April 22, 2011 Multiplying Your Alpha Course Kim Wickline, Course Administrator, Alpha Administrator Resurrection Lutheran Church, Monticello

1300 members in a community of 10,000 Launched Alpha in 2001 In 2008, Resurrection had held 12 courses to date 70 guests for our first Alpha and 27 in 2008 In 2008, more than 360 people had taken Alpha; about 1/3 of the membership Pastor and senior leadership support Course successfully touched our membership, now attendance was stagnant Alpha at Resurrection

Preaching to the choir was no longer yielding results Our promotional efforts into the community were not fully realized Passion was there, but the people were not Now What??

Hold more courses on multiple days and times Schedule a course at a non-church venue(s) to draw seekers Leverage the experience of our Alpha team to expand Alpha into the community Share Christ with the Community

Alpha Monticello Model

Alpha Monticello Vision Spreading the gospel in our community through the Alpha Course by hosting it at non-church venues and partnering with area churches. Through common vision, unified prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can attract new believers and re- ignite the faith of others by blanketing our community with the love of Christ.

Benefits of Alpha Monticello Leverage the media placed by Alpha Twin Cities Promotional opportunities are combined Multiple courses and opportunities launching the same week (fall). One Introduction Dinner; one weekend Easier to invite guests – multiple options/locations Financial costs are shared Promotes unity among churches when sharing the love of Christ through a common medium Creates buzz and momentum in area Incorporate non-church venues – it’s about the community not the church.

Strategies: A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats 1.Partner with other area Alpha churches to surround our community with the opportunity to learn more about Christ. 2.Plant new Alpha Courses in churches who have not yet hosted a course. Many of our recent Alpha graduates attend area churches. We are working with them to encourage their senior leadership to consider Alpha this fall. 3.Plan a non-church venue to draw those who may not have a church home

Partner with other area Alpha churches Engage the area pastors –Find neighboring churches who have hosted an Alpha Course in the recent past. Remember, not all churches post their course information on the Web site, so you may have to review their Web sites or call. –One-on-one meetings between pastors or leadership teams to share the concept Share an Alpha Monticello Partner Flier Showcase the value of partnering together – focus on combining resources to reduce costs and share best practices Come along side area churches in a way they are comfortable Be respectful

Partner with other area Alpha churches Host an Alpha Symposium for churches in your area –Invite another Alpha church or two to help host –Share best practices and ideas –Show the value of working together –Contact your local Alpha office to unveil any new Alpha resources –Invite area churches to join the Alpha Monticello movement Focus on the Message –All courses are launched the same week; one Introduction Dinner –Tout the benefits of leveraging resources both financial and promotional –Share a testimonial from someone outside your church if possible –Be comfortable letting go –It’s not about “us” as individual churches – it’s about Christian community

Plant new Alpha Courses Who are the people in your neighborhood? –Many of our recent Alpha graduates attend area churches. –Who do you or your senior leaders know at other churches –Gain the greatest buy-in if the interest is from the congregation Engage the area pastors –Select a few churches where you or your pastor already have strong relationships –Ask your pastor to invite new pastors to area Taste of Alpha events or local Alpha symposiums –Information packets, Alpha DVDs, communication from your senior pastor –Share Alpha at an area Ministerium Meeting –One-on-one meeting between pastors or leadership teams –Distribute Alpha Monticello flier for new churches –Come along side area churches in a way they are comfortable Make it easy and non-threatening –Show how you can help by training leaders, sharing promotions –All courses are launched the same week; one Introduction Dinner –Tout the benefits of leveraging resources both financial and promotional –Share a testimonial from someone outside your church if possible –Be comfortable letting go –It’s not about “us” as individual churches – it’s about Christian community

Plant new Alpha Courses Expectations of the Lead Church (Resurrection) –Offers experienced facilitators, helpers and administrators to help – fills in the gaps where needed –Trains facilitators and helpers for all churches/ locations –Offers Hospitality insights –Shares worship music –Centralized course registration –Coordinates promotions –Testimonials –Takes the lead on hosting the Holy Spirit weekend and Introduction Dinner

Alpha Monticello: Levels of Engagement Sponsor: Simply promotes the course to its members Associate: Sends a core team to attend an Alpha Course with the intention of hosting a course in the future. Partner: Hosts own course.

Expectations of Partner Church Build a leadership team --a site administrator, small group facilitators/helpers, hospitality leader, worship leader, prayer team leader. Provide a site administrator to assist with logistics, publicity, A/V materials, room setup, etc. Coordinate food/Hospitality Arrange for nursery care Participate in joint promotions (physically and financially) Purchase an Alpha DVD and contribute to the purchase of course materials The lead church (Resurrection) helps fill in the gaps

2009 Alpha Monticello Resurrection tested the concept and invited five area churches to send people to attend Alpha at Resurrection had the highest number of attendees with more than one-third of the guests coming from outside Resurrection. One associate church.

2010 Alpha Monticello Associate church became a partner church giving the community another day and location to take the course. Another church sent a team last fall -- associate We offered Alpha at a local bowling alley/restaurant. Hosted our first daytime Alpha using Alpha Express Half of the guests attending Alpha at both locations were from outside both churches.

2011 Alpha Monticello Associate church sent a team to Resurrection last fall and we are working to help them launch a course there this fall. An Alpha guest from a neighboring church is bringing Alpha to her Education Committee to consider in In discussions with our local senior center to host a lunchtime course there. Meetings in progress with possible Alpha plants and Alpha partner churches. Alpha Symposium for partner churches May 5.

Logistics of Multiple Locations Courses/churches host one Introduction Dinner All courses launch the same time frame and begin the week after Sept. 11 Courses/churches may join for one Holy Spirit weekend A site administrator is assigned to each location: logistics, inventory & facility needs Hospitality managed on a site-by-site basis Prayer warriors assigned to each location/small group Worship coordinated on a site-by-site basis

Jesus said, “You save your life by losing it." When you give away the Alpha course, your own course gains strength, new leaders emerge, and more lives are transformed It’s not about our individual efforts but uniting the Christian community through Alpha to reach as many in our community for Christ A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats Multiplying Your Alpha Course