Alpha Friends

Get Involved with GAT!

emma — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:17:22 +0000

This year we're offering churches the opportunity to take their knowledge and experience of Alpha overseas to partner with churches in the Asia-Pacific region. Find out how you can help pass on this great evangelism tool...

Naomi Flatt, our Global Alpha Training (GAT) Coordinator sees God scattering the seed of Alpha throughout the Asia-Pacific as a tool for churches to evangelise communities – responding to needs, praying for people and seeing lives transformed.

This year, Naomi is looking forward to, "Teaching as we learn, giving as we receive, being emptied as we are filled. I’d encourage people who have run, helped and led on Alpha courses to be praying about where God might take them in 2010 – whether He might lead them to help support Alpha in Indonesia, India, Cambodia or elsewhere by being part of a Global Alpha Training trip."

Churches can take Alpha to their existing contacts around the world, or be matched to areas that have asked for training. Speak with your church and ask Alpha Australia for more information! gat@alpha.org.au, ph: 1800 811 903.

Asia Pacific Alpha Conference, Kuching, Malaysia 16 - 17 April

emma — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:20:30 +0000

[img_assist|nid=1194|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=76|height=100]JoinNicky Gumbel and the Alpha International team for this year's Asia Pacific AlphaConference. On 15 April, Nicky Gumbel will host an Alpha Vision Day for staff,Board members and Alpha Resource Church leaders from across the region. MarkConner (Senior Pastor, CityLife Church, Melbourne) will also be sharing. Pleasecontact the National Office for more information.

Resources for Alpha Invitation and New Guest Manual!

emma — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:06:44 +0000

Alpha Invitation

Download your Alpha Invitation Resources now! Invitations and posters are available on AlphaFriends

http://www.alphafriends.org.au/news/new-promotional-resource-downloads-editable-pdf-posters

We have a new version of the Alpha Guest Manual available!

New release: Alpha Guest Manual.

Fresh look and feel, updated content includes easier layout, additional resource suggestions and more! If you still have older versions of the manual, they remain completely interchangeable and can still be used until they're gone.

For all your 2010 resources, our online Alpha Shop (button located on the right hand side of the screen) at alphafriends.org.au is now linked to Koorong.

'A Clear and Defined Faith': An Ex-Offender's Story

emma — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:48:01 +0000

"If there is a God in this world, please help me!” was Don’s cry the day of his conviction. While he was in the holding cell, Don heard God speak to him, "Everything will be alright..."

Don gave his life to Christ in prison and he was very excited about God. He had hoped to be paroled when the opportunity came, but his parole was denied. After this set-back, it was through doing an Alpha Course that he was grounded in the simple, basic truths of the Gospel.

"My faith was new and fuzzy, but the Alpha Course gave me a clear and defined faith," says Don. "Looking back, I'm grateful that God used prison and the initial parole denial to wake me up."

Don was illiterate before entering prison, but taught himself how to read and write using the Bible and devotional aids! He is also grateful for pastors and home group members that have kept him accountable 'on the outside' and have made a huge difference to his walk in healing.

Don realises how much Jesus has done for him: "I'm passionate about giving people the opportunity to be in relationship with Christ because without him I reckon I'd be dead now."

Don's journey has led him to study to be a minister and prison chaplain, where he can continue to reach those in prison with God's hope and freedom!

Strengthening Aussie Families

emma — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:40:12 +0000

Dennis and Ann Outred, National Coordinators for The Marriage Course, believe: "By working in unity and being intentional about ministering to marriage in your area of influence this year, we can turn around the decline of a culture of marriage in our nation."

Here's one of the many testimonies received about the positive impact of The Marriage Course. "My wife Michele and I have been running the Marriage Course, for a few years now. Out of about 40 couples we have ministered to we had 4 couples who were not married or were at the end of their tether and deciding whether to marry. All four are now married and doing well. We find this course to be very effective, and these ongoing positive stories are a great testimony to the course. We are excited to be running another course soon and can’t wait to get our hands on the newer material. - Kurt and Michele."

Click the button on the right hand menu 'The Marriage Course & Preparation Course' for more information and resources.

'It gave me the conviction I needed Christ': Edwin Chong’s Story

emma — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:27:23 +0000

“In the past, I did not have a relationship with God. I did not know who He is and I was not interested in knowing Him at all. So for the last 25 years, I was leading a God-less life and doing everything according to what I wanted. Things went well until last year...

where I faced some personal issues that caused me to fall to rock bottom in my life. I was depressed and life seemed meaningless to me. I tried watching comedies to make myself laugh; I tried joking and laughing with my friends, but the laughing and smiling were hollow and without true joy. I tried many ways to cheer myself up, but nothing worked.

Amazingly, within less than two months time, my course mate and now my mentor, Frankie Tan, invited me to the Alpha Course. The first few Alpha sessions were good; I felt more peaceful but nothing great really happened to me. However during the Alpha Weekend session, our Alpha coordinator had been praying for us and what he described was exactly the situation I was in. I was so shocked and immediately I knew this message was from God and it was for me. It gave me the conviction that I needed Christ in my life. As we went into our individual groups, I went up to Frankie and told him about the message and we said a prayer together.

Now I have this faith in Christ. I know I have true joy and it is in Christ.”

The Harvest is Plentiful: Equip the workers! Register for Training!

emma — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:03:18 +0000

The Alpha Invitation 2010 is an exciting chance for churches across Australia to rally together and jointly raise the profile of Alpha so that more people can be introduced to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

These Alpha Australia events can train you and your church team to be effective in evangelism: Team Training and Train the Trainer.

Team Training will equip you to run the Alpha Course and is for those with no Alpha experience or for those already involved but want to refocus and share best practice.

Train the Trainer is for those who would like to be up-skilled and is recommended for those already running Alpha and who may also want to be equipped to train others.

For more information, go to alphafriends.org.au for all the latest information http://www.alphafriends.org.au/events-calendar

As we approach this Invitation season, please join with us in prayer: “Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2

Start Preparing! Alpha Invitation - Training Details

emma — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:53:59 +0000

Details for training events in the lead-up to the Alpha Invitation include the following dates, times and venues....

For further information, please contact Fiona Hall at the National Office on 1800 811 903 or fiona@alpha.org.au

To register for any of the following training:

1. Download and print out the appropriate PDF at the bottom of the page, then

2. Scan in the page and email to fiona@alpha.org.au OR

3. Post to the National Office

Trained to Train
For churches already running the Alpha course. Come and be upskilled in your training. Receive up to date Alpha training modules to take back to train your team and to equip you to train others.
Cost $25 incls. notes and training modules.

QLD
Sat 13-Feb TBC

NSW
Sat 13-Feb Seven Hills Servants of Jesus 10.30am-3pm

VIC
Thu 4-Feb St Hilary's Anglican Church, Kew 7pm-10pm

WA

Sat 13-Mar St Lawrences Anglican Church, Dalkeith 9am-1pm

Alpha Invitation Launch
An opportunity for those who are involved in the Alpha Invitation 2010 to meet, discuss plans and pray. For those who are yet to decide, come and hear other's plans, how the Invitation has worked in the past and how to be involved in 2010.

NSW
Tues 23-Feb    Orange    Launch B'fast    7.30am-9.00am

Tues 23-Feb    Dubbo    Launch Lunch    12.30pm-2pm

Tues 23-feb    Penrith    Launch Supper    8.00pm- 9.30pm

Fri 26-Feb    Wollongong    Launch B'fast    7.30am-9.00am

Mon 1-March    Tamworth    Launch Supper    7.30pm- 9.00pm

Tues 2-March    Armidale    Launch afternoon tea    3.00pm- 4.30pm

Wed 3-March    Port Macquarie    Launch B'fast    7.00am-8.30am

Wed 3-March    Bellingen    Launch high tea    6.00pm- 7.30pm

Thurs 4-March    Coffs Harbour    Launch B'fast    7.30am-9.00am

Thurs 4-March    Grafton    Launch Lunch    12.30pm-2pm

Thurs 4-March    Yamba    Launch afternoon tea    3.00pm- 4.30pm

Thurs 4-March    Lismore    Launch Supper    7.30pm- 9.00pm

Fri 5-March    Ballina    Launch B'fast    7.30am-9.00am

Sat 6-March    Kingscliff    Launch B'fast    7.00am-8.30am

Mon 8-March    South West Rocks    Launch high tea    6.00pm- 7.30pm

Alpha Team Training
This day will equip you to begin running the Alpha course. Although designed for those with no Alpha experience, teams who are already involved in running Alpha will also benefit from the opportunity to refocus and share best practice.
Cost $25 plus lunch if applicable. Includes delegate notes.

QLD
Sat 27-Feb Kenmore Baptist Church, 57A Kenmore Rd, Kenmore 9-3pm

NSW
Sat 13-Mar Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 295 Windsor Road, Baulkham Hills 9am-4pm

VIC

Sat 27-Feb Crossway Baptist Church, 2 Vision Drive Burwood East 9am-3pm

SA
Sat 6-Mar Blackwood Baptist Church 9am-3pm

WA

Sat 13-Mar St Lawrences Anglican Church, Dalkeith 9am-3pm

Churches Running Training
VIC
Crossway Baptist and Citylife are holding team training that is open to
other teams.Churches are also welcome to join Crossway and Citylife for the Weekend Away.
Mon 15-Mar Crossway Baptist 7-10pm
Sat 20-Mar Citylife 9am-1pm

GAT Team Training
Teams who think they may wish to be involved in Global Alpha Training in 2010 will benefit from this chance to prepare. Modules include Preparing for your trip and Ministering Cross Culturally. There will be opportunity to hear from those who have been on a GAT trip and to meet others who are preparing to go.
Cost $100

VIC
Sat 20-Feb St Mary's Caulfield 9am-3pm

NSW

Sat 27-Feb Northside Baptist Church, Crows Nest GAT Training 9am- 4pm

Alpha Invitation: Register NOW for Alpha Team Training and Trained to Train!

Download the appropriate registration form (below) and please send (with cheque if applicable) to: Alpha Australia, PO Box 10, Kerrimuir, Vic, 3129.

Or if preferred, download then scan with details added (including credit card details if applicable) and email to: fiona@alpha.org.au

Article: "The urgency of the Vision" by Nicky Gumbel

ben — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:33:57 +0000

[img_assist|nid=1165|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=150|height=100]“I have this sense of urgency deep down within me, and I don’t know whether it’s just because I’m getting old and getting lots of grey hair and failing eyesight and feel that time is running out. But actually I’ve always sensed this urgency since I’ve been a Christian. I don’t know whether it’s because I’m an impatient person, which I certainly am, but I hope it has something to do with the urgency that there is in the New Testament.

There’s such an urgent need for the message of Jesus for our society. It’s the only message of hope for our world. Somebody made the point that maybe we’re at a hinge moment in our world. You can think back at certain hinge moments in the last 30 years: 1989, the fall of communism, 2001, the Twin Towers, 2009, this economic crisis. And who knows what’s going to emerge from the failure of capitalism? The world’s not going to be the same, we know that, but what kind of world is going to emerge? What’s it going to look like?

This is not the moment for the church to retrench and say “Oh dear, it’s all a bit difficult, there’s not much money around”, to lose confidence in the face of the onslaught. No, this is an exciting time to be a Christian because we have the message that the world needs. And it’s interesting, it’s now that people are looking for faith.

We’re living at a time of social dislocation and people are desperate for community. Where are they going to find that community? Well, at best they will find it on Facebook, and at worst in things like drugs, alcohol and the worst aspects of the internet - to fill this gap that can actually only be filled by a relationship with Jesus and His community. God has given this message to you and to me. God has put all his eggs in one basket, he’s put it all in the hands of the Church. So we have a responsibility, what does that mean? What do we need to do?

Four things, here’s the first one: The urgency of the personal. 2 Corinthians 8 verse 5, “they gave themselves first to the Lord.” This is not about human effort, this is about a relationship with God, about God’s love being poured into our hearts. It’s all about Jesus, it’s all about the Holy Spirit, it’s all about the experience of the ministry of the Holy Spirit; this is where it starts. It is so fascinating to me that the experience of the Spirit which we have here on every Alpha weekend is the same Holy Spirit who is changing people’s lives all over the world.

Secondly, the urgency of the needs of others. Saint Paul speaks of the privilege of sharing in the service of the needs of others. That’s why I don’t think we the Church can any longer expect people to come to us. Now is the time when we’ve got to go out into the community. So we need to get out there, we need to get out amongst the homeless, into the prisons, into the workplaces, into homes. It’s so exciting that Ken Costa’s ‘God at Work’ resources have come out for such a time as this. When has there been a greater need in the workplace for people to know about Jesus Christ, and to deal with the issues of unemployment, finances, disappointments, challenges, life choices, giving, all these kind of areas that are dealt with on the God at Work course?

Thirdly, the urgency of the Gospel. There’s no better summary really of the Gospel than 2 Corinthians 8 verse 9. St Paul says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor. He died on a cross for you and for me, he became as poor as it’s possible to be so that you through his poverty might become rich”. Not necessarily materially rich but spiritually rich, something even more important and even more urgent.

This is the message of the Gospel that we want to get out to as many people as possible, because we see this desperate need that people have for Jesus. Alpha is not the only way of evangelism, it’s not necessarily the best way of evangelism, but we have found in our experience that it is one way that seems to be very effective. And that’s why we want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to go on an Alpha course.

Fourthly, the urgency of other nations. Paul writes in verse 1, “we want you to know about the grace that God has given to the Macedonian Church... out of extreme poverty they gave generously”. Paul points to the Macedonian Church as a wonderful example of a nation that had a vision for other nations. So here was a church that was really poor, but they saw that the church in Jerusalem was even poorer, so they said “We want to give, although we’re extremely poor, we want to give to help another nation”.

SAVE THE DATE - Alpha Invitation 2010 is coming!

emma — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:54:15 +0000

[img_assist|nid=1164|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=151|height=113]We’ve got some exciting plans to help inspire our Aussie communities to get on board the great Alpha Invitation season for next year! Start talking, dreaming and preparing now maybe with other churches in your region - like Dubbo who are running a bus ad campaign with great fruit…
Is There More To Life Than... Dubbo?

Dubbo dwellers have been posed the question "Is There More To Life Than This?" through a local transport company running an Alpha campaign with large posters plastered on the outside and insides of buses!

The striking Bear Grylls/mountain top posters have drawn attention to Alpha, and city-wide Alpha Courses are being run by a number of churches who have found that there has always been fruit.

John and Deidre Strahorn, retired farmers with a passion for seeing people come to Christ through Alpha, have worked with local pastors to encourage these ministers and their congregations to form a city-wide prayer and salvation net around this Alpha Invitation advertising. One of the Strahorn's generous team members sponsored the bus advertising.

"It's wonderful that leaders from different denominations in Dubbo are getting together and can see the strategic benefit of this kind of campaign," says Jon Seeley, National Director of Alpha Australia."There's great strength in prayer and unity. We would like to encourage communities to get involved in a similar way to Dubbo with the Alpha Invitation in 2010."

Alpha Australia would love to assist in any way we can to help you reach out into your communities, to see Christ's Kingdom established in Australian lives.

Start Talking!

We would like to encourage you to start talking with your team, pastors and perhaps other local churches about next year's Alpha Invitation. The Alpha Invitation is usually launched around Easter or Term 2 of the school year, however this varies from state to state and what fits with our regional partners.

Put Alpha Invitation 2010 into your calendar!

Start Dreaming!

Perhaps like Dubbo's sponsor of bus advertising, there may be one or a whole group of individuals or churches that can get together to raise the profile of Alpha and starting a conversation with your community.

The possibilities are amazing!

Start Preparing!

Alpha Australia will have resources, artwork and posters available for our new campaign in 2010. The theme is taken from the 2009 campaign from 'Big Questions' campaign, and will ask: "What's the Point?" Stay tuned for delivery in November/December, and we will be back in touch to let you know more details.

Radio stations will be supporting the Alpha Invitation. Our amazing partners UCB, Sonshine FM, Hope 103.2, 89.9 Light FM, 96.5 FM Family and Vision Radio Network will have ads running to raise awareness of the Alpha Invitation.

Training events to inspire, equip and refresh your team to run the most effective Alpha Course will be run in centres and Alpha Resource Churches around the country.

We will be back in touch to let you know more exciting developments and details!