In September 2009 the Alpha Invitation - a national initiative to tell people what the Alpha course is and how they can link in with a course near to them - will begin.

This year the campaign continues to ask the big questions about life, building on the conversation sparked by last year's invitation and posing the questions, 'Does God exist?' and 'Is this it?'

Posters, postcards, drinks mats, business cards and invitations are available to order via the Alpha shop, or to produce your own promotional materials, visit the downloads page for all the artwork and the 2009 Invitation colour palette.

• TIMING
• INVITING GUESTS
• ENCOURAGING DIALOGUE
• INVOLVING EVERYONE
• PRAYING FOR TRANSFORMED LIVES AND COMMUNITIES

TIMING

National advertising will run across the UK on billboards, posters and buses for the month of September. To link in with this, many Alpha courses spend the first 2 weeks of September advertising their course, often holding a prayer event in the second week of September. This is usually followed by a launch event in the third week and the majority of Alpha courses being in the last week of September or first week of October so that they are completed in time for Christmas.

INVITING GUESTS

Design your own posters and invitations using the graphics from the current campaign or use the ready made ones and get everyone involved in putting up posters anywhere and everywhere and handing out invitations. Use the email invitation, screensaver or web banners and set up Facebook groups and events to provide as many different ways as possible for people to join.

The guidelines below give ideas and more details on promoting your course:

• 5 Steps to Putting Together a Promotional Plan
• Advertising Tips
• Using Public Relations to promote local Alpha courses

ENCOURAGING DIALOGUE

'Does God exist?' and 'Is this it?' are engaging questions that get people thinking and talking.

They can act as a point of inspiration for local newspaper articles, slots on local radio, web and blogging sites, Facebook groups, Twitter feeds or a topic for creative writing or language practice groups. You could even make a film or viral, inviting members of the public to discuss these questions and invite them to your launch event to see themselves on screen.

There are lots of materials available to help local Alpha teams to advertise their courses and invite guests.

• Alphashop – buy the ready made posters, postcards, invitations and other materials.


• Free e-tools – download the web banners, screensaver, email invitation and desktop wallpaper.


• Press advertising templates – download advertising templates for local publications in a variety of shapes and sizes, with space to insert local Alpha course details. Download a form to be exempt from paying VAT on press advertisements for your Alpha course.


• Public Relations support – Read guidelines on how to use Public Relations to promote local Alpha courses. Download a press release template that can be adapted and submitted to the local paper. Look at example newspaper articles from previous years.

INVOLVING EVERYONE

Most people come on a course because someone has invited them – a successful course needs everyone to get behind it.

• Share the vision of your course with the congregation - interview team members about why they are involved, use the 3-minute Invitation DVD to show people what Alpha is, what a course looks like and to help them feel part of something much bigger that’s happening across the UK and world.


• Excite everyone about sharing their faith - get people whose lives have changed through attending an Alpha course to share their stories in services and church newsletters.


• Tell them how they can be involved – by praying, inviting friends, giving, putting up posters or volunteering. Give each person a postcard with suggestions of how they can be involved in your course.

• Remind them – update them with what’s being planned, when the launch event will be, prayers answered, how the weekend away went or about plans for the celebration supper.

PRAYING FOR TRANSFORMED LIVES AND COMMUNITIES

The more we pray for Alpha, the more effective the course will be. It is vital that we underpin every aspect in focused prayer. Here are some practical pointers to get your started.

Church life

Pray for your Alpha course at church services, at church prayer meetings and on any relevant bulletins. If your church has a youth group, why not ask them to pray too?

Alpha prayer group

Recruit a group willing to pray regularly for your Alpha course. Keep them informed with regular updates, prayer points and encouragements. You can communicate with them via email, a Facebook group or text message prayer alerts direct to their mobile phones.

Alpha prayer event

Organise a special Alpha Prayer and Worship event or join with other churches to do this and use is as an opportunity to share unity whilst interceding for the wider community. Try to make this event as creative and engaging as possible. Include worship and encouraging feedback from previous guests.

24-7 Prayer

Many churches organise a weekend or even a whole week of 24-7 (night & day) prayer during, or in the build-up, to an Alpha course. Find out how to do this practically, along with a wealth of other resources, from 'The 24-7 Prayer Manual' (Kingsway) and www.24-7prayer.com.

For more information on Prayer on Alpha click here.

For more information on planning a launch event click here.