Ask Benih

Facing challenges while running Alpha? Ask our handy little helper, Benih for some top tips that will help you run a great alpha, wherever you are! There is no question too big or too small.


QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Q: Dear Benih, how can I pray for my Alpha each week?

A: Prayer is absolutely vital to a successful Alpha! Gather with your Alpha team each week before Alpha begins to go over the order of events, highlight any changes, check in with your team, and to pray! Here are some items to pray for each week:

Week 1 – Is there more to life than this?

  • Pray that pre-registered guests will show up online or in person
  • Pray that nothing will prevent them from attending
  • Pray for guests who are unsure to have courage to join
  • Pray for the MC, to be welcoming and engaging so guests feel at ease
  • Pray for Alpha team members to be inviting and feel confident
  • Pray for the health and safety of all team members and their families
  • Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit

Week 2 – Who is Jesus?

  • Pray that guests will have a fresh revelation of who Jesus is
  • Pray for the Alpha team to work together in unity
  • Pray that guests will return and for new guests to join
  • Pray that guests will see their need for God and a greater purpose in life
  • Pray for small groups to gel, have fun, have meaningful conversations

Week 3 – Why did Jesus die?

  • Pray that guests would know and feel the love of Jesus through the video
  • Pray for any team members & guests who are dealing with guilt and shame
  • Pray for team members & guests struggling with forgiveness (towards others or themselves)


Week 4 – How can I have faith?

  • Pray for guests who have never come to faith in Jesus, that they will have a life-transforming encounter with Him tonight (see sample prayer below)
  • Pray for guests with a lapsed faith, that their hearts would draw close to Jesus once again
  • Pray for hosts and helpers, to facilitate the small group discussion with the help of the Holy Spirit

Week 5 – Why and how do I pray?

  • Pray for guests & team members who struggle with prayer because of suffering they have experienced
  • Pray for guests & team members to take one step deeper in a daily prayer time
  • Pray for guests to make space in their schedules for the Alpha Weekend/Time Away


Week 6 – Why and how do I read the Bible?

  • Pray for guests & team members to have a growing hunger for God’s Word
  • Pray for all to set aside a dedicated time to read the Bible each week
  • Pray for guests to commit to and be excited about the Alpha Weekend/Time Away
  • Pray for thought-provoking and engaging conversation tonight in each small group


Week 7 – How does God guide us?

  • Pray for all who are in need of guidance, that they will turn to God
  • Pray for anyone who feels like they’ve made a mess of their lives; to experience God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness
  • Pray for the logistics of the Alpha Weekend/Time Away as teams plan & prepare
  • Pray for prophetic words and pictures to help guide the time of prayer ministry
  • Pray for the families of the guests & team to be protected from injury or sickness

Alpha Weekend/Time Away

  • Pray that all the details will come together for the Alpha Weekend/Time Away
  • Pray against any distractions or obstacles to join the Alpha Weekend
  • Pray for the hosts & helpers as they pray over and with guests, listening to and leaning on the Holy Spirit
  • Pray for guests to encounter the presence, peace, and power of our Lord Jesus Christ and to be filled with the Holy Spirit
  • Pray for great times of laughter, authentic Christian community, and a strong sense of connection to each other and to God in prayer
  • Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to reveal the love of the Father and that it will grow and bear abundant fruit

Week 8 – How can I resist evil?

  • Pray for guests & teams to be protected by the evil schemes of the enemy
  • Pray they will recognize the devil’s lies about God and who we are in Jesus (identity)
  • Pray for all who participated in the Alpha Weekend/Time Away and continued growth
  • Pray for the guests who are still searching, who have not yet experienced the Lord in a new way during this Alpha
  • Pray for those who are suffering, going through temptation, and feeling burdened by the evil in the world

Week 9 – Why and how do I tell others?

  • Pray that team members & guests will be filled with love to reach out to neighbours and those who are far from God
  • Pray for the next Alpha, for guests to invite their friends to give it a try
  • Pray that God will soften the hearts of future Alpha guests; to be receptive to invitations to Alpha
  • Pray for joy to fill the hearts of each Alpha guest and team member


Week 10 – Does God heal today?

  • Pray for the time of prayer ministry that follows the video tonight
  • Pray for God to move in power tonight, for breakthroughs and miracles
  • Pray for protection over the evening: for the technology to work, for no obstacles or distractions that would prevent guests or hosts from attending Alpha
  • Pray for great faith and boldness in those praying and those receiving prayer

Week 11 – What about the church?

  • Pray that guests will want to continue meeting after this last session of Alpha
  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to show guests & team members the next step in their faith journey
  • Pray that God will continue to renew hearts and minds in the lives of guests & team members
  • Pray that guests will feel welcome to join the church community on Sundays and Home Groups and other ways of being involved
  • Prayer of Invitation
  • At the end of Episode 4 of the Alpha Film Series, Nicky Gumbel leads guests in a prayer. There is a prayer in the Alpha Guest Guide that you can pray with guests as the need arises:Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life (take a few moments to ask his forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience). Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free. Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever.
    Thank you, Lord Jesus.Amen.


Name

Q: Dear Benih, how do you introduce worship on Alpha?

A: Some churches introduce worship music only after the Alpha Weekend (or Day) while others start with carefully selected songs on the first night. Here are some ideas from Alpha leaders who have shared their best practices:

Delivery Platform

Some Alpha groups provide a live worship team (yes, even on Zoom!) while others stream music from an online platform (eg. Spotify, YouTube). Think about your context (home Alpha, church, in-person, online etc) and the people with musical talent on your Alpha team.

Music Genre

The best genre of music is the type that makes your guests feel the most welcome. For younger groups that meet in person, you might want to have upbeat, energetic music playing 5 or 10 minutes before your Alpha begins. For older crowds, you could have relaxing instrumental music. If you have a variety of ages at your Alpha, usually lively, fun music is enjoyed by all.

Music Topics

For the first week or two, play upbeat energetic music, either live or streamed 5 to 10 minutes before your in-person Alpha begins. This provides a welcoming and positive atmosphere. Always greet guests as they arrive, whether in person or online. For an in-person Alpha, the Music Leader could play a few songs in the background. Guests can relax and don’t have to participate.

Choose songs that are about God or faith, but not TO God (e.g. Do not sing “I love you Lord” since it requires people to agree with what is being sung, and someone new will not be ready for that). Ask guests to participate if they feel comfortable.

The Alpha leader or the Music Leader can briefly comment before the music begins in order to put people at ease. Say something like, “Since this is a course about the Christian faith, we want you to experience a key part–music and singing. It’s like a prayer to God with music. Please sit back and enjoy. You don’t have to sing along unless you want to.”  Please avoid long explanations.

Music on the Alpha Weekend

For the Alpha Weekend/Day, try to provide lyrics if you’ll be inviting guests to join in the singing. Guests will be observing the Christians in the group as they worship. They will learn as you model how to praise and worship God. We don’t want to restrict Christians from outward expressions of worship; however, we do want them to be mindful that some Alpha guests may have never experienced this setting. We want to remind them that Alpha is for the guests and we want to do everything we can to make them comfortable.

For more info, please see these videos:

Worship on Alpha by Tim Hughes (3.5 min)
How to integrate worship on Alpha by Stew Mcilrath (5 min)


Q: Dear Benih, are the Marriage course session videos available for download?

A: Yes! The Marriage Course videos can now be downloaded for free online via our website. The series has been revised and re-filmed, with updated teaching content, creative short clips, global stories, new sofa couples, and renowned experts.  

You can register your course on the Marriage Course Builder website, and access the videos, promo materials and supporting tools.


Q: Dear Benih, how should I respond to Alpha guests’ questions?

A: When an Alpha guest asks a question during small group time, we want to ensure that other guests have an opportunity to share their perspectives and viewpoints which is part of a healthy discussion. If Alpha leaders give their opinion first, there will be no conversation, as this will be viewed as “the final answer.” Here are some ideas to help facilitate great small group discussions.

Listen First

How? Attend to the person:

  • Establish contact by looking at the person when they talk (if in person).
  • Maintain a natural relaxed posture that indicates your interest.
  • Use natural gestures that communicate your intended message.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to help you truly hear what someone is saying.

Then Respond

1. Clarification Questions

  • Are you wondering if… (clarify, rephrase)
  • Can you explain a bit more, or give an example?

– used when there is confusion or uncertainty about what was said
– used to make sure you understand what was said
– used to “reflect back” to the speaker what you heard

2. Open-Ended Questions

  • Yes, good question! Do you have any initial thoughts about that?
  • Great question! What do the rest of you think?

– used to invite further comments from the speaker or group
– offers encouragement and invitation to say more
– directed to the speaker or to the entire group

3. Redirecting Questions

  • Great question! What do the rest of you think?
  • Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

– used to “redirect” the discussion to include more of the group
– used to move the focus of discussion away from just one person
– used to “refocus” the discussion back to the main point

4. Reflective / Feeling Questions or Statements

  • Has anyone else felt that way too?
  • That must be really difficult. What was the toughest part for you?

– used with emotional responses, questions, or statements
– used to convey concern, acceptance, empathy, interest
– used to affirm the person who shared (different from agreeing)

And Always Affirm!

• Thank you for sharing that.

• I appreciate your honesty. Tell us more.

• Yes, I can relate to that too!

• It’s ok to take a minute and think about it. That’s what we’re here for. No rush.

• It’s ok to have different opinions and disagree. We love hearing other viewpoints.

• I’m so glad you’re here!

• Very interesting perspective!


Q: Dear Benih, what does the emcee do during Alpha?

A: Some Alphas have one specific person as the emcee who is a familiar face every week on Alpha, while other groups take turns. Either way, you need someone who knows how to host well. Here are some top tips for an emcee who hosts an Alpha:

Seven Top Tips for emcees:

1. Emcees set the tone for the evening so be friendly, enthusiastic and welcoming. If you’re running Alpha online, acknowledge people as they join the group and don’t forget to smile! If you’re running a large Alpha in person, assign people as greeters so no one is missed.

2. First, welcome guests and explain what to expect next (icebreaker/meal, video, discussion groups). If you’re running an Alpha in person, explain how the food will be served and how long dinner will be. Briefly describe what the meal is and if there are any vegetarian options. Encourage them to enjoy the meal and get to know the people at their table with casual, fun conversation. If you’re running an Alpha online, start with a fun icebreaker so people can get to know each other.

3. Continue to guide the evening along. For an in-person Alpha, give a 5-minute notice before the meal ends and the video will start. Explain where people can put their plates and cutlery, and point out where the washrooms are. If you are providing Alpha Guest Guides or the weekly handouts, tell people where they can pick them up.

4. After the video has finished, tell guests how long they will have for discussion in small groups. If the groups will be meeting in different rooms, provide instruction for this as well.

5. Provide a 5-minute warning before discussion time ends and encourage groups to continue the discussion next week if they think of any more questions.

6. End the evening on time each week to be respectful of your guests’ time. 

7. Conclude the evening with a sneak peek into next week’s topic by providing the questions around the topic (eg. Why did Jesus die? How does his death 2000 years ago affect us now? Is there any evidence about his alleged resurrection?) This will pique their interest and motivate them to return again next week. Tell them you’re so glad they came out to Alpha and that you’re looking forward to seeing them again next week.

Q: Dear Benih, how do I get started with running The Pre-Marriage Course?

A: To get started running your course, please visit this site here where you will find more information. To access and download all the materials to help run your course, please register your course at the Marriage Course Builder.

There are only a few resources you need to run The Pre-Marriage Course:

  • The Pre-Marriage Course episodes – free online and/or purchase the DVD
  • Two Guest Journals per couple
  • The Pre-Marriage Course Leaders’ Guide
  • Couple Survey (optional)Support Couples’ training videos (if using the Couple Survey)

And we recommend you watch our training videos. To access these materials, register your course on the Marriage Course Builder.

Q: Dear Benih, what are the differences between all the Alpha video materials?

A: All Alpha video talks feature the same content but are presented in various formats, so you can find the one that works best for you. The resources are available in English, Mandarin, Bahasa Malaysia and Tamil.

Alpha Film Series with Discussion Breaks (AFS-D):

  • Discussion breaks throughout the video (not at the end)
  • The same AFS videos, same content (15 videos, 11 weeks)
  • Discussion questions show up on the screen at appropriate times in the video
  • Content and questions are fresh in the minds of Alpha guests
  • Highly effective when used as part of your Small Group ministry strategy
  • Click here for more info

Alpha Film Series (AFS):

  • Designed for young adults & adults
  • 15 videos, approx 30 minutes each
  • 11 weeks long (4 Alpha weekend videos)
  • Hosts: Toby Flint and Gemma Hunt with Nicky Gumbel
  • Inspiring stories from scientists, professors, athletes, musicians, world leaders
  • Discussion time is at the end of the video
  • Click here for more info

Alpha Youth Series (AYS):

  • Designed for teens 13 to 18 years old (although seniors love it too!)
  • 13 videos, approx 30 minutes each
  • 9 weeks long (4 Alpha weekend videos)
  • Hosts: Jason Ballard, Ben Woodman, Nicky Gumbel, Jassie Virk, Landry McAllister, Peter Yoon
  • Animations, street interviews, filmed in Vancouver, London, Paris, Rome, Israel
  • 3 pauses during the video for discussion times
  • Click here for more info

Q: Dear Benih, what happens after Alpha?

A: We encourage churches to provide more interactive experiences for guests to continue their faith journey. Here are some ideas:

  1. Encourage Alpha guests to help on the next Alpha.
    This is one of the best ways to get people involved in your church community as they continue in their faith journey. Recommend a role that best matches their interests and gifts (technical help, icebreakers, small group helper etc).
  2. Invite Alpha guests to join a small group / home group.
    Look for ways to provide the same environment that guests enjoyed while attending Alpha – like fun, talk, discussion, and prayer. Meet every week (virtually for now) on the same day and time for consistency and provide an atmosphere that is casual and friendly.
  3. Plan social events together.
    Encourage Alpha guests to exchange contact information and to meet together in the future. Help them connect with people who have the same interests. Be mindful of COVID 19 restrictions and transition guidelines, and meet up for coffee or plan an outdoor weekend activity like hiking or badminton.
  4. Attend church service together.
    If Alpha participants are not churchgoers, small group hosts can suggest meeting up and attending a church service at the same time (online for now) so that there are people they know at the service. When you’re able to attend service physically, introduce them to your friends and go for coffee afterwards to discuss their experience at the church service. (Always adhere to your state’s COVID-19 guidelines!)
  5. Keep guests connected.
    If you or your church are active on social media, invite your guests to stay up-to-date so they know what’s happening in your church community.
  6. Chat with your pastor or leadership team about your church’s discipleship strategy.
    There are lots of 1 or 2-year programmes to help Alpha guests get connected and grounded in the church community.
    *At Alpha Malaysia, the resource we officially promote as a follow-up course is The Prayer Course, which is a series of six sessions where you can learn from the Lord’s Prayer and deepen your prayer life. The format is similar to Alpha – Food (optional), Video and Discussion. For more info, go to PrayerCourse.org 

Q: Dear Benih, what are some top tips to running a good Alpha online?

A: We recommend for you and your team to focus on these 7 good practices to running an Alpha online (please log in to MyAlpha and click on the “Learning Centre” to access these resources and the other modules to run a great Alpha):

1. Hospitality

  • Communicate before Alpha starts
  • Introduction & technical info
  • Invitation to share right away
  • Messages in the chat window
  • Clear & close up faces
  • Creative hospitality


2. Team Training & Roles:

  • Roles covered in the video:
    • MC to host, intro & transitions
    • Hosts & helpers
    • Technical helper
    • Prayer Team
  • Connect with your team each week
  • Team Training videos (Essentials, Small Groups, Prayer Ministry)


3. Open Discussion:

  • Introductions and names
  • Connecting with icebreaker questions
  • Importance of Alpha helpers
  • Tips for engaging conversation


4. Alpha Talks:

  • Two formats (screen share & watch together or share link & watch on own)
  • Top tips for technical issues
  • Necessity of all the Alpha talks


5. Prayer:

  • Power and dependence on God
  • Prayer with your team


6. Alpha Weekend (Time Away) & Prayer Ministry:

  • Case study: HTBB Church shares their model
  • Saturday (2.5 hrs) 10:30 am – 1 pm
  • Included small group discussion
  • Invitation to become a Christian
  • Walkthrough of prayer ministry


7. Evangelistically Positioned

  • Opportune time in history
  • Vulnerability in virtual space
  • Availability and comfort for guests

Q: Dear Benih, where can I buy Alpha or The Marriage & Parenting Courses books?

A: Alpha or The Marriage & Parenting Courses books (e.g. leader’s guide, guest manual) can be purchased from our official distributor, Canaanland. The books can be found at any Canaanland bookstore near you or you can opt to order online via their website: www.canaanland.com.my/alpha.

Q: Dear Benih, what kind of icebreakers can I do during Alpha?

A: We’ve found that casual icebreaker questions create a non-threatening atmosphere and provide insight into what’s important to people. Here are some questions that you can use to get your Alpha guests talking, laughing and sharing before discussion time. Each question relates to the weekly topic:

Week 1 – Is There More To Life Than This?

– If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Week 2 – Who Is Jesus?

– If you could change form and be any animal, what would you want to be and why?

– What famous person would you most like to meet? (or have you met anyone famous?)


Week 3 – Why Did Jesus Die?

– What’s the best gift you ever received and why was it so meaningful?

– Do you have a collection and if so, what and why?


Week 4 – How Can I Have Faith?

Tell us about a time you were spontaneous, took a leap of faith or tried something new.


Week 5 – Why and How Do I Pray?

Share one or two stresses or concerns going on in your life right now.

(We will end the session with prayer for these items.)


Week 6 – Why and How Should I Read the Bible?

– Name a favourite book you read as a child or adult and why you liked it so much.

– Which movies have you watched over and over again and why?


Week 7 – How Does God Guide Us?

Where do you go for advice and why? (person or resource)


Alpha Weekend / Time Away

Who Is The Holy Spirit? What Does He Do? How Can I Be Filled?

Tell us about one or two traits that you inherited from your parents (positive or negative) and how you feel about that.


How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?

Tell us about a goal or dream you still want to achieve in the future.


Week 8 – How Can I Resist Evil?

Have you ever had anything stolen or taken away? Tell us about it.


Week 9 – Why and How Should I Tell Others?

What was the last thing that made you so excited, you couldn’t wait to tell others (e.g. an event, a purchase, a TV show, etc.)?


Week 10 – Does God Heal Today?

Do you know anyone who has been healed miraculously? Tell us about it.

Week 11 – What About The Church?

Do you belong to any clubs, groups, teams or have you in the past? Which ones and what do/did you enjoy about them?


Q: Dear Benih, what if I want to run Alpha in more than one language?

A: Yes, you can do that! You just have to create a separate Alpha for each language so that you get the right materials in the right language. To do so, follow these 5 simple steps:

  1. Log in to your account.
  2. Click on “create an Alpha”
  3. Choose your preferred language! (Click on the ^ to see more languages.)

4.You can find the videos in the “materials” section for that specific language.
5. Then create a new Alpha for the next language and you’ll have the videos and all the materials for the next language.


Q: Dear Benih, I’ve done Alpha before. Do I need to do the training again?

A: Yes, Team Training is essential each and every time you run Alpha and is absolutely vital to a successful Alpha. Imagine if your favourite football team said “…but we did training LAST year…!”  😊 Think about creative ways to make it fun and interesting! 

Team training,

  • Helps people catch the vision and heart of Alpha
  • Encourages friendship as people meet each other and learn more about them
  • Promotes a culture of unity, collaboration and sharing best practices
  • Builds trust and a sense of belonging
  • Increases team spirit, participation, enthusiasm and loyalty
  • Equips hosts & helpers with skills needed to facilitate great discussions
  • Provides support and a safe place to ask questions and share concerns
  • Models Christ-like character, leadership and teamwork

Top Tip: Consider joining with another local church and do team training together (online or in-person!) Have a meal together, then watch the videos and discuss them (do take note that gatherings need to adhere to the SOPs set by the government) Learning is always more fun together!


Q: Dear Benih, how effective is Alpha online?

A: Churches that have run Alpha online have seen a significant impact on the guests and leaders who took part. We have seen that:

  1. Alpha online opens the door of churches to new people who would never have come on Alpha otherwise
  2. Guests are more likely to keep coming back consistently session after each session
  3. Alpha online engages and mobilizes young people in an even greater capacity
  4. Alpha online develops long-term disciples and leaders in churches
  5. Alpha online can be mobilized quickly with minimal resources


Q: Dear Benih, can I upload any of the promotional videos online after I download them?

A: We kindly ask that you do not upload any of the Alpha promotional videos to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

All of our promotional videos are available on the Alpha YouTube channel (youtube.com/alphamalaysia). Use the links provided to embed a video on your website, share the link with someone, or add the videos to your YouTube playlists. We want to avoid having multiple versions of the same video on YouTube.

If you’re running a current Alpha, you can find our newest or recently added promo videos in the “Promote” section of MyAlpha. Log in here to see them!


Q: Dear Benih, is Alpha for Catholics different from the usual Alpha?

A: The Alpha videos are exactly the same for all denominations and traditions! There isn’t a different set of videos for Catholic parishes. However, for Alpha in a Catholic Context, the terminology to describe certain ideas may differ. Alpha works well in conjunction with other programs for sacramental preparation. For more on Alpha in a Catholic Context, please visit malaysia.alpha.org/catholic-context/home.

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