Running Alpha

Alpha is making an impact all over Ireland. Each year, Alpha allows thousands of people in churches, schools, and organisations across the country to have the opportunity to explore the Christian faith and discuss life and meaning with their family, friends and colleagues.

Getting Started

Alpha is a series of sessions, usually taking place over 10 weeks, which provide a safe space to discuss life, faith and meaning in an open, friendly and informal environment. We’ve made Alpha easy to run, with all the information you need in the Run Alpha Guide, which can be downloaded for free on this page.

“Alpha is an uncomplicated introduction to the person of Jesus and his message.”

— Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Waterford & Lismore Diocese

What does an Alpha Session look like?

Connection

All Alpha sessions start with a time to connect, relax and build friendships over a cup of tea or something to eat. Food is the ultimate icebreaker, and has a way of bringing people together.
Content

The talks/videos are designed to engage and inspire conversation. They explore the big issues and unpack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions in a fresh, contemporary, and dynamic way.
Conversation

The most important part of any Alpha is for people to share their thoughts and discuss it in a small group. This time is an opportunity for people to hear from others, and contribute their own perspective.

The Culture of Alpha

Alpha is for everyone, whether they would describe themselves as having faith or not. At Alpha, we believe the guest deserves the best - so we have three cultures that make everyone feel at home.

Hospitality

Hospitality is one of Alpha’s best practices. It is serving others so they feel welcomed, loved, seen and heard. It’s showing respect for others - no matter what they believe or where they come from. The Greek word for hospitality is “philoxenos” - literally it means “love of the other”. Good hospitality is what makes Alpha special, through great food, an enticing environment, and paying attention to the small details to help others feel at home.

Invitation

Inviting people into a conversation about life, faith and meaning can sometimes be scary. What we’ve discovered is that many people are just waiting for our invitation to be included in conversations around life’s biggest questions. Alpha is a place where they can be heard and understood, and it is meeting a very real need. Over 86% of people come on Alpha because they have been personally invited - that’s how important intentional invitation is! For more ideas of how to invite others, click here.

Prayer

Prayer is the foundation of every Alpha. Everything we do at Alpha starts with prayer, even inviting others. Prayer is a vital part of invitation. It’s also a key part of hospitality and making sure that everything is designed with others in mind. Prayer is the basis upon which we build healthy Alpha courses. Alpha is designed to fail if God doesn’t show up, so before we start - and the whole way throughout - we make sure we invite the main guest!

“I have seen the faith of many people coming alive in a new way.”

— Rev William Olhausen, Douglas Parish, Cork

Your Next Steps

At the heart of every great Alpha is a commitment to the key cultures described above. But once this heart is in place, the practicalities tend to come a little easier. Just how do you run Alpha? See below for our best tips:

“A tremendous catalyst for changing the culture of a parish”

— Fr James Mallon, Divine Renovation Ministry

Venue

Alpha is currently run in homes, cafés, churches, pubs and all sorts of other locations all around the world.
It doesn’t matter what venue you choose, just try to make the space welcoming and conducive to good conversation. Getting a good venue sorted can be the best first step to running Alpha.
Dates

Next, plan your dates. Try to avoid booking your Alpha over any holidays or events to avoid long gaps between sessions or guests being unable to attend.
You also need to think about two dates for training your team and a date for a launch party, if you are having one.
Time

A typical Alpha runs in the evening but Alpha can be held at any time of day, you just need to work out the best time for the people you are trying to invite.
Whatever time you choose, make sure that you have enough time for food, a talk and a discussion.
Schedule

Most Alphas take place over about an hour and a half, including time for food. Alpha can run in the morning or the evening, with a typical sample schedule below:
EVENING
7:30 – Welcome 7:35 – Food 8:00 – Talk / Video 8:30 – Discussion Groups 9:00 – End
MORNING
10:30 – Welcome 10:35 – Brunch & Coffee 11:00 – Talk / Video 11:30 – Discussion Groups 12:00 – End
Register

Once you’ve planned your Alpha and got things sorted, make sure that you register it so that people can find it on the Alpha website.
To register, log on to MyAlpha.
Train

It is also really important to train your team well. Even if your hosts and helpers have done Alpha several times, it’s still a great idea to do the training before you start.
All the materials you need to train your team are available on MyAlpha.

Request a Run Alpha Guide

Alpha Ireland’s Run Alpha Guide is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to make your Alpha the best yet, even if it’s your first one. It’s a brilliant free resource, and you can also share it with your team members. Download it for free below.