One of the big questions a lot of people have when they run Alpha is: what next?
Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet, and the name itself implies that it is a beginning. If it is just the beginning, there is a lot to come after the beginning!
While there is no prescription from Alpha as to what comes next for the Alpha grad (that is left up to churches to determine), a good number of churches have found the following next-steps to be helpful:
Help out at the next Alpha
St. Benedict’s parish in Halifax invites everyone who takes Alpha to come back and be on a team on the next Alpha. They see it as a leadership pipeline for the parish, equipping people for ministry by taking on a role specific to where they are at as a disciple.
And there are so many roles one can take on at Alpha- administrator, small group host, small group helper, Master of Ceremonies, greeter, food prep, AV task force, intercessor, inviter, speaker, etc.
It's really special when someone has a conversion in Alpha and is excited about the program. They also have an opportunity to come back and help!
For anyone who had a good experience on Alpha, there is a role for them in helping run an Alpha.
Join a connect group
A Connect Group is a medium-sized group of people meeting semi-monthly in a home. Connect Groups continue the “Alpha experience” by creating a place of common life for Christians.
Pope Benedict said that:
“In proclaiming conversion we must also offer a community of life, a common space for the new style of life. We cannot evangelize with words alone; the Gospel creates life, creates communities of progress; a merely individual conversion has no consistency…”
A Connect Group is a response to this urging. The meetings consist of sharing food together, someone giving a reflection or talk or teaching, a time of discussion, and a time of praising God and prayer for anyone’s needs.
While they take some commitment and a bit of work to facilitate, many who join a Connect Group find it to be a deeply life-giving experience.
While it may take a few rounds of Alpha to get Connect Groups running, it is something that we invite everyone who takes Alpha to join. It is such an amazing experience and, as my friend, Ron Huntley once told me, “that’s where real ministry happens.”
Become part of the parish
Some of the people who attend your Alpha probably already go to the parish. Hopefully, some of the people who accepted your invitation are new to your parish or new to the Catholic faith altogether.
We want to accompany people who are looking for a Christian community. This means introducing them to the pastor or helping them find the people or programs who will help them wherever they are on their faith journey.
I know of one lady who was a non-practicing Hindu when she took Alpha. She immediately joined RCIA and became Catholic right afterwards. Sometimes that happens, and praise the Lord when it does!
Some others may still struggle with the claims of Christianity and its implications for their life. It may mean just continuing to walk with them in their journey, inviting them to catechetical programs, or to opportunities to meet other disciples of the Lord.
I know of many people who were practicing or lapsed Catholics who hadn’t been to confession in decades. With a little guidance from a trusted friend, they were able to approach the sacrament of healing and mercy after attending Alpha.
One thing is for sure: we want to make sure that we are inviting people who attend our Alpha to become part of our parish.
These are some of the letters that come after Alpha in the alphabet. When we have finished ministering to people by hosting them at our Alpha, let’s keep the conversation going so they can discover just how rich and permanent a relationship with Jesus and his Church is.
