THE ALPHA COURSE AND CHURCH ASSIMILATION

AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

Submitted as a requirement of

MASTERS OF ARTS DEGREE IN APPLIED BIBLICAL STUDIES

Cherlyn Jensen

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION OF THE PROBLEM …………………………………………...... 1

MY STORY.………………………………………………………………………….. 5

LITERATURE/RESEARCH REVIEW ……………………………………………… 7

CONTEXTUAL DISCRIPTION OF ALPHA ..……………………………………… 11

RESEARCH DESIGN ………………………………………………………………... 12

WORK AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT………..…………………………………... 14

CYCLE 1: REPORT…...……………………………………………………………… 18

REFLECTION ………...……………………………………………………………… 21

CONCLUSIONS ……………...…………………………..…………………………. 22

FINAL REFLECTIONS …….………………………………………………………. 23

REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………..……... 24

APPENDIX A …………………………………...…………………………………… 27

APPENDIX B …………………………………...………………………………....… 29

APPENDIX C …………………………………...………………………………....… 32

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INTRODUCTION OF THE PROBLEM

The sense of being lost, displaced, and homeless is pervasive in contemporary culture. Generations in

America have been indoctrinated into the belief that “Space” is the pathway to liberty, health, wellness, and the

“promise land”. “ Space,” as used here, means a life of freedom without coercion or accountability, free of

pressures and void of authority, complete independence and self sufficiency. “Space” may be characterized as a

kind of relativism and neutrality or emptiness waiting to be filled by our own self medicated whims, a buffet of

entertainment and hedonistic pursuits. But instead of life, joy, security and identity, the prescriptive of “space”

has developed a society characterized by purposelessness, isolation, and fragmentation resulting in mental,

emotional, and spiritual sickness of epidemic proportions. This of course, is not a new struggle, but it is more

widespread and visible than it has ever been.

In the book, The Spiritual Dimension in Addiction, Maura Russell, a well known author and speaker in

psychotherapy identifies the unfulfilled desire of belonging as the case for much of the desperation that we see

throughout the western world. 1

In the life of our times we live in a culture where the sophistication of the systems of communication have become more technological, people communicate across the electronic web, on mobile phones, via the internet, and in chat rooms. The network of conversations and communities that influence our sense of ourselves are growing increasingly isolationist, bypassing the intimacies of face to face or heart to heart exchanges. In a culture where the desire to belong is co-opted by consumerism and materialism, our capacity to fit in is determined by our ability to hide our insecurities and preceived lack therof. The sensitive and vulnerable continue to represent themselves through the narrative of addictions and other illnesses.

Walter Brueggemann, widely considered one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of the last

several decades, reflects the same sentiments in his book The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in

Biblical Faith.

1 Maura Russell, "The Spiritual Dimension in Addiction," Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review 92, no. 367 (2003): pg. 234.

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The yearning to belong somewhere, to have a home, to be in a safe place, is a deep and moving pursuit. Americans have become a nation of strangers, highly mobile and rootless, as our entire fabric becomes an artifact designed for obsolescence…(It) may be understood in terms of psychological dislocation as increasing numbers of persons are disoriented, characterized as possessors of “the homeless mind”. The despair and yearning are expressed in the pathos of the “top forty” songs among the young, in the fear among the old that they are forgotten, in the helplessness of the poor in the face of “urban progress.”2

Brueggemann makes the case that while Americans are looking for peace and fulfillment in “space”, it is a

sense of “place” and belonging, that is at the core of human hunger. It is for this reason that as the masses

clamor to obtain more and struggle to free themselves from slavish greed and discontentment through the quest

for “space”, we are experiencing a deepening pervasive reality of emptiness and disillusionment of the

American soul in the form of heightened violence, eroding leadership, fractured and degrading relationships,

and reckless abandonment to what was once considered valuable and sacred.

The Way Home

In this deepening pervasive reality, perhaps we might find our way back home with a fresh look at our

biblical moorings. God’s intention was always to have a city of people birthed by the spirit, living in fellowship

with Him, belonging in authentic relationship with one another united by grace and common goals in

community under the authority, sovereignty, and protection of God the Father. God has chosen, purchased,

equipped, predestined and commissioned the local church to implement his desired plan and be a vehicle for the

activities and processes of the Holy Spirit to move and manifest in the earth which is the only true effective

prescriptive for a lost and hurting world. The church is called by God to be the most irresistible institution in

every local community. The process of reconciling people to himself and belonging to the universal church

through the atonement of Christ on the cross, and then to discover their home and “place” through successful

assimilation into a local church body is a main theme of the Bible, central to the heart of God, and core to the

mission of the church. It is a call, a commission, a mandate, and the challenge to which we as the church must

own.

2 Walter Brueggemann, The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977), pg. 1.

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Most certainly, it is counter cultural in western society to be assimilated into the local church family, to

live out our individual stories within the community of faith and be grafted into a body of believers. It is indeed

a protest against the pursuit of “space.” It is a declaration that our humanness cannot be found in escape,

detachment, absence of commitment, and undefined freedom. Belonging to Christ’s universal church and

intimately connected to the local church as “place” is a decision to enter history with an identifiable people in

an identifiable heritage and pilgrimage.

The Church and Assimilation

As the church, we must provide easy access to the gospel, a clear path to becoming a Christ Follower,

and safe passage into the spiritual life and community of faith. Through implementation of best practices,

prayer, research, and collaborative efforts, we can create portals and on-ramps that work within our

contemporary culture. Greg Stier, founder and president of Dare 2 Share said it well, "We must create safe

places ...for people to explore the message of Jesus, ask hard questions and hear what the Bible has to say."3

In the The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren makes a strong declaration, “As Christians we’re

called to belong, not just believe.”4 John Savage in, The Teflon Church, describes the challenge of assimilation

and belonging:

Assimilating someone into the life of the church is different than helping them become a member. Rounding up bodies and getting them to join the church doesn’t finish the task. People who join a church may well drop out a few months later. The church needs to incorporate them into the life, the emotion, and the ministry of the congregation. People need to become a part of the church body rather than be merely attached to it. 5

One out of every two persons bears a negative witness to the world as to the relevance of a vital church

relationship. Over 75 percent of church attenders who became inactive did so because they did not feel a sense

of belonging. Not only is membership dropout an issue in the church, so is the assimilation of newcomers. In

3 Stier, Greg. Greg Stier. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2015. <www.gregstier.org>.4 Richard Warren, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth without Compromising Your Message & Mission (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub., 1995), pg. 105.5 John S. Savage, "The Teflon Church," Leadership Journal, September 1990, section goes here, accessed June 4, 2015, http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/1990/fall/90l4030.html.

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the average congregation in America, only 12 percent of first‐time visitors return the following Sunday and

eventually become members. A few congregations have 20 or 25 percent retention but rarely would any church

surpass 30 percent. 6 Further research has identified that a disproportionately large number of new members

drop out of the church within the fifth and sixth month after joining. These newcomers did not find satisfaction

in one or more of the following questions: “Can I develop friends in this church?” “Where do I fit in?” “Am I

needed?” Churches are often initially friendly but don’t seem to follow through with the friendliness that was

initially projected. This is largely the result of the fact that existing members who have been in the church for a

couple of years or longer have all the friends and relationships that there is time and energy to handle. “It’s

almost as if newcomers have to sign up for future friends and wait for an opening.” 7

Churches have been increasingly utilizing courses that can take place inside or outside of traditional

church settings to successfully provide access to the gospel, provide ways for people to relationally connect and

grow, and assimilate those devoid of a spiritual family into the family of faith. Perhaps the assimilation model

that is most widely known at present is the baseball diamond, which has been popularized by Pastor Rick

Warren of Saddleback Community Church in southern California.8 Other strategies such as informal gatherings

—including everything from small Bible study groups to the Alpha Course, to "Theology on Tap" (scripture at

the local bar)—are particularly appealing to younger congregants who have negative associations with a church

building or structured religion.

In Kenosha Wisconsin, our local church chose to launch the Alpha Course primarily to reach those far

from God. We are currently running the 5th 11 week session. Using the Alpha Course materials and methods, we

have seen people openly discuss their spiritual journey and freely explore their questions about God and the

Bible with others in ways that they normally would not. We observed that while some came to a saving

knowledge of Christ, through the process of interaction and discussion, others were able to address persistent

doctrinal or theological concerns and questions sometimes submerged below their conscious radar for years.

6 Herb Miller, How to Build a Magnetic Church (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1987), pg. 1.7 Leith Anderson, A Church for the 21st Century (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1992), pg. 25.8 Richard Warren, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth without Compromising Your Message & Mission (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub., 1995), pg. 144.

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They were then able to find a place of peaceful resolution or reconciliation with these internal struggles. The

result is a fresh hunger for connection and a clear desire for belonging and engagement with the Church. It’s as

if stubborn spiritual road blocks were finally addressed within their life thus clearing the way for renewed

spiritual growth after being stuck sometimes for years. In light of their new found spiritual momentum, our

response as leaders was to try to provide clear “next steps” that could lead them down the right paths to help

them assimilate into the life of the church and become fully devoted Christ Followers.

Goal of the Research

58 percent of the churches that use the Alpha course attract new members, but in addition, churches

have also found Alpha to be an effective assimilation tool. Kimberly Reeve, Alpha's director of marketing and

development states, "I just did a focus group on this in Houston and about half the churches said that they

wanted it to be an outreach, but it ended up being more of an assimilation thing just because it so clearly

presents the basics of Christianity." 9

The overall goal of this Research is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that were implemented

to assimilate Alpha graduates into the life of the church when the Alpha Course was completed. Part of the

scope of this research is to understand the current philosophy of the leadership toward evangelism and

assimilation with respect to Alpha in our local church, uncover attitudes of the church staff in regard to research

readiness, and investigate existing practices of hospitality to newcomers and the assimilation process within the

context and organizational framework of Journey Church.

MY STORY

Everyone has a right to hear the gospel message and to make the choice to become a covenant partner

with God; to be transformed at the core; to be rebirthed into the family of God; to learn how to live and love in

right relationship with God and others. When I was rebirthed in the 80s, it was the deep authentic connections

9 Einstein, Mara (2007-09-14). Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion in a Commercial Age (Media, Religion and Culture) (pp. 28,118-119). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.

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with God’s people operating in partnership with the Holy Spirit in the local church that was crucial to laying

the foundations of faith in my heart and soul that breathed new life and health into my body and mind each day.

There is a continual flow of passion deep within my heart to share the gospel and invite people into the

family of God. This desire and passion is regularly re-fueled each week as I regularly work in the Neonatal

Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, and Intensive Care Unit as a Respiratory Care Practitioner at a

local hospital. I treat people in routine practical ways, manage life support breathing machines and systems,

manage the airway in all traumas, code blues events, and as part of the Rapid Response Team.

The evenings that I am assigned to the Emergency Department I find myself watching the relentless

swinging door of broken lives. Habitually they come looking for the next drug, the next band aid, the next fix

that can provide some kind of relief. In the ICU, I meet people who’s lives are characterized by a string of

abusive relationships, flooded with emotional pain and struggle, lostness, gorging on self-medicating

indulgences, and self negligence. Some on life support. For one reason or another many have lived their lives

far from God. Acquaintances, friends and family, if present, struggle with the same issues themselves. They are

unable to cope with the ravaged face of someone they knew and the glaring reality of these heart numbing

situations. Here, everything is laid bare. Unable to find quick comfort or turn away, they are without a place to

hide, and no faith to turn to. It is a time when stories of pretense and denial that they may have told themselves

no longer suffice. Any faithless declarations propagated by the spirit of this world about life and death or what’s

important no longer work. Since they don’t know God and are not connected to a family of faith, they are

without refuge, without spiritual community, and without any hope beyond this momentary life. So, they look

for modern medicine to fix the problem, take away the pain, and make it better. When modern medicine can’t

meet those expectations, in their vulnerability and emptiness people become disappointed and sometimes

despondent. At that point life becomes a cruel day of reckoning for many.

As healthcare providers we attempt to offer life, healing, and comfort using antibiotics, life support

systems, interventions, and magnificent sophisticated technological wonders to manage “sickness” and patch up

the human body many times ignoring the real root of much of our health care issues and addictions. We have

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an epidemic of emaciated human souls that need rescuing through acceptance of Christ and the effectual

transformational blood of Christ. They are countless souls that need to know their creator and find their way

back home. But, offering a clear presentation of the gospel truth that could heal our patients, their friends, and

family from the inside out as part of our vision and prescriptive protocol process within the institutions of

western medicine would require that we as health care providers turn the examination gloves upon ourselves

first. For we, as the medical community, would have to reckon with the scalpel of the word of God that rightly

divides joints and marrow discerning the thoughts and intents of our own hearts. We would have to boldly face

and acknowledge our own depravity and the the leanness that exists within own hearts and souls. We would

have to surrender to the reality of our own need for God before we could begin to offer true life to those who

come to us looking for lasting help, health, and hope.

For me, life lived in the context of a spiritually healthy church supplied ample instruction, connection,

rich deep friendships, spiritual empowerment, models of practical living, and correct biblical interpretation and

explanation of the world around me. With the skill and precision of the potters hands, it was in the caldron of

the local church family where I found spiritual traction and power that equipped me to build a new life and

propel me forward into a solid relationship with Christ anchoring my heart, mind, and soul into the only one

who will ever truly heal me, deliver me, never fail me, or forsake me. My story is certainly a success story

thanks to the Christ Followers who loved me and invested their lives in mine as a labor of love for Christ. All of

us who have been empowered with this kind of love and life must now pass it on and offer this life to others.

Collectively we are “The Church.” It’s who we are and it is what we are called do.

LITERATURE/RESEARCH REVIEW

Assimilation Defined

Though characteristics of an assimilated person vary, assimilation literature raises and addresses the

following elements in some form: attracting, retaining, joining, discipling, belonging, and serving. Assimilation

is not primarily focused upon the number of people on a membership list or how many times people “go to

church.” While those may be indicators of outcomes, church assimilation is to be viewed from an interpretive

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framework by which “spiritual family” is seen in a way that is lived out in the relationships of the local church

in connected alignment with the transcendent vision and purposes of God. A full understanding of the new birth

into God’s spiritual family is the intellectual prerequisite and foundation to grasp the social scope and

importance of a local church assimilation process. The theme of church assimilation and belonging to a spiritual

family is a divine function and fulfillment of Gods central purpose and is repeated and reverberated in God’s

epic story marching across the pages of time over and over again in clear continuity from Genesis to Revelation

Assimilation is a relatively new term in church language but in reality it is as old as when the church

was born on Pentecost and 3000 people were added to the Christ movement in one day (Acts 2:41). In spite of

the wonderful fellowship enjoyed by the thousands of new believers in Jerusalem, the difficulties associated

with assimilation were evident. To begin, the birth and death of God’s only Son, Jesus, ushered in the presence

of a New Covenant spiritual reality built upon the old Old Testament prophets and emerged out of Old

Covenant Jewish belief systems and practices. This setting and the new mandate by God of bringing people

together who were from diverse spiritual and cultural groups that regularly clashed was a formidable

assimilation process….to put it lightly. (Acts 15:28-29).

Assimilation and the Spiritual Growth Continuum

Since assimilation is all about people, it makes sense to gain an understanding how people grow

spiritually. The necessity of plotting spiritual growth is to simplify it so it can provide helpful information in

which to help us to think about it differently, to resource it better, and to support it more productively. Once we

have identified the highest-impact spiritual stops for new believers to make as they continue to navigate their

road map of faith, we can better research and evaluate our church interventional programs and make executive

decisions on how to allocate time and resources with greater clarity and focus.

In 2004, Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago undertook a three-year study to

measure spiritual growth called the REVEAL Spiritual Life Survey. Over the next six years, additional data was

collected from over a quarter million people in well over a thousand churches of every size, denomination, and

geographic area. The findings were featured in their follow up book, Move. It suggests that spiritual growth

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progresses across a continuum of four segments: Exploring Christ, Growing in Christ, Close to Christ, Christ

Centered. Three movements of increasing spiritual maturity define this progression, and various spiritual

catalysts, ranging from organized church activities to personal spiritual practices, influence how people advance

from one segment to the next. The following is a summary of the identified characteristics of each spiritual

growth segment: 10

Exploring Christ: The people in this segment have a basic belief in God, but they are unsure about Christ and his role in their lives.

Growing in Christ: The people in this segment have a personal relationship with Christ. They’ve made a commitment to trust Him with their souls’ salvation and for eternity, but they are just beginning to learn what it means and what it takes to develop a relationship with Him.

Close to Christ: The people in this segment depend on Christ every day. They see Christ as someone who assists them in life. On a daily basis, they turn to Him for help and guidance for the issues they face.

Christ-Centered: The people in this segment would identify their relationship with Christ as the most important relationship in their entire lives. They see their lives as fully surrendered to Jesus and His agenda, subordinating everything to His will and His desires.

The Christ Explorer Profile

Interestingly, unlike the other segments, the Exploring Christ segment is composed of two distinct

groups of people— those who are active explorers and those who are passive attenders. The Alpha Course

strongly targets the “Christ Explorer” segment. The first group (the active explorers) includes those individuals

who are genuinely seeking to resolve their doubts about the reality and character of Jesus. These are the people

most commonly associated with the descriptor “Exploring Christ.” But there is also a second group of people in

this segment who are not really “seeking” at all. These are churchgoers who seem content with a shallow

spiritual life marked by minimal faith-based beliefs, relationships, and activities. They may have a nominal

faith, but they fail to show any signs of active growth. The combination of these two kinds of “explorers” makes

the Exploring Christ segment a mixed bag of nonbelievers. This segment is clearly interested in Jesus, and they

10 Hawkins, Greg L.; Parkinson, Cally (2011-08-12). Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal about Spiritual Growth (Kindle Locations 305-322, 234-242). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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want to understand how they can have a relationship with him and they want to belong. This desire to belong

does not automatically translate into a desire to “help me get connected into a small group or a serving

opportunity.” Instead, those in this segment want to feel welcomed and they want to know that the church has a

place for them— even if they are not so sure about their faith.

As people grow spiritually, they move from one segment to the next on the spiritual continuum.

Movement from Exploring Christ to Growing in Christ is all about Christian basics. Developing a firm

foundation of spiritual beliefs and attitudes is critical during this trust-building phase. The impact of church

activities on spiritual growth is most significant in this movement. The simple formula for addressing the needs

in Movement 1 (vision/beliefs + serving and community connection opportunities + basic spiritual practices)

offers the potential to accelerate spiritual growth. 11

It is critical for newcomers to become involved in the church’s ministry as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, until newcomers assume some ministry responsibility, they won’t feel emotionally part of the

church. They will think of the church in terms of “them” rather than “us.”12 In addition, finding a way to fit into

the structure of the local church is essential for new people who are joining the church. Those who find “secure

and significant” places of service within the ministries of the church will not easily slip away.13

What are the characteristics of someone who has been assimilated into the life of the church? Heck’s

listing suggests that the following characteristics may reflect an engaged and active familial church partner and

a fully devoted Christ Follower:

Identifies with the goals of the church. Is regular in worship attendance and in attendance at special services (Hebrews 10:25). Attends Communion and Sunday school regularly and has Bible reading and family devotions in the

home (Acts 2:42). Attends some special functions of the congregation such as council meetings, church picnics, special

workshops, and midweek services. Is growing spiritually (2 Peter 3:18). Has affiliated with the congregation. Have six or more friends in the church.

11 Hawkins, Greg L.; Parkinson, Cally (2011-08-12). Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal about Spiritual Growth (Kindle Locations 251-264, 358-386). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.12 http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/1990/fall/90l4038.html13 Ervin R. Stutzman, Welcome!: A Biblical and Practical Guide to Receiving New Members (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1990), pg. 130.

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Has a task or role that is appropriate for his or her spiritual gift(s) (Romans 12; 1Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4:10‐11).

Is involved in a fellowship group (Acts 2:42). Gives regularly and generously (1 Corinthians 16:2). Tells others about the Lord and His church (Matthew 28:18‐20; Acts 1:8)14

CONTEXTUAL DISCRIPTION OF ALPHA

In general, Alpha is an 11-week course that is promoted and presented to be nonthreatening in nature.

Each session presents basic topics as broad questions, such as "Who is Jesus?" "Why did Jesus die?” "Why and

how do I pray?” “How Does God Guide Us?” “Who Is the Holy Spirit? “How can I resist Evil?” and “Does

God Heal Today?”. Classes are primarily given in the evening and follow a prescribed format. The gathering

starts with a one-hour meal during which participants can casually get to know one another. Following dinner,

announcements are made and a worship song or two are sung. Next comes a 45-minute lecture, given either by

someone from the church or via DVD, which is the preferred method in most groups. The lecture is followed by

a coffee break and finally small group discussions that last approximately 45 minutes. The bible and topics such

as faith and God are not typically discussed during the meal. It is a time to create connections between

participants. Moreover, Alpha stresses for its group leaders that the atmosphere be nonthreatening, and this is

supported throughout the evening: at dinner, the focus is on getting people to talk about their week; the DVDs

have a "Did you ever consider this?" attitude to them; and during the question period at the end of the evening,

participants are encouraged to share their thoughts even if they disagree or have hesitations about the discussion

topic. In addition to the 10 weekly evening sessions, there is a day-long retreat where there is teaching on the

Holy Spirit, break out sessions, worship, and prayer.

Some churches think that speaking in tongues is no longer a present day gift and they have issues with

that portion of the course which can be left out and does not disrupt the general teaching and flow of the course.

This flexibility for how to use the course is part of its appeal and has allowed it to be used by multiple

denominations and in various settings from colleges to prisons.15

14 Joel D. Heck, New Member Assimilation: Practical Prevention of Backdoor Loss through Front door Care (St. Louis: Concordia, 1988), pg. 54-55.15 Einstein, Mara (2007-09-14). Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion in a Commercial Age (Media, Religion and Culture) (pp. 107-109). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.

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The Alpha helpers and reinforcement within the videos themselves support continued commitment to

the course by guests. Throughout the videos there are cutaways to people in the audience—all young and,

interestingly, not all happy, suggesting that it is okay to continue to question, to wrestle with life's big questions

as the logo suggests. According to Kimberly Reeve, Alpha's director of marketing and development, the church

must run a course five times before it begins to take hold within a community. 16

Our church was very satisfied with the Alpha format, DVDs, and material. We modified some of the

course elements to fit our time and resource constraints but maintained the integrity of the core components of

the course. We found the Alpha Course was true to it’s predicted returns. It created a venue in which to form

solid decisions for Christ, it created spiritual momentum, camaraderie, and relationships build around the bible.

However, we felt that post Alpha follow up interventions were needed and would be a critical addition to

maintaining spiritual momentum and continued growth in church assimilation when the course was over. We

formed an Alpha follow up team and implemented some programing of our own creation based on the

expressed needs and expectations of the Alpha guests. While we tended to assume that our post-alpha strategies

and interventions promoted church assimilation elements, we knew that we needed to evaluate our practice to

determine what was truly working and what needed to be re-worked in preparation for the up coming Alpha

Course.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Action Research methodology was chosen for this study for a number of reasons. First, the value of the

research is centered on the relevance of the findings as it relates to those directly involved in the intervention

being studied. Second, it capitalizes on the day-to-day work experiences of the program process, preparation,

and implementation and views research findings as opportunities to improve practice.

This type of research is not performed by “expert” researchers or consultants who then provide a report

with suggestions as to what the people intimately acquainted with the program operational activities should do.

16 Einstein, Mara (2007-09-14). Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion in a Commercial Age (Media, Religion and Culture) (p. 110). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.

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In Action Research, the research plan and implementation is done by those directly involved and closest to

the object being studied. Any learning that takes place, interventions taken, or subsequent improvements

implemented are done directly by those invested in the production and organization of the program.

Action Research uses a holistic approach to problem solving where interactions and relationships in

social settings are priority and the evidence and data is gathered from multiple sources, multiple perspectives,

and from interactions with the people directly and indirectly involved in the process. It is a way of learning

more about the potential of ministry effectiveness, reliability and integrity of the program design, and efficiency

of processes and implementation to reach envisioned goals. This is accomplished by questioning, listening,

watching, acting, collecting data, analyzing and reflecting. This type of research actually takes shape, evolves,

informs and transforms during the time in which the program preparation interventions and implementation

efforts are in progress.

Action Research is a very rewarding endeavor. It requires ingenuity and creativity. It also requires

discipline in the area of documentation (i.e., records such as a journaling, interviews, formal and informal

conversations), and it utilizes technology to study the object and engage in regular self reflection. Action

Research is not only the study of social situations and conditions; it is intended to be transformational for the

organization as well as the researchers on a very personal level.

Action Research is an incremental and cyclical developmental process generally comprised of the

following steps:

1.     Reflecting on current practice2.     Taking action through an intervention3.     Measuring the outcome of the intervention4.     Reflecting on the results5.     The cycle begins again 17

 The goal of this particular study is to acquire as much information as possible that can improve

knowledge and provide helpful insight into ways to improve the Alpha Course in such a way that it would

facilitate spiritual growth, enhance church assimilation and contribute to the overall mission, vision and values

17 Rory O'Brien, "An Overview of the Methodological Approach of Action Research," 1998, section goes here, accessed May 17, 2015, http://web.net/~robrien/papers/arfinal.html.

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of the church. Data collection for this study incorporates a combination of qualitative and quantitative data.

These two approaches will not only work in concert with each other in the entire research process, but will also

help to 'triangulate' the composite of findings.

The quantitative aspect of this study includes an on-line survey. The Alpha participants were asked to

fill out the survey at the end of the 11 week Alpha program. The layout and content of the survey provided a

visual of the church ministry structure, information about service opportunities, some questions about the

participant’s Alpha experience, and permission from them to personally contact them for further follow up

study. The survey provided check boxes along side each service opportunity to help Alpha participants evaluate

areas of church ministry and activities that they felt would match their gifting and passion to serve. (See

Appendix A).

Qualitative data collection included observations, informal conversations with the Alpha volunteers and

participants. The observations and data focused on their thoughts and feeling around the Alpha experience as

well as their perceived spiritual growth and assimilation activities that they actually engaged in since the Alpha

Course ended.

WORK AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT

This study takes place in the context of a 2500 member church located in the upper Midwest. Like all

churches, communicating the biblical message and effective church assimilation is a formidable challenge. Our

church leadership decided to implement the Alpha Course in 2013 as a way to reach those who are far from

God. In the summer of 2013 seven people from the Church traveled to Chicago area to prepare and train for

implementation of the Alpha course in our local Church and the first Alpha session was launched in the fall of

2013.

With the exception of the lead pastor, the entire Alpha leadership team has been comprised of volunteers

with minimal experience in the general day-to-day operations of the church. It was imperative that we as

volunteers learned how to operate within the medium of the church culture and organizational systems to access

and request services, utilize church resources, as well as partner and interface with various administrative and

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technological support teams. Marketing promotions included public announcements during weekend services

and other church sponsored media outlets as well as web based information and presentations on the church

website. Marketing efforts were limited to inside the church and targeted attenders considered to be Christ

Explorers. The executive pastors championed the Alpha initiative and through their support, guidance, insight

and encouragement, we successfully negotiated and navigated the church operational environment to launch the

first Alpha Course with approximately 30 starting participants.

Part of the purpose of this study is to assess organizational readiness for research to evaluate our

process and practices revolving around the Alpha program and to discover cultural attitudes and the practice of

the assimilation process as it currently exists within the scope of the Church. An interview was conducted with

one of the executive pastors. I opted to put the full interview here since it provides critical insight into the

intention of bringing Alpha to the church and background context for this study.

Interview with an Executive PastorApril 16, 2015

Question: Why did Journey Church decide to bring Alpha into the Church. What was the point?

Pastor: I think our heart was to do something to reach outside people who were interested or mildly interested in Christ or the Christian life. We have heard Alpha was one of those tools that allowed, in a non-threatening way, to do a meal, and get teaching, and put them in small groups and do it relationally to give people a chance to ask questions without feeling forced to make a decision on a weekend service before they really had a chance to do what Jesus said which was to count the cost and see if this is truly a life that they now wanted to live. In the past, when I grew up, it was your first time, “do or die,” “heaven or hell,” choose today. I think today people don’t make those kinds of decisions like that. They don’t choose to move out of the neighborhood quickly. They don’t choose to accept a job quickly. They don’t buy cars necessarily quickly. It’s a big step. When we talk about Christianity and a lifestyle that’s going to impact a person, their family, and generations to come, we have to ask ourselves: “What can we do as a church to make it less threatening and more inviting to somebody out there?” Alpha seemed to fit the bill. We felt like Alpha would be offering two things: One, It would bring the lost person in and give them a chance to talk about questions they have and get answers. Two, it allows some of our people who are high on the chart for evangelism gifting to pour themselves into ministry. We always look for people to have a place in ministry. Not everybody sings, not everybody teaches, not everybody wants to take care of children or babies or nursery stuff. So where do we find a spot for everybody in the body of Christ to feel like they’ve rolled up their sleeves and feel like they are part of the game? So that was the thought process behind Alpha.

Question: Is Alpha an evangelism program or discipleship program?

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Pastor: Originally, we didn’t feel that Alpha would be a discipleship program. We really thought it would be an evangelism program. But now that we have been in it for almost two years, it’s definitely making disciples of new believers. So we are not getting everybody that’s lost, but some of the people are. Some are sitting here for three months who haven’t made a commitment to Christ, which is “Ok”. They are checking us out. We should always have that group of people in our building somewhere. Alpha gives them a chance to come in and actually ask the questions. You’re not going to do that on a weekend service…”hey Kevin, Dan, I’ve got a question.” It doesn’t work like that. But it sure does in the Alpha environment. I think we are making more disciples in Alpha than I would have originally thought. I thought it was going to be all about lost people finding Christ.

Question: What types of qualitative / quantitative evidence does the Church use to determine ministry effectiveness?

Pastor: We evaluate all of our ministries. Our whole ministry evaluation is: “Is it working?” If it’s not, we have to be willing to change it up because people are going to give us one chance. We go by perception, crowd feel and informal comments from visitors and conversations at the door. We use comment cards on a regular basis. We measure salvation count, return visits, and cost.

Question: How does Alpha fit into the flow and organizational objectives and strategy at Journey Church?

Pastor: My heart is exactly what we felt about Alpha upfront and what the training told us at Willow Creek, and what I still feel today and will fight for. We need something that is at at the front, the spear head of our church for evangelism. If anyone says to us: “ “What do you guys do to reach lost people?” I want to be able say, “Alpha is our tool.” If you bring your neighbor that moved into town from San Diego with a job change and they move next door to you and are looking for a church but they don’t know Jesus, they are as lost as can be, and you just want to bring them in because you care about lost people, we would like you to take them to Alpha almost equally as much as you would take them to a weekend service. Weekend service is less threatening because they can say one time: “I’m coming with you and then I’m done.” Alpha Course requires an 11 week time commitment. Not everyone is going to sign up for that. But I still want Alpha to be the major evangelism arm of our church.

Question: What is your perception on how effective Alpha has been in reaching our evangelism objectives as a church?

Pastor: We are not seeing as many lost people come to Christ as I would have probably hoped for at the beginning. Never the less, we are seeing people at the end of Alpha stick with the Church, and numbers of them are crossing over the line of unbelief or skepticism to full faith in Christ. They are doing that. So, I’m thankful for that. And I would probably answer the question, “Could it do better?—Yes”. Then I would ask the question, “Is any other ministry doing any better in bringing lost people to Christ?” I think my answer would be: I’m not sure that they are. The only thing I could think of would be to get people to come to know Christ quicker would be the weekend service. It is intentional that we attempt to bring people to Christ at every service. They are going to make some decisions in that setting. But, I could argue that it’s a more solid commitment when you spend 11

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weeks wrestling with good solid questions, and good solid teaching and bantering it around in a group of believers who are already convinced and some not convinced. They are finding out some truth. In the weekend service they are moved by music a little bit and they are moved by a message that touched their heart, depending where they are in their life. They are making decisions for Christ. That’s great. It’s not either-or. I want people to find Christ on the weekend and in Alpha. I want people to find Christ!

After the interview with the executive pastor I initiated informal conversations with an administrative

assistant who works in the area of Launch Point, which functions as a hospitality ministry to answer questions

and welcome guests after each service. As I shared the possibility of research and the idea of exploring the

processes in her area, she responded with, “I don’t think I have time for that.” She did agree to learn more about

Action Research and I emailed her a summary of the purpose and definition of Action Research. Following this

discussion, I attempted to meet with the same Administrative Assistant and Pastor who was over the hospitality

area. After multiple attempts over a three week period, a meeting was set up. I arrived for the meeting as

scheduled but no one was at the meeting location. I found the secretary of that area. She did some checking and

twenty minutes later, she said “The Pastor is not going to come in and the Administrative Assistant could not be

reached. No further attempts were made to research this area.

At the time of this study we had just completed Alpha Course Session number 4. We are currently in the

midst of Alpha Course Session number 5. Approximately 60 people attend each Alpha session, 30 are

volunteers, and 30 are participants. Alpha program activities include a full course meal for 60 people one night

every week for 11 weeks, a tech team of three that run audio, lights, and visual equipment, small group

facilitators and helpers for each of the 5 groups, speakers, event coordination, and meal preparation for the one

day retreat, as well as a post care follow up team.

While evaluation of the Alpha Course as an evangelistic tool is important, This study will focus on the

function of Alpha as an assimilation tool. An investigation as to the effectiveness of the Alpha Course can

determine it’s function, value, and worth to the mission-vision of the church and provide valuable insights and

information to improve our Alpha practice with each sequential Alpha Course offering.

CYCLE 1: REPORT

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Cycle One Research Question

If we implement specific, timely, and targeted interventions during and after the Alpha course, will the Alpha

participants engage in serving and other connection opportunities within the local church community when

Alpha is over?

Question Development: From the middle of the 11 week session to the end of the course Alpha participants

became increasingly inquisitive about “life after Alpha.” They seek guidance and direction from Alpha hosts

and helpers specific to maintaining their newfound spiritual momentum and how to identify their unique

spiritual gifts, skills, and interests in an effort to discover how they could belong, connect, and contribute to the

Church as a whole.

During our 2nd session of Alpha we offered a one-page paper listing a smorgasbord of connection

opportunities available within the church. It seemed to lack the specific interactive guidance that the guests

seemed to be hoping for. That was understandable since we know from research that those in the Christ

Explorer segment do not always have historical reference or experience with a church environment, nor were

they familiar with the pathways or communication channels to navigate their way into certain areas of ministry

or the church infrastructure on their own. The idea of where to start and how to begin can be somewhat

intimidating, complex and daunting for a new comer.

During session #3, we developed a document that visually grouped the various serving opportunities

under 4 existing ministry umbrellas of the church: Passionate Worship, Enthusiastic Service, Offering Hope

and Authentic Community. We felt that this would provide a needed visual construct and important

conceptual framework to assist the guests in choosing connection-serving options that would best match their

interests, skills and gifts. In addition, we included the names of the pastors responsible for each of the four

umbrella areas to illuminate and clarify the executive pastoral structural configuration of the church.

In session #4, we incorporated this information in an on-line survey tool to give to each of the Alpha

participants the ability to easily associate the options available to them since the options were outlined in the

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context of the church ministry structure and then match their skills and interest to any number of ministry

areas.

Evidence Used for Evaluation

The results from the on-line survey were tabulated on a spreadsheet. Responses were categorized under

the four umbrella ministries, and analyzed (Appendix B). To facilitate communication, the lead pastors of each

ministry received the survey results with contact information of the participants. Comments and anecdotal

information from the survey were catalogued and analyzed separately from the rest of the survey data as they

provided the perceptions and individual stories that provide evidence of the thoughts, heart and spirit of the

guests (Appendix C). Observations, conversational information, and notes were gathered and reported as well.

Evaluation

Of the 11 first time Alpha guests that filled out the survey, a total of 27 areas of ministry were check

marked as potential connection points and/or serving opportunities. The responses were spread out fairly evenly

with two areas receiving 7 check marks, two areas receiving 4, and one area receiving 5.

PASSIONATE

WORSHIP

ENTHUSIASTIC SERVICE-

AUTHENTIC

COMMUNITY

OFFERING HOPE ALPHA

Number of times each

ministry was chosen by the

Guests

7 7 4 4 5

Comments and anecdotal evidence: Comments from the survey fell into three identifiable categories:

connection and relationship building, spiritual growth, and course tone and format. Alpha Guests indicated that

meeting new people, connecting with people and the church and building relationships were very important to

the guests. In the area of spiritual growth, guests reported feeling closer to God, growing with God in their

spiritual journey and in faith. They also reported that they have learned and acquired a greater understanding

about being a Christian. Comments about the course tone and format included: “I would have liked a little more

discussion time and more time for questions from hosts and from the attendees. It was a little too basic for

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someone who already was a Christ follower and wanted to find out more about God and the Bible, however it

was nice to talk openly with other people about matters of faith.” “I really enjoyed our Saturday in Burlington

learning about the Holy Spirit and experiencing his presence.” “It was not boring like a lot of classes could be.”

“Did you make a commitment to Christ at any point during the Alpha Course?” Question: A number of

guests had identified themselves as “Christian” before and after the Alpha course but then indicated a “yes”

when asked if they accepted Christ. While it may indicate confusion on the part of the guest as to what the

biblical definition of “Christian” is, for the purpose of this evaluation, the answer of “yes” was considered to be

an indication that spiritual growth took place and that a significant and effectual movement closer to Christ

transpired during the Alpha Course. Seven of the eleven respondents answered “yes” to having received Christ.

Observations, Conversational information, and Notes: Informal conversations and observations were

recorded in my research journal that indicated creative and intentional efforts for deeper engagement with

others and a willingness to be vulnerable and transparent. In addition, evidence was collected that indicated that

Alpha volunteers and hosts and helpers were also energized to initiate programs, bible studies, or meetings to

help facilitate connection and provide assimilation opportunities when Alpha was over. Examples include:

One of the facilitators began texting and emailing snippets of biblical scripture and wisdom

occasionally through the week to men that were in his discussion group. He is contemplating the

idea of a routine scheduled time together with them for further growth and relationship building.

Three of the Alpha participants attended the “New Member” class that was scheduled shortly after

the Alpha Class concluded.

An Alpha facilitator from a previous Alpha session initiated an abortion support group and is

meeting on a regular basis. In addition, the executive pastor and overseer of the Alpha program

also made himself available on a special occasions to minister to the group.

Two discussion groups formed their own small groups. One of the groups attended a quarterly

“Group Connect” offered at the church designed to help church partners find a life group. This

Alpha discussion group took a leadership role and created their own life group and other members

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of the church joined them.

One of the executive pastors announced his intention to start up a new believers class as an

avenue for Alpha graduates and other church attendees to build relationships and encourage

movement on the growth continuum.

Past Alpha volunteers and guests returned to cook one of the evening meals for the upcoming

Alpha session.

Participants remained together talking, laughing, and praying, 30 minutes to an hour after each

Alpha class officially ended.

A number of Alpha participants took action immediately upon filling out the survey by calling the

church office and successfully made contact with the people in the specific area of ministry that

they checked on the survey.

Over all, people found very creative and interesting ways to continue to fellowship with each other and

find their “place” by creating their own programs and meeting opportunities.

REFLECTION

Perhaps the one disappointment was that only 11 out of 25 guests competed the survey. Some may have

not attended the last two classes and that was the time when the survey was presented. Or, perhaps the fact that

it was an “on-line” data collection form proved to be challenge for some. Looking back on our intervention

method with the benefit of the data, I now think that more information and data could have been gathered if we

had computer stations set up before and after the class with a person who could enter their responses to the

survey on-line, or we could have provided a paper survey option to the guests who would not, or could not

complete the survey on-line.

During the last Alpha class the host opened the microphone for people to share their thoughts about the

Alpha course. A number of people courageously came foreword and provided moving and inspiring stories of

transformation, renewal, and spiritual awakenings. It seemed that while the learning and instruction was

valuable and important to the guests, sharing their personal stories and struggles with God and the Bible during

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the class was very important as well. The methodology of non-threatening open discussion in small sharing

groups was extremely important to the participants.

Lastly, the survey comments reflected an expectation that the course could have covered biblical

foundations on a deeper level then it did. Perhaps this is area that can be evaluated as to the way the course was

marketed and presented to the congregation. We could have potentially done a better job of targeting those who

are in the Exploring Christ segment.

CONCUSIONS

The overall goal of my Action Research was to evaluate the Alpha Course in preparing and responding

to the Alpha graduate’s perceived needs to take the next step of growing deeper in spiritual relationships and

assimilating into the life of the local church. I was surprised at the amount of clear and overwhelming

collaborative evidence from the qualitative and quantitative data that strongly indicate that the guest/graduates

did engage in serving and other connection opportunities within the local church community when Alpha was

over. There are a couple of additions and changes I would like to consider as we launch into cycle two of the

research:

1) Provide options for survey completion (i.e., computer assistance, or hard copy)

2) The survey tool used in cycle one reflects desires on the part of the Alpha graduates to align with

ministry activities. To uncover data closer to the question, “Is assimilation actually happening?” We

must look at what is being demonstrated in the lives of the Alpha guests over a period of time.

Therefore, Cycle Two question would be: Are the areas check marked by the Alpha graduates in the

Post Alpha Survey being actively demonstrated in their lives 2 months after the survey was completed?

3) Research opportunities abound in which to further understand and uncover existing church assimilation

process effectiveness and knowledge creation helpful for organizational cultural evaluation, vision,

planning, goals and direction.

FINAL REFLECTIONS

Alpha volunteer leaders took on roles that carried significant responsibility in program implementation

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as well as other roles and activities that included: marketing- planning and creation, program coordination

and executive decision making that, prior to the Alpha Course, seemed to rest primarily in the domain of paid

staff. This new dynamic seemed challenging for those in paid staff positions. In addition, the church proved

itself not an easy enterprise to navigate and interface for volunteers. Communication channels and pathways as

well as authority centers are known by the paid staff, but were are not intuitive or simple to access for the

volunteers. System procedures and unexpected issues such as double booking rooms and space, missed booking

or miscommunication of work orders, unexpected church calendar changes and event switches were regularly

experienced.

Routine decisions around the Alpha Course frequently resulted in power struggles between the

volunteers that were trained in Alpha Course implementation and the paid administrative and technician staff

who seemed to have minimal understanding of what the Alpha Course was or why it was considered an

important program addition to the church by executive leadership. Checking in frequently and early with the

executive pastor when things are not going well with the coordination and collaboration with various

departments in the Church proved critical for the success of the program.

This investigation revealed support for Alpha and a respect for the research process by the executive

pastoral staff. However, interactions with other staff seemed to reveal adverse attitudes toward the research

process and/or Alpha in general. Further research would perhaps reveal insights into the church organizational

culture and provide keys and answers to determine if this was a pocket of negative sentiment toward research,

or if this issue is more wide spread within the church organization.

REFERENCES

Anderson, Leith. A Church for the 21st Century. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1992. Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith. Philadelphia:

Fortress Press, 1977. Brueggemann, Walter. The Prophetic Imagination. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 2001.

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Christiano, Kevin J. "Church as a Family Surrogate: Another Look at Family Ties, Anomie, and Church

Involvement." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 25, no. 3 (September 01, 1986): 339-54. Accessed April 24, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/1386298?ref=no-x-route:227175c99bb3a48314396c923d73eac3.

Durey, David Duane. "Attracting and Assimilating the Unchurched in the 21st Century." PhD diss., Asbury

Theological Seminary, 2002. Accessed June 1, 2015. http://garyrohrmayer.typepad.com/files/assimilation-report.pdf.

Hawkins, Greg L., and Cally Parkinson. Focus: The Top Ten Things People Want and Need from You and Your

Church. Barrington, IL: Willow Creek Resources, 2009. Hawkins, Greg L., and Cally Parkinson. Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal about Spiritual Growth. Grand

Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. Hawkins, Greg L., Cally Parkinson, Eric Arnson, and Bill Hybels. Reveal: Where Are You? Barrington, IL:

Willow Creek Resources, 2007. Hawkins, Greg L., Cally Parkinson, John Ortberg, and Bill Hybels. Follow Me: What's next for You?

Barrington, IL: Willow Creek Resources, 2008. Heck, Joel D. New Member Assimilation: Practical Prevention of Backdoor Loss through Frontdoor Care. St.

Louis: Concordia, 1988. "Interview with Jim Charlton, Diri of Development, Alpha USA." Telephone interview by author. April 7,

2015. "Interview with Pastor Dan Ramus, Senior Pastor of Journey Church, Kenosha WI." Interview by author. April

17, 2015. Martinson, Oscar B. "Religion and Community-Oriented Attitudes." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

21, no. 1 (March 01, 1982): 48-58. Accessed April 24, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/1385569?ref=no-x-route:a319885dd4ea4a8bfe1038266cac6158.

Miller, Herb. How to Build a Magnetic Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1987. O'Brien, Rory. "An Overview of the Methodological Approach of Action Research." 1998. Accessed May 17,

2015. http://web.net/~robrien/papers/arfinal.html. Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation.

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Ratz, Calvin C. "The Velcro Church." Leadership Journal, September 1990. Accessed May 23, 2015.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/1990/fall/90l4038.html. Roberts, Michael K. "The Nature and Sources of Religious Involvement." Review of Religious Research 25, no.

4 (June 01, 1984): 334-50. Accessed April 24, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3511367?ref=no-x-route:78688a79a569340be87b18bfddb51e61.

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Roof, Wade Clark. "Church Involvement in America: Social Factors Affecting Membership and Participation." Review of Religious Research 21, no. 4, Supplement: The Unchurched American: A Second Look (January 01, 1980): 405-26. Accessed April 24, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3510681?ref=no-x-route:85dc71bdf5bba220b86f791061e3a9d9.

Russell, Maura. "The Spiritual Dimension in Addiction." Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review 92, no. 367

(2003): 234-42. Savage, John S. "The Teflon Church." Leadership Journal, September 1990. Accessed June 4, 2015.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/1990/fall/90l4030.html. Shelly, Marshall. "From the Editors." Leadership, 1990. Stutzman, Ervin R. Welcome!: A Biblical and Practical Guide to Receiving New Members. Scottdale, PA:

Herald Press, 1990. "T2 Resources." Center For Collaborative Action -. Accessed April 07, 2015.

http://ccar.wikispaces.com/T2+Resources. Taylor, Robert Joseph. "Church Members as a Source of Informal Social Support." Review of Religious

Research 30, no. 2 (December 01, 1988): 193-203. Accessed April 24, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3511355?ref=no-x-route:901fe5fe02458eb80f1200a3810aedac.

Warren, Richard. The Purpose Driven Church: Growth without Compromising Your Message & Mission. Grand

Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub., 1995.

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APPENDIX A

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Offering Hope- Pastor Dan Remus

☐ Invite and attend Alpha with a friend

☐ Prayer

☐ Mission Trips (Local or International)

☐ Crossroads(Brass Elementary, Mentoring program)

Alpha☐ Host / Helper ☐ Technology ☐ Meal Coordinator

☐ Hospitality (food/prep/clean up)

☐Lead worship/guitar/sing

Would you like someone to contact you from the area(s) you checked?☐ YES ☐ NO

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APPENDIX B

NameDid you make

a commitment

to Christ?Additional Comments: WORSHIP SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE

Guest 1 I am a firm and happy Christian for many years. Usher/GreeterCompassion

(Ministry to People in need)

Serve Team (Community

Service)

Guest 2

Guest 3Men’s ministry

to widows & single parents

Guest 4 YesChildren’s

Ministry (Birth to 5th Grade)

Guest 5 Yes

Guest 6 YesThank you to the leaders. Because if Steve he asked us to join the group when we were Loki g to connect with a group.

Children’s Ministry (Birth to

5th Grade)

Name

Did you make a

commitment to

Christ?

Additional Comments: WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP SERVICE

Guest 7 Yes Audio/Video Camera Operator/Stage Hand

Guest 8 Serve Team (Community Service)

Guest 9 Yes always have loved and believed in Jesus; however, it got stronger Usher/Greeter Serve Team

(Community Service)

Guest 10 Yes I try to make that commitment every day. I was baptized 2 summers ago. Choir/Singer Band/Instrument Audio/Video Camera

Operator/Stage Hand

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Guest 11 Yes

Name COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY OFFERING HOPE

OFFERING HOPE

OFFERING HOPE

OFFERING HOPE ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA

Would you like someone to

contact you from the area(s) you

checked?

Guest 1Crossroads (Brass

Elementary, Mentoring program)

Host/Helper Yes

Guest 2 No

Guest 3 Host/Helper Yes

Guest 4Invite and

attend Alpha with a friend

Hospitality (food/prep/clean-

up)Yes

Guest 5 NoGuest 6 Yes

Name COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY OFFERING HOPE

OFFERING HOPE

OFFERING HOPE

OFFERING HOPE ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA

Would you like someone to contact

you from the area(s) you checked?

Guest 7Welcome to

Journey Church class

Yes

Guest 8 Life Group

Essentials Groups (On Campus) (Men, Women,

Marriage, Finances, Bible Study)

Welcome to Journey Church

class

Invite and attend Alpha with a

friendYes

Guest 9 Invite and attend Alpha with a

Yes

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friendGuest 10 Host/Helper Technology Yes

Guest 11

APPENDIX C

Name Additional Comments: Please share any additional thoughts about Alpha and how you benefited from the program

Guest 1 I am a firm and happy Christian for many years.

It has been heavy on my heart to help at the Brass School crossroads mentor program this year, life certainly got busy , but I want to start up in the fall. I am a reading teacher , tutor , interventionist and compassionate person. I feel my gifts can touch the life of a student and they can touch mine - Lisa B

Guest 2 Alpha brought be closer to God with all the speaking videos and also getting to know new and exciting people. Thank you!

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Guest 3I thought Alpha was a very good, beginning course for new believers or people unsure of Christianity. I would have liked a little more discussion time and more time for questions from hosts and from the attendees. It was a little too basic for someone who already was a Christ follower and wanted to find out more about God and the Bible. However it was nice to talk openly with other people about matters of faith.

Guest 4 I have really enjoyed the Alpha course and the people I have met during the course. It has made me feel more connected to the church. I have already reached out to Jonathan Foster regarding my interest in the children's ministry and he put in in contact with Denelle Carson. Thanks! Donna Reineke-Hernandez

Guest 5

Guest 6

Thank you to the leaders. Because if Steve he asked us to join the group when we were Loki g to connect with a group.

Guest 7

This class has been a blessing to me and my family. We are new to the community, and we were looking to connect with a group. We knew there were happenings on Wednesday, we showed up, Steve saw us wondering the hallway and asked us to join the group. We have enjoyed the fellowship, have been blessed to connect with a small group, we have connected to other smaller groups, and built great relationships with fellow Christians because of Alpha. Even though Alpha is geared towards newer Christians, we attended every session, learning more about being a Christian, and ultimately growing in our faith. We now there are no accidents with God, we are so thankful for Steve, Nancy, the Alpha leaders and The Alpha course.

Guest 8My relationship with God and my spiritual journey grew during this course. I loved that I got to meet new Christian people and connect with my group members. I am grateful that this course was offered. It was a non threatening way to get involved, get connected, and learn more. I really enjoyed our Saturday in Burlington learning about the holy spirit and experiencing his presence. I want to thank everyone for their encouragement and prayers during this course.

Guest 9always have loved and believed in Jesus; however, it got stronger

Everyone was terrific from top, down. We met some fantastic people that I hope to connect with for a very long time! Thank you again!

Guest 10

I try to make that commitment every day. I was baptized 2 summers ago.

I was not raised with religion or spirituality and I feel I am just learning about and trying to read The Bible. I though there may be more information then there was in the class. But it did help me understand some things I did not know. It was not boring like a lot of classes could be. It also gave me the opportunity to meet new ( great ) people within the church. Over all, I was satisfied with the class. I would, have , and will recommend it to others

Guest 11 There are so many wonderful opportunities to get involved with, however, I just started a new job with non-traditional hours, I work every weekend. This makes it difficult to commit to anything at this time. I enjoyed Alpha, again, I felt this was an extension of God sending Jesus to rescue us. Alpha was a great experience for me. God Bless.

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