Todd,

Thanks for your thoughtful article. I agree that the postmodern deconstruction of evangelism has left most of us in a vacuum, and we tend to feel intimidated and paralyzed. My personal experience is that Alpha works well with post-moderns if we excel at building meaningful relationships. Experientially oriented people respond well to cognitive input in an environment of acceptance and love.

I agree...thanks for the thoughtful article I've been leading Alpha courses for several years, and have experienced it's usefulness as a tool for evangelism.

Does anyone out there have experience with the newer Christianity Explored curriculum? <http://www.christianityexplored.com>;
It seems the creators have borrowed the overall structure for the program from Alpha, but looks like they wanted to create a program with less pressure and slightly more entertaining videos. At first I wondered, “Why they wanted to reinvent the wheel?” but as I looked further, I can see that the shorter, catchier videos could definitely appeal to a younger, more post-modern crowd, and be less intimidating than Alpha. Thoughts?

I count it a great privilege to be the facilitator of our Alpha Course here at Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Irondequoit, New York. Next week March 16th we will start our fifth course, we host Alpha in the spring and in the fall. Each time has been very special; people come to know the Lord as their savior and others are helped along in their walk. I don’t know much about postmodern or modern all I do know is that Alpha works, in that it is a tool that can fit almost any environment. I have been a Christian for around thirty-five years; I’m 58 years old, a boomer. Yet these days I find my thoughts on church to be more in keeping with the emerging church movement than anything else. Having said that I think Alpha fits right in with my thoughts on the emerging church; I’ve seen the effects of being a part of an Alpha group on people in their twenties and those in their fifties. Both come away from the course changed for the better. I've seen those that have no church background and those that come from some form of church background find common ground at Alpha.

As the leader of Alpha here at our fellowship I wrote a vision statement for Alpha last summer, in closing I will share that statement with you.
Alpha Vision Statement
I see Alpha as the cornerstone for evangelizing the lost and restoring the wayward by being a wide open friendly door to God’s family. Alpha will take on a God-given life of it’s own continually growing as those that complete the course become fruit bearing members of our fellowship reproducing themselves over and over by helping in Alpha and bring others to this exciting experience.

If you like ALPHA you need to check out "MOMENTUM 05".

Todd Hunter, the current President of ALPHA U.S., will be a key speaker at this 3 day young adult conference down in newport beach, California (June 22-24).

There will be a large ALPHA discussion and dialog session, along with main sessions on social justice, worship as a lifestyle and much more.

Their website is:
http://www.soulsurvivorusa.com/momentum/

Thanks for the article - it was great. I have been an Alpha Advisor here in some the remotest parts of rural england and I am certainly interested to see how it will pan out in a PostModern environment.

A key factor in it's success I believe, is the focus on relationships and that truth becomes real with the context of those relationships.

Having said all that, one has to be clear the an intrinsic part of the course is a focus on the ministry of the Holy Spirit and that involves a neo-pentecostal/charismatic theology. (I make no value judgement there - just an observation - it works for us)

The origins in Christianity Explored are at All Souls Langham Place London, the home of John Stott and comes from a Conservative evangelical stable. (non charismatic) - I would have though that this was more modern that post but my dear daughter aged 23 can't get enough of it.

As a 56 year old tired and jaded priest, A fresh focus on Jesus Christ and his teachings and moving all the rest of the garbage out of the way is the way. So.....

Get the Barbecue out
Crack open a few bottles of wine
and BE ..... with your sisters and brothers.

sorry - I'm rambling

Blessings
Leonard

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