Alpha's 2009 Initiative is launched with help from Bear Grylls
BEAR GRYLLS MAKES VIDEO AD FOR ALPHA
TV adventurer Bear Grylls has filmed an action-packed 60-second advertisement in the Malaysian jungle which is spear heading the Alpha course's national advertising initiative launched this week.
The star of Channel Four's 'Born Survivor' series is seen leaping from a tree, scrambling down an escarpment, diving off a cliff into the sea and trying to attract the attention of a helicopter from a deserted beach in the film to promote Alpha.
The end of the online advertisement reveals Bear writing in the sand the words, 'I did Alpha.'
In addition to the online advertisement, Alpha course posters will be seen across the country this month on:
*900 billboards across the UK
*2,200 buses in 20 cities including London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff, Norwich, Bristol, Liverpool and York.
*200 London underground stations.
*1,100 railway stations including major city terminals.
The posters come in two versions, asking the questions, 'Does God exist?' and 'Is this it?' with the options 'Yes' 'No' and 'Probably.' Banners have also been on display at county cricket games throughout the summer and will be seen at the One Day Cricket International, England versus Australia, at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday 9thSeptember, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Bear Grylls has been a strong supporter of Alpha since taking part in the course with his wife Shara at Holy Trinity Brompton.
Bear said, 'I supported Alpha by doing this advert for one very simple reason: I believe the Alpha Course touches lives.
'I have seen so many people find a personal relationship with God and a quiet strength in their life after doing the course - me included - and it takes a proud man to say he never needs any help.
'Alpha is such a non pressured and fun course, and it shows us how Christianity can be relevant and empowering to our lives.'
Supper parties and other events are being organised by local churches in thousands of locations across the UK - including hotels, universities, sports centres and prisons - to promote the Alpha courses starting in the next few weeks.
More than two million people in the UK have attended an Alpha course and an Ipsos MORI survey has revealed that 24 per cent of the British population now recognise Alpha as a Christian course. This is the twelfth annual national advertising campaign.
The campaign is being financed by churches and charitable trusts and Christian benefactors.
The Bear Grylls advertisement can be viewed on youtube.com or on the alpha.org website, www.alpha.org/bear.
Photographs of the Invitation and Bear Grylls TV advert can be seen on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/holytrinitybrompton/sets/72157622113206695/
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For further information contact
Mark Elsdon-Dew on 07799 260535 or 0207052 0271
or email communications@htb.org.uk
Notes to editors:
The Alpha course
Alpha is a 15-session practical introduction to the Christian faith designed primarily fornon-churchgoers and new Christians and is being run by churches of every major denomination in 163 countries around the world and translated into 87 languages.
The Alpha course was started by Charles Marnham at Holy Trinity Brompton, London in October1977. As well as running in churches, it is also being held in prisons, universities, workplaces and homes. Since 1992 the Alpha course has seen astonishing growth, both in the United Kingdom and internationally. From just five courses running in the UK in 1992, there are now approximately 8,451 registered Alpha courses in the UK and almost 42,000 courses in 163 countries. It is estimated that over 13 million people have now been on the course worldwide.