Alpha courses are running on Royal Navy ships at sea after the Chaplain of the Fleet distributed Alpha for Forces material to the British fleet with encouragement that they give it a try.

Two ships – aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and Type 42 Destroyer HMS Liverpool – have run courses in recent months for their crew.

Chaplain of the Fleet The Venerable John Green wrote to all the chaplains in the Navy in December enclosing information about the Alpha course.

One of those who received the mailing was Roman Catholic chaplain David Yates aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.

Within days of his receiving the Chaplain of the Fleet’s letter, he was approached by a member of the crew, Lt Andy Gordon, who had become a Christian through attending an Alpha course while at university.

Lt Gordon said he was interested in running an Alpha course on board ship during the Carrier’s four month Middle East deployment at the beginning of 2008.

Lt Gordon said, ‘I had heard a number of people talking about Alpha for Forces and often wondered about running a course but the right opportunity had never arisen.
‘It dawned then that perhaps this lengthy deployment was the opportunity to run the Alpha Course.’

He approached Fr David Yates, who helped get permissions to run the course on board between January and May.

He then teamed up with Nathan Senior, a Leading Electrical Technician, who had some experience of running Alpha courses.

The course was advertised through emails, at the ship’s Sunday church services on board and posters around the ship.

It was held in a small meeting room on board, where a DVD player was used to play the Alpha Express recordings.

Between 10 and 15 people attended the sessions, with numbers sometimes reaching 19. Catch-up sessions were run for those who had to miss sessions because of watch-keeping duties or for other reasons.

The Holy Spirit sessions were run ashore at a church in Goa. Lt Gordon said, ‘We were given the details of a local church through the friend of a friend and we were privileged to be able to use their church facilities.

‘They even had a DVD player and large screen and put on refreshments for us. We had a great time and felt God really blessed us.’

They were back in Goa at the end of the course and held an Alpha supper there along with ‘a couple of other informal and impromptu Alpha socials’.

Lt Gordon concluded, ‘The course was definitely a success. It was really great to increase the Christian fellowship onboard the ship, especially whilst we were away on a mid-length deployment and several people took huge steps towards giving their lives to the Lord.’

Now there are plans to run another course on board.
The course on HMS Liverpool was run by the ship’s chaplain, the Rev’d David Roissetter.

Mr Roissetter said, ‘I wanted to run a course that would provide an opportunity for not-yet believers to explore the Christian faith and for believers to be strengthened in their faith.’

An Alpha course was run on board the ship two years ago and two sailors who attended that course were enthusiastic to help with another.

The course – which was held after dinner in the dining hall – was advertised to all 250 on board by email and text message.

Between five and ten attended regularly, watching the Alpha Express DVDs and taking part in group discussions. Sessions were held only when the ship was at sea.

Mr Roissetter said, ‘The course was successful and I know that several of the guests were greatly strengthened in their faith and walk with Christ.’