Prayer, The Bible, Guidance, and How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?

In the small group discussion, each person is free to ask whatever questions they have and express whatever views they wish. Everyone’s views are respected, and emphasis is put on allowing guests to explore at their own pace. A team of two or three ‘hosts’ and ‘helpers’ from the church are attached to each group to facilitate the discussion.

A note from The Reverend Sandy Millar (a pioneer of the Alpha Course)

Questions about God have fascinated human beings since time began. Many men and women today experience a very real sense of spiritual hunger without having any contact with a church.

This I think is one of the reasons why the Alpha Course has proved to be so popular in such a wide variety of countries and cultures. The issues are clearly put and the claims of Christ examined – all in the company of other searchers. Stripping the gospel down to its bare essentials, it makes Christianity accessible to men and women of today’s culture. It is not of course simply hard work which has brought about the growth of Alpha – although there has been plenty of that. The teaching and the experience of the Holy Spirit has brought the course to life from beginning to end. By revealing the power of Jesus Christ to forgive, release, empower and equip, many people have found the reality of God’s love and become committed to Jesus Christ.

If you are wondering whether to start an Alpha Course I would encourage you in every way I can to have a go. Most people who start do so with a lot of questions and a good deal of hesitancy about their own abilities.

What some people have said about Alpha

“I believe that every person that is seeking to know more about the Lord Jesus and His plan and purpose for our life, should be given the opportunity to complete Alpha.”

“Alpha explains a lot of things and I get to listen to people talking about a lot of different topics.  I feel comfortable as nothing is forced on you, except the large dinners every time you go.”

“It was good in this relaxed environment to interact together and for each person to be invited, and encouraged, to share from the richness of their life experience, and how they uniquely saw and understood things.”   

”What alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions, – life and death and their meaning.”

“Many claim Alpha has changed their lives and appear genuinely happier for the experience.”

“Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life.”

A TYPICAL ALPHA EVENING

7pm Dinner

The guests begin to arrive a meal is served.
Eating together is an essential part of the course as it gives people the chance to get to know each other in a relaxed way.

7.40pm Welcome

7.45pm Talk – DVD presentation by Nicky Gumbal (Course Author)

8.30 pm Small Group Discussion

Coffee is served and people split into pre-arranged small groups, which they stay in for the duration of the course to discuss the talk, this is also where everyone is welcome to contribute their opinion, ask questions and discuss with the rest of the group.

9.15 pm  Come back together again to finish the evening and pray.

Interested in doing the Alpha Course?  -  please contact:

Roger and Sheila Rankcom      Telephone No.  9728 1229
Church Office                            Telephone No.  9762 8954

For more information go to the Alpha website:  www.alpha.org.au