Day of prayer organized as means of expanding Alpha program

Alpha organizers are planning an Alpha Millennium Day of Prayer across Canada on April 29 in an effort to expand the Alpha program as a means of spreading the gospel in Canada.

In a news release, Alpha Canada’s national administrator, Sally Start, said “Our vision is for churches of all denominations hosting Alpha, to join together to run a series of local and regional prayer meetings across the nation.

“As well as prayer for the spread of the Alpha course as a way to reach unchurched people, we will also be praying on that day for a number of other nationally important issues, especially Christian unity.”

According to an Alpha newsletter, more than a million people around the world have now attended an Alpha course. In Canada, more than 1,000 Alpha courses have been registered.

Alpha is directed at people who wish to explore the Christian faith. It features teaching videos by its founder, Nicky Gumbel of Holy Trinity Brompton in London, food, and discussion. Testimonials from people who have attended the courses, generally held over the space of 10 weeks, speak of everything from improved marriages to a turning away from drugs, drinking and a life in crime.