‘What is this Alpha deal that’s sweeping the world?... It must be God’ says Billy Graham Centre director.

Around 1,100 church leaders from all over America attended an Alpha conference in Chicago last June involving a team from Holy Trinity led by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel.

The event was held at Wheaton College, the university attended by veteran evangelist Billy Graham and which now hosts a major centre devoted to his life.
The conference was opened by the Director of the Billy Graham Centre, Lon Alison, who said he was helping to run an Alpha course in his home church and it was proving a great success.

He said, ‘What is this Alpha deal that is sweeping our nation and sweeping the world?

‘We study movements at the Graham Centre but this thing defies study... It must be God.’

Of his own experience of Alpha, he said, ‘The coolest thing in my life is watching these people who are just starting out with God. We have seen it in our church all this year.

‘We have seen three baptisms in our church yesterday – all Alpha converts.’

Worship at the conference was led by Tim Hughes – and he and Al Gordon led two Worship Central events in Chicago at the same time.

During the conference, a number of people were interviewed about their personal experiences of the Alpha course. One, Carolyn Biedermann, told how she had been brought up in a Satanic cult but had found faith in God on an Alpha course (see panel, right).

Others included:

Erica: ‘My roommates went to church each Sunday and I felt guilty sleeping in so I went along with them.

‘On the third Sunday the Alpha course was mentioned and they said it would put to rest the misconceptions you may have about Christianity.

‘Boy, did it ever. On the second night of Alpha they talked about Jesus and how he was a real person and how he could feel things. He hurt, he was thirsty, he was hungry.

‘That night I gave my life to Christ and anyone who knows me will tell ou that I led a totally different life before.

Dani: ‘Going through Alpha I was so nervous. I had so many questions. But everyone was so open and welcoming.

‘I gave my life to Christ at the Alpha weekend. After that my husband saw changes in me and he did the course – and he gave his life to Christ.’

Don: I went along to this church and the Alpha course came up and somebody mentioned dinner. I like dinner... and it was during the Alpha weekend that I found the Lord.’

Before the conference began, there was a feedback day for Alpha advisers across the United States. One group from Texas told how they were running Alpha among homeless people.

Donna Aldrich said, ‘In the three years that Alpha has been a part of our mission’s Spiritual Development Programme, 1,500 residents have gone through Alpha. Lives have changed. We held baptisms in the mission for the first time in 120 years, we have seen families healed. We just get to watch miracles happen.’

Prison ministry adviser Bruce Paulus told how Alpha is now running in 140 prisons in America. He added that in the state of Alaska, all the prisons are running Alpha.

He said, ‘Alaska is the first State in the US where every prison in the State is running Alpha.

‘There are 13 prisons in the state and we trained 71 volunteers to disciple 500 men through the Alpha course in one year.’

Presbyterian pastor Christian Zebley, from California, reported on the success of Alpha ‘ESOL’ courses for foreign nationals.

He said, ‘I encountered Alpha in Japan. I was a very stuffy missionary until I encountered Alpha. I was filled powerfully by the Holy Spirit.

‘I believe that God has raised up this course to help our churches reach the close to 30 per cent of foreign nationals who come and live in our cities.’