047 Alpha: a First Step to Faith – Dana Kloo and Chris Gaudi

Have you ever wished you could introduce a friend or relative to the basic concepts of Christianity in a welcoming environment that’s less intimidating than a church service?  The Alpha program was created to provide just such an opportunity.  In this episode, Kevin talks to Dana Kloo and Chris Gaudi, two people who have seen countless lives (including their own) benefit from the program. So many people are unbelievers not because they have thoughtfully rejected the gospel, but because they never understood it to begin with.  Inviting people to church is a great way to introduce them to the faith, but some may not be comfortable accepting the invitation, whether due to bad past experiences or a general aversion to church.  That’s where Alpha comes in. Alpha is an engaging, low-pressure Bible study program that is geared towards people who are totally new to faith.  It is totally free and open to anyone who wants to know more about Christianity, from open-minded spiritual seekers to members of other faiths.  Alpha is all about creating a welcoming environment in which participants can be comfortable learning about God.  The program meets one night a week for ten weeks.  Each meeting starts with a free dinner and time of fellowship, then transitions into an informational talk, followed by small group discussions.  This system fosters the building of relationships and allows for every voice to be heard as friends learn alongside each other. There are already thousands of churches running Alpha!  You can find a group near you at AlphaUSA.org.  Or you can learn about what it takes to start your own Alpha group! This episode first aired on February 20th, 2016. We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/