ALPHA AND CHURCH ASSIMILATION Action Research

THE ALPHA COURSE AND CHURCH ASSIMILATION
AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
Submitted as a requirement of
MASTERS OF ARTS DEGREE IN APPLIED BIBLICAL STUDIES
Cherlyn Jensen

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION OF THE PROBLEM …………………………………………...... 1
MY STORY.………………………………………………………………………….. 5
LITERATURE/RESEARCH REVIEW ……………………………………………… 7
CONTEXTUAL DISCRIPTION OF ALPHA ..……………………………………… 11
RESEARCH DESIGN ………………………………………………………………... 12
WORK AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT………..…………………………………... 14
CYCLE 1: REPORT…...……………………………………………………………… 18
REFLECTION ………...……………………………………………………………… 21
CONCLUSIONS ……………...…………………………..…………………………. 22
FINAL REFLECTIONS …….………………………………………………………. 23
REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………..……... 24
APPENDIX A …………………………………...…………………………………… 27
APPENDIX B …………………………………...………………………………....… 29
APPENDIX C …………………………………...………………………………....… 32

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INTRODUCTION OF THE PROBLEM
The sense of being lost, displaced, and homeless is pervasive in contemporary culture. Generations in
America have been indoctrinated into the belief that “Space” is the pathway to liberty, health, wellness, and the
“promise land”. “ Space,” as used here, means a life of freedom without coercion or accountability, free of
pressures and void of authority, complete independence and self sufficiency. “Space” may be characterized as a
kind of relativism and neutrality or emptiness waiting to be filled by our own self medicated whims, a buffet of
entertainment and hedonistic pursuits. But instead of life, joy, security and identity, the prescriptive of “space”
has developed a society characterized by purposelessness, isolation, and fragmentation resulting in mental,
emotional, and spiritual sickness of epidemic proportions. This of course, is not a new struggle, but it is more
widespread and visible than it has ever been.
In the book, The Spiritual Dimension in Addiction, Maura Russell, a well known author and speaker in
psychotherapy identifies the unfulfilled desire of belonging as the case for much of the desperation that we see
throughout the western world. 1
In the life of our times we live in a culture where the sophistication of the systems of
communication have become more technological, people communicate across the electronic
web, on mobile phones, via the internet, and in chat rooms. The network of conversations
and communities that influence our sense of ourselves are growing increasingly isolationist,
bypassing the intimacies of face to face or heart to heart exchanges. In a culture where the
desire to belong is co-opted by consumerism and materialism, our capacity to fit in is
determined by our ability to hide our insecurities and preceived lack therof. The sensitive and
vulnerable continue to represent themselves through the narrative of addictions and other
illnesses.
Walter Brueggemann, widely considered one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of the last
several decades, reflects the same sentiments in his book The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in
Biblical Faith.
1 Maura Russell, "The Spiritual Dimension in Addiction," Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review 92, no. 367 (2003): pg. 234.

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The yearning to belong somewhere, to have a home, to be in a safe place, is a deep and
moving pursuit. Americans have become a nation of strangers, highly mobile and
rootless, as our entire fabric becomes an artifact designed for obsolescence…(It) may be
understood in terms of psychological dislocation as increasing numbers of persons are
disoriented, characterized as possessors of “the homeless mind”. The despair and
yearning are expressed in the pathos of the “top forty” songs among the young, in the fear
among the old that they are forgotten, in the helplessness of the poor in the face of “urban
progress.”2
Brueggemann makes the case that while Americans are looking for peace and fulfillment in “space”, it is a
sense of “place” and belonging, that is at the core of human hunger. It is for this reason that as the masses
clamor to obtain more and struggle to free themselves from slavish greed and discontentment through the quest
for “space”, we are experiencing a deepening pervasive reality of emptiness and disillusionment of the
American soul in the form of heightened violence, eroding leadership, fractured and degrading relationships,
and reckless abandonment to what was once considered valuable and sacred.
The Way Home
In this deepening pervasive reality, perhaps we might find our way back home with a fresh look at our
biblical moorings. God’s intention was always to have a city of people birthed by the spirit, living in fellowship
with Him, belonging in authentic relationship with one another united by grace and common goals in
community under the authority, sovereignty, and protection of God the Father. God has chosen, purchased,
equipped, predestined and commissioned the local church to implement his desired plan and be a vehicle for the
activities and processes of the Holy Spirit to move and manifest in the earth which is the only true effective
prescriptive for a lost and hurting world. The church is called by God to be the most irresistible institution in
every local community. The process of reconciling people to himself and belonging to the universal church
through the atonement of Christ on the cross, and then to discover their home and “place” through successful
assimilation into a local church body is a main theme of the Bible, central to the heart of God, and core to the
mission of the church. It is a call, a commission, a mandate, and the challenge to which we as the church must
own.
2 Walter Brueggemann, The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977), pg.1.

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Most certainly, it is counter cultural in western society to be assimilated into the local church family, to
live out our individual stories within the community of faith and be grafted into a body of believers. It is indeed
a protest against the pursuit of “space.” It is a declaration that our humanness cannot be found in escape,
detachment, absence of commitment, and undefined freedom. Belonging to Christ’s universal church and
intimately connected to the local church as “place” is a decision to enter history with an identifiable people in
an identifiable heritage and pilgrimage.
The Church and Assimilation
As the church, we must provide easy access to the gospel, a clear path to becoming a Christ Follower,
and safe passage into the spiritual life and community of faith. Through implementation of best practices,
prayer, research, and collaborative efforts, we can create portals and on-ramps that work within our
contemporary culture. Greg Stier, founder and president of Dare 2 Share said it well, "We must create safe
places ...for people to explore the message of Jesus, ask hard questions and hear what the Bible has to say."3
In the The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren makes a strong declaration, “As Christians we’re
called to belong, not just believe.”4 John Savage in, The Teflon Church, describes the challenge of assimilation
and belonging:
Assimilating someone into the life of the church is different than helping them
become a member. Rounding up bodies and getting them to join the church doesn’t
finish the task. People who join a church may well drop out a few months later. The
church needs to incorporate them into the life, the emotion, and the ministry of the
congregation. People need to become a part of the church body rather than be merely
attached to it. 5
One out of every two persons bears a negative witness to the world as to the relevance of a vital church
relationship. Over 75 percent of church attenders who became inactive did so because they did not feel a sense
of belonging. Not only is membership dropout an issue in the church, so is the assimilation of newcomers. In
3 Stier, Greg. Greg Stier. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2015. <www.gregstier.org>.
4 Richard Warren, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth without Compromising Your Message & Mission (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Pub., 1995), pg. 105.
5 John S. Savage, "The Teflon Church," Leadership Journal,September 1990, section goes here, accessed June 4, 2015,
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/1990/fall/90l4030.html.

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the average congregation in America, only 12 percent of first‐time visitors return the following Sunday and
eventually become members. A few congregations have 20 or 25 percent retention but rarely would any church
surpass 30 percent. 6 Further research has identified that a disproportionately large number of new members
drop out of the church within the fifth and sixth month after joining. These newcomers did not find satisfaction
in one or more of the following questions: “Can I develop friends in this church?” “Where do I fit in?” “Am I
needed?” Churches are often initially friendly but don’t seem to follow through with the friendliness that was
initially projected. This is largely the result of the fact that existing members who have been in the church for a
couple of years or longer have all the friends and relationships that there is time and energy to handle. “It’s
almost as if newcomers have to sign up for future friends and wait for an opening.” 7
Churches have been increasingly utilizing courses that can take place inside or outside of traditional
church settings to successfully provide access to the gospel, provide ways for people to relationally connect and
grow, and assimilate those devoid of a spiritual family into the family of faith. Perhaps the assimilation model
that is most widely known at present is the baseball diamond, which has been popularized by Pastor Rick
Warren of Saddleback Community Church in southern California.8 Other strategies such as informal
gatherings—including everything from small Bible study groups to the Alpha Course, to "Theology on Tap"
(scripture at the local bar)—are particularly appealing to younger congregants who have negative associations
with a church building or structured religion.
In Kenosha Wisconsin, our local church chose to launch the Alpha Course primarily to reach those far
from God. We are currently running the 5th 11 week session. Using the Alpha Course materials and methods,
we have seen people openly discuss their spiritual journey and freely explore their questions about God and the
Bible with others in ways that they normally would not. We observed that while some came to a saving
knowledge of Christ, through the process of interaction and discussion, others were able to address persistent
doctrinal or theological concerns and questions sometimes submerged below their conscious radar for years.
6 Herb Miller, How to Build a Magnetic Church (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1987), pg. 1.
7 Leith Anderson, A Church for the 21st Century (Minneapolis, MN:Bethany House Publishers, 1992), pg. 25.
8 Richard Warren, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth without Compromising Your Message & Mission (Grand Rapids, MI:Zondervan Pub.,
1995), pg. 144.

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They were then able to find a place of peaceful resolution or reconciliation with these internal struggles. The
result is a fresh hunger for connection and a clear desire for belonging and engagement with the Church. It’s as
if stubborn spiritual road blocks were finally addressed within their life thus clearing the way for renewed
spiritual growth after being stuck sometimes for years. In light of their new found spiritual momentum, our
response as leaders was to try to provide clear “next steps” that could lead them down the right paths to help
them assimilate into the life of the church and become fully devoted Christ Followers.
Goal of the Research
58 percent of the churches that use the Alpha course attract new members, but in addition, churches
have also found Alpha to be an effective assimilation tool. Kimberly Reeve, Alpha's director of marketing and
development states, "I just did a focus group on this in Houston and about half the churches said that they
wanted it to be an outreach, but it ended up being more of an assimilation thing just because it so clearly
presents the basics of Christianity." 9
The overall goal of this Research is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that were implemented
to assimilate Alpha graduates into the life of the church when the Alpha Course was completed. Part of the
scope of this research is to understand the current philosophy of the leadership toward evangelism and
assimilation with respect to Alpha in our local church, uncover attitudes of the church staff in regard to research
readiness, and investigate existing practices of hospitality to newcomers and the assimilation process within the
context and organizational framework of Journey Church.
MY STORY
Everyone has a right to hear the gospel message and to make the choice to become a covenant partner
with God; to be transformed at the core; to be rebirthed into the family of God; to learn how to live and love in
right relationship with God and others. When I was rebirthed in the 80s, it was the deep authentic connections
9 Einstein, Mara (2007-09-14). Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion in a Commercial Age (Media, Religion and Culture) (pp. 28,118-
119). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.

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with God’s people operating in partnership with the Holy Spirit in the local church that was crucial to laying
the foundations of faith in my heart and soul that breathed new life and health into my body and mind each day.
There is a continual flow of passion deep within my heart to share the gospel and invite people into the
family of God. This desire and passion is regularly re-fueled each week as I regularly work in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, and Intensive Care Unit as a Respiratory Care Practitioner at a
local hospital. I treat people in routine practical ways, manage life support breathing machines and systems,
manage the airway in all traumas, code blues events, and as part of the Rapid Response Team.
The evenings that I am assigned to the Emergency Department I find myself watching the relentless
swinging door of broken lives. Habitually they come looking for the next drug, the next band aid, the next fix
that can provide some kind of relief. In the ICU, I meet people who’s lives are characterized by a string of
abusive relationships, flooded with emotional pain and struggle, lostness, gorging on self-medicating
indulgences, and self negligence. Some on life support. For one reason or another many have lived their lives
far from God. Acquaintances, friends and family, if present, struggle with the same issues themselves. They are
unable to cope with the ravaged face of someone they knew and the glaring reality of these heart numbing
situations. Here, everything is laid bare. Unable to find quick comfort or turn away, they are without a place to
hide, and no faith to turn to. It is a time when stories of pretense and denial that they may have told themselves
no longer suffice. Any faithless declarations propagated by the spirit of this world about life and death or what’s
important no longer work. Since they don’t know God and are not connected to a family of faith, they are
without refuge, without spiritual community, and without any hope beyond this momentary life. So, they look
for modern medicine to fix the problem, take away the pain, and make it better. When modern medicine can’t
meet those expectations, in their vulnerability and emptiness people become disappointed and sometimes
despondent. At that point life becomes a cruel day of reckoning for many.
As healthcare providers we attempt to offer life, healing, and comfort using antibiotics, life support
systems, interventions, and magnificent sophisticated technological wonders to manage “sickness” and patch up
the human body many times ignoring the real root of much of our health care issues and addictions. We have

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an epidemic of emaciated human souls that need rescuing through acceptance of Christ and the effectual
transformational blood of Christ. They are countless souls that need to know their creator and find their way
back home. But, offering a clear presentation of the gospel truth that could heal our patients, their friends, and
family from the inside out as part of our vision and prescriptive protocol process within the institutions of
western medicine would require that we as health care providers turn the examination gloves upon ourselves
first. For we, as the medical community, would have to reckon with the scalpel of the word of God that rightly
divides joints and marrow discerning the thoughts and intents of our own hearts. We would have to boldly face
and acknowledge our own depravity and the the leanness that exists within own hearts and souls. We would
have to surrender to the reality of our own need for God before we could begin to offer true life to those who
come to us looking for lasting help, health, and hope.
For me, life lived in the context of a spiritually healthy church supplied ample instruction, connection,
rich deep friendships, spiritual empowerment, models of practical living, and correct biblical interpretation and
explanation of the world around me. With the skill and precision of the potters hands, it was in the caldron of
the local church family where I found spiritual traction and power that equipped me to build a new life and
propel me forward into a solid relationship with Christ anchoring my heart, mind, and soul into the only one
who will ever truly heal me, deliver me, never fail me, or forsake me. My story is certainly a success story
thanks to the Christ Followers who loved me and invested their lives in mine as a labor of love for Christ. All of
us who have been empowered with this kind of love and life must now pass it on and offer this life to others.
Collectively we are “The Church.” It’s who we are and it is what we are called do.
LITERATURE/RESEARCH REVIEW
Assimilation Defined
Though characteristics of an assimilated person vary, assimilation literature raises and addresses the
following elements in some form: attracting, retaining, joining, discipling, belonging, and serving. Assimilation
is not primarily focused upon the number of people on a membership list or how many times people “go to
church.” While those may be indicators of outcomes, church assimilation is to be viewed from an interpretive

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framework by which “spiritual family” is seen in a way that is lived out in the relationships of the local church
in connected alignment with the transcendent vision and purposes of God. A full understanding of the new birth
into God’s spiritual family is the intellectual prerequisite and foundation to grasp the social scope and
importance of a local church assimilation process. The theme of church assimilation and belonging to a spiritual
family is a divine function and fulfillment of Gods central purpose and is repeated and reverberated in God’s
epic story marching across the pages of time over and over again in clear continuity from Genesis to Revelation
Assimilation is a relatively new term in church language but in reality it is as old as when the church
was born on Pentecost and 3000 people were added to the Christ movement in one day (Acts 2:41). In spite of
the wonderful fellowship enjoyed by the thousands of new believers in Jerusalem, the difficulties associated
with assimilation were evident. To begin, the birth and death of God’s only Son, Jesus, ushered in the presence
of a New Covenant spiritual reality built upon the old Old Testament prophets and emerged out of Old
Covenant Jewish belief systems and practices. This setting and the new mandate by God of bringing people
together who were from diverse spiritual and cultural groups that regularly clashed was a formidable
assimilation process….to put it lightly. (Acts 15:28-29).
Assimilation and the Spiritual Growth Continuum
Since assimilation is all about people, it makes sense to gain an understanding how people grow
spiritually. The necessity of plotting spiritual growth is to simplify it so it can provide helpful information in
which to help us to think about it differently, to resource it better, and to support it more productively. Once we
have identified the highest-impact spiritual stops for new believers to make as they continue to navigate their
road map of faith, we can better research and evaluate our church interventional programs and make executive
decisions on how to allocate time and resources with greater clarity and focus.
In 2004, Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago undertook a three-year study to
measure spiritual growth called the REVEAL Spiritual Life Survey. Over the next six years, additional data was
collected from over a quarter million people in well over a thousand churches of every size, denomination, and
geographic area. The findings were featured in their follow up book, Move. It suggests that spiritual growth

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progresses across a continuum of four segments: Exploring Christ, Growing in Christ, Close to Christ, Christ
Centered. Three movements of increasing spiritual maturity define this progression, and various spiritual
catalysts, ranging from organized church activities to personal spiritual practices, influence how people advance
from one segment to the next. The following is a summary of the identified characteristics of each spiritual
growth segment: 10
Exploring Christ: The people in this segment have a basic belief in God, but they are unsure
about Christ and his role in their lives.
Growing in Christ: The people in this segment have a personal relationship with Christ.
They’ve made a commitment to trust Him with their souls’ salvation and for eternity, but they
are just beginning to learn what it means and what it takes to develop a relationship with Him.
Close to Christ: The people in this segment depend on Christ every day. They see Christ as
someone who assists them in life. On a daily basis, they turn to Him for help and guidance for
the issues they face.
Christ-Centered: The people in this segment would identify their relationship with Christ as
the most important relationship in their entire lives. They see their lives as fully surrendered to
Jesus and His agenda, subordinating everything to His will and His desires.
The Christ Explorer Profile
Interestingly, unlike the other segments, the Exploring Christ segment is composed of two distinct
groups of people— those who are active explorers and those who are passive attenders. The Alpha Course
strongly targets the “Christ Explorer” segment. The first group (the active explorers) includes those individuals
who are genuinely seeking to resolve their doubts about the reality and character of Jesus. These are the people
most commonly associated with the descriptor “Exploring Christ.” But there is also a second group of people in
this segment who are not really “seeking” at all. These are churchgoers who seem content with a shallow
spiritual life marked by minimal faith-based beliefs, relationships, and activities. They may have a nominal
faith, but they fail to show any signs of active growth. The combination of these two kinds of “explorers” makes
10 Hawkins, Greg L.; Parkinson, Cally (2011-08-12).Move: What 1,000 Churches Revealabout Spiritual Growth (Kindle Locations 305-322,
234-242).Zondervan.Kindle Edition.

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the Exploring Christ segment a mixed bag of nonbelievers. This segment is clearly interested in Jesus, and
they want to understand how they can have a relationship with him and they want to belong. This desire to
belong does not automatically translate into a desire to “help me get connected into a small group or a serving
opportunity.” Instead, those in this segment want to feel welcomed and they want to know that the church has a
place for them— even if they are not so sure about their faith.
As people grow spiritually, they move from one segment to the next on the spiritual continuum.
Movement from Exploring Christ to Growing in Christ is all about Christian basics. Developing a firm
foundation of spiritual beliefs and attitudes is critical during this trust-building phase. The impact of church
activities on spiritual growth is most significant in this movement. The simple formula for addressing the needs
in Movement 1 (vision/beliefs + serving and community connection opportunities + basic spiritual practices)
offers the potential to accelerate spiritual growth. 11
It is critical for newcomers to become involved in the church’s ministry as quickly as possible.
Otherwise, until newcomers assume some ministry responsibility, they won’t feel emotionally part of the
church. They will think of the church in terms of “them” rather than “us.”  12 In addition, finding a way to fit
into the structure of the local church is essential for new people who are joining the church. Those who find
“secure and significant” places of service within the ministries of the church will not easily slip away.13
What are the characteristics of someone who has been assimilated into the life of the church? Heck’s
listing suggests that the following characteristics may reflect an engaged and active familial church partner and
a fully devoted Christ Follower:
 Identifies with the goals of the church.  
 Is regular in worship attendance and in attendance at special services   (Hebrews 10:25).  
 Attends Communion and Sunday school regularly and has Bible reading   and family devotions in the
home (Acts 2:42).  
 Attends some special functions of the congregation such as council   meetings, church picnics, special
workshops, and midweek services.  
 Is growing spiritually (2 Peter 3:18).  
11 Hawkins, Greg L.; Parkinson, Cally (2011-08-12).Move: What 1,000 Churches Revealabout SpiritualGrowth (Kindle Locations 251-264,
358-386).Zondervan.Kindle Edition.
12 http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/1990/fall/90l4038.html
13 Ervin R. Stutzman, Welcome!: A Biblical and Practical Guide to Receiving New Members (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1990),pg.130.

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 Has affiliated with the congregation.  
 Have six or more friends in the church.  
 Has a task or role that is appropriate for his or her spiritual gift(s)   (Romans 12; 1
Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4:10‐11).  
 Is involved in a fellowship group (Acts 2:42).  
 Gives regularly and generously (1 Corinthians 16:2).  
 Tells others about the Lord and His church (Matthew 28:18‐20; Acts 1:8)14
CONTEXTUAL DISCRIPTION OF ALPHA
In general, Alpha is an 11-week course that is promoted and presented to be nonthreatening in nature.
Each session presents basic topics as broad questions, such as "Who is Jesus?" "Why did Jesus die?” "Why and
how do I pray?” “How Does God Guide Us?” “Who Is the Holy Spirit? “How can I resist Evil?” and “Does
God Heal Today?”. Classes are primarily given in the evening and follow a prescribed format. The gathering
starts with a one-hour meal during which participants can casually get to know one another. Following dinner,
announcements are made and a worship song or two are sung. Next comes a 45-minute lecture, given either by
someone from the church or via DVD, which is the preferred method in most groups. The lecture is followed by
a coffee break and finally small group discussions that last approximately 45 minutes. The bible and topics such
as faith and God are not typically discussed during the meal. It is a time to create connections between
participants. Moreover, Alpha stresses for its group leaders that the atmosphere be nonthreatening, and this is
supported throughout the evening: at dinner, the focus is on getting people to talk about their week; the DVDs
have a "Did you ever consider this?" attitude to them; and during the question period at the end of the evening,
participants are encouraged to share their thoughts even if they disagree or have hesitations about the discussion
topic. In addition to the 10 weekly evening sessions, there is a day-long retreat where there is teaching on the
Holy Spirit, break out sessions, worship, and prayer.
Some churches think that speaking in tongues is no longer a present day gift and they have issues with
that portion of the course which can be left out and does not disrupt the general teaching and flow of the course.
14 Joel D. Heck, New Member Assimilation: Practical Prevention of Backdoor Loss through Front door Care (St. Louis: Concordia,
1988), pg. 54-55.

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This flexibility for how to use the course is part of its appeal and has allowed it to be used by multiple
denominations and in various settings from colleges to prisons.15
The Alpha helpers and reinforcement within the videos themselves support continued commitment to
the course by guests. Throughout the videos there are cutaways to people in the audience—all young and,
interestingly, not all happy, suggesting that it is okay to continue to question, to wrestle with life's big questions
as the logo suggests. According to Kimberly Reeve, Alpha's director of marketing and development, the church
must run a course five times before it begins to take hold within a community. 16
Our church was very satisfied with the Alpha format, DVDs, and material. We modified some of the
course elements to fit our time and resource constraints but maintained the integrity of the core components of
the course. We found the Alpha Course was true to it’s predicted returns. It created a venue in which to form
solid decisions for Christ, it created spiritual momentum, camaraderie, and relationships build around the bible.
However, we felt that post Alpha follow up interventions were needed and would be a critical addition to
maintaining spiritual momentum and continued growth in church assimilation when the course was over. We
formed an Alpha follow up team and implemented some programing of our own creation based on the
expressed needs and expectations of the Alpha guests. While we tended to assume that our post-alpha strategies
and interventions promoted church assimilation elements, we knew that we needed to evaluate our practice to
determine what was truly working and what needed to be re-worked in preparation for the up coming Alpha
Course.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Action Research methodology was chosen for this study for a number of reasons. First, the value of the
research is centered on the relevance of the findings as it relates to those directly involved in the intervention
being studied. Second, it capitalizes on the day-to-day work experiences of the program process, preparation,
and implementation and views research findings as opportunities to improve practice.
15 Einstein, Mara (2007-09-14).Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion in a Commercial Age (Media,Religion and Culture) (pp.107-109).Taylor
and Francis. Kindle Edition.
16 Einstein, Mara (2007-09-14).Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion in a Commercial Age (Media,Religion and Culture) (p.110).Taylor and
Francis. Kindle Edition.

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This type of research is not performed by “expert” researchers or consultants who then provide a
report with suggestions as to what the people intimately acquainted with the program operational activities
should do. In Action Research, the research plan and implementation is done by those directly involved and
closest to the object being studied. Any learning that takes place, interventions taken, or subsequent
improvements implemented are done directly by those invested in the production and organization of the
program.
Action Research uses a holistic approach to problem solving where interactions and relationships in
social settings are priority and the evidence and data is gathered from multiple sources, multiple perspectives,
and from interactions with the people directly and indirectly involved in the process. It is a way of learning
more about the potential of ministry effectiveness, reliability and integrity of the program design, and efficiency
of processes and implementation to reach envisioned goals. This is accomplished by questioning, listening,
watching, acting, collecting data, analyzing and reflecting. This type of research actually takes shape, evolves,
informs and transforms during the time in which the program preparation interventions and implementation
efforts are in progress.
Action Research is a very rewarding endeavor. It requires ingenuity and creativity. It also requires
discipline in the area of documentation (i.e., records such as a journaling, interviews, formal and informal
conversations), and it utilizes technology to study the object and engage in regular self reflection. Action
Research is not only the study of social situations and conditions; it is intended to be transformational for the
organization as well as the researchers on a very personal level.
Action Research is an incremental and cyclical developmental process generally comprised of the
following steps:
1. Reflecting on current practice
2. Taking action through an intervention
3. Measuring the outcome of the intervention
4. Reflecting on the results
5. The cycle begins again 17
17 Rory O'Brien, "An Overview of the Methodological Approach of Action Research," 1998, section goes here, accessed May 17,
2015, http://web.net/~robrien/papers/arfinal.html.

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The goal of this particular study is to acquire as much information as possible that can improve
knowledge and provide helpful insight into ways to improve the Alpha Course in such a way that it would
facilitate spiritual growth, enhance church assimilation and contribute to the overall mission, vision and values
of the church. Data collection for this study incorporates a combination of qualitative and quantitative data.
These two approaches will not only work in concert with each other in the entire research process, but will also
help to 'triangulate' the composite of findings.
The quantitative aspect of this study includes an on-line survey. The Alpha participants were asked to
fill out the survey at the end of the 11 week Alpha program. The layout and content of the survey provided a
visual of the church ministry structure, information about service opportunities, some questions about the
participant’s Alpha experience, and permission from them to personally contact them for further follow up
study. The survey provided check boxes along side each service opportunity to help Alpha participants evaluate
areas of church ministry and activities that they felt would match their gifting and passion to serve. (See
Appendix A).
Qualitative data collection included observations, informal conversations with the Alpha volunteers and
participants. The observations and data focused on their thoughts and feeling around the Alpha experience as
well as their perceived spiritual growth and assimilation activities that they actually engaged in since the Alpha
Course ended.
WORK AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT
This study takes place in the context of a 2500 member church located in the upper Midwest. Like all
churches, communicating the biblical message and effective church assimilation is a formidable challenge. Our
church leadership decided to implement the Alpha Course in 2013 as a way to reach those who are far from
God. In the summer of 2013 seven people from the Church traveled to Chicago area to prepare and train for
implementation of the Alpha course in our local Church and the first Alpha session was launched in the fall of
2013.

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With the exception of the lead pastor, the entire Alpha leadership team has been comprised of
volunteers with minimal experience in the general day-to-day operations of the church. It was imperative that
we as volunteers learned how to operate within the medium of the church culture and organizational systems to
access and request services, utilize church resources, as well as partner and interface with various administrative
and technological support teams. Marketing promotions included public announcements during weekend
services and other church sponsored media outlets as well as web based information and presentations on the
church website. Marketing efforts were limited to inside the church and targeted attenders considered to be
Christ Explorers. The executive pastors championed the Alpha initiative and through their support, guidance,
insight and encouragement, we successfully negotiated and navigated the church operational environment to
launch the first Alpha Course with approximately 30 starting participants.
Part of the purpose of this study is to assess organizational readiness for research to evaluate our
process and practices revolving around the Alpha program and to discover cultural attitudes and the practice of
the assimilation process as it currently exists within the scope of the Church. An interview was conducted with
one of the executive pastors. I opted to put the full interview here since it provides critical insight into the
intention of bringing Alpha to the church and background context for this study.
Interview with an Executive Pastor
April 16, 2015
Question: Why did Journey Church decide to bring Alpha into the Church. What was the point?
Pastor: I think our heart was to do something to reach outside people who were interested or
mildly interested in Christ or the Christian life. We have heard Alpha was one of those tools
that allowed, in a non-threatening way, to do a meal, and get teaching, and put them in small
groups and do it relationally to give people a chance to ask questions without feeling forced to
make a decision on a weekend service before they really had a chance to do what Jesus said
which was to count the cost and see if this is truly a life that they now wanted to live.
In the past, when I grew up, it was your first time, “do or die,” “heaven or hell,” choose
today. I think today people don’t make those kinds of decisions like that. They don’t choose to
move out of the neighborhood quickly. They don’t choose to accept a job quickly. They don’t
buy cars necessarily quickly. It’s a big step. When we talk about Christianity and a lifestyle
that’s going to impact a person, their family, and generations to come, we have to ask
ourselves: “What can we do as a church to make it less threatening and more inviting to
somebody out there?” Alpha seemed to fit the bill. We felt like Alpha would be offering two
things: One, It would bring the lost person in and give them a chance to talk about questions

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they have and get answers. Two, it allows some of our people who are high on the chart for
evangelism gifting to pour themselves into ministry. We always look for people to have a
place in ministry. Not everybody sings, not everybody teaches, not everybody wants to take
care of children or babies or nursery stuff. So where do we find a spot for everybody in the
body of Christ to feel like they’ve rolled up their sleeves and feel like they are part of the
game? So that was the thought process behind Alpha.
Question: Is Alpha an evangelism program or discipleship program?
Pastor: Originally, we didn’t feel that Alpha would be a discipleship program. We really
thought it would be an evangelism program. But now that we have been in it for almost two
years, it’s definitely making disciples of new believers. So we are not getting everybody
that’s lost, but some of the people are. Some are sitting here for three months who haven’t
made a commitment to Christ, which is “Ok”. They are checking us out. We should always
have that group of people in our building somewhere. Alpha gives them a chance to come in
and actually ask the questions. You’re not going to do that on a weekend service…”hey
Kevin, Dan, I’ve got a question.” It doesn’t work like that. But it sure does in the Alpha
environment. I think we are making more disciples in Alpha than I would have originally
thought. I thought it was going to be all about lost people finding Christ.
Question: What types of qualitative / quantitative evidence does the Church use to determine
ministry effectiveness?
Pastor: We evaluate all of our ministries. Our whole ministry evaluation is: “Is it working?”
If it’s not, we have to be willing to change it up because people are going to give us one
chance. We go by perception, crowd feel and informal comments from visitors and
conversations at the door. We use comment cards on a regular basis. We measure salvation
count, return visits, and cost.
Question: How does Alpha fit into the flow and organizational objectives and strategy at Journey
Church?
Pastor: My heart is exactly what we felt about Alpha upfront and what the training told us
at Willow Creek, and what I still feel today and will fight for. We need something that is at
at the front, the spear head of our church for evangelism. If anyone says to us: “ “What do
you guys do to reach lost people?” I want to be able say, “Alpha is our tool.” If you bring
your neighbor that moved into town from San Diego with a job change and they move next
door to you and are looking for a church but they don’t know Jesus, they are as lost as can
be, and you just want to bring them in because you care about lost people, we would like
you to take them to Alpha almost equally as much as you would take them to a weekend
service. Weekend service is less threatening because they can say one time: “I’m coming
with you and then I’m done.” Alpha Course requires an 11 week time commitment. Not
everyone is going to sign up for that. But I still want Alpha to be the major evangelism arm
of our church.
Question: What is your perception on how effective Alpha has been in reaching our evangelism
objectives as a church?

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Pastor: We are not seeing as many lost people come to Christ as I would have probably hoped for
at the beginning. Never the less, we are seeing people at the end of Alpha stick with the Church, and
numbers of them are crossing over the line of unbelief or skepticism to full faith in Christ. They are
doing that. So, I’m thankful for that. And I would probably answer the question, “Could it do
better?—Yes”. Then I would ask the question, “Is any other ministry doing any better in bringing
lost people to Christ?” I think my answer would be: I’m not sure that they are. The only thing I could
think of would be to get people to come to know Christ quicker would be the weekend service. It is
intentional that we attempt to bring people to Christ at every service. They are going to make some
decisions in that setting. But, I could argue that it’s a more solid commitment when you spend 11
weeks wrestling with good solid questions, and good solid teaching and bantering it around in a
group of believers who are already convinced and some not convinced. They are finding out some
truth. In the weekend service they are moved by music a little bit and they are moved by a message
that touched their heart, depending where they are in their life. They are making decisions for
Christ. That’s great. It’s not either-or. I want people to find Christ on the weekend and in Alpha. I
want people to find Christ!
After the interview with the executive pastor I initiated informal conversations with an administrative
assistant who works in the area of Launch Point, which functions as a hospitality ministry to answer questions
and welcome guests after each service. As I shared the possibility of research and the idea of exploring the
processes in her area, she responded with, “I don’t think I have time for that.” She did agree to learn more about
Action Research and I emailed her a summary of the purpose and definition of Action Research. Following this
discussion, I attempted to meet with the same Administrative Assistant and Pastor who was over the hospitality
area. After multiple attempts over a three week period, a meeting was set up. I arrived for the meeting as
scheduled but no one was at the meeting location. I found the secretary of that area. She did some checking and
twenty minutes later, she said “The Pastor is not going to come in and the Administrative Assistant could not be
reached. No further attempts were made to research this area.
At the time of this study we had just completed Alpha Course Session number 4. We are currently in the
midst of Alpha Course Session number 5. Approximately 60 people attend each Alpha session, 30 are
volunteers, and 30 are participants. Alpha program activities include a full course meal for 60 people one night
every week for 11 weeks, a tech team of three that run audio, lights, and visual equipment, small group
facilitators and helpers for each of the 5 groups, speakers, event coordination, and meal preparation for the one
day retreat, as well as a post care follow up team.

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While evaluation of the Alpha Course as an evangelistic tool is important, This study will focus on
the function of Alpha as an assimilation tool. An investigation as to the effectiveness of the Alpha Course can
determine it’s function, value, and worth to the mission-vision of the church and provide valuable insights and
information to improve our Alpha practice with each sequential Alpha Course offering.
CYCLE 1: REPORT
Cycle One Research Question
If we implement specific, timely, and targeted interventions during and after the Alpha course, will the Alpha
participants engage in serving and other connection opportunities within the local church community when
Alpha is over?
Question Development: From the middle of the 11 week session to the end of the course Alpha participants
became increasingly inquisitive about “life after Alpha.” They seek guidance and direction from Alpha hosts
and helpers specific to maintaining their newfound spiritual momentum and how to identify their unique
spiritual gifts, skills, and interests in an effort to discover how they could belong, connect, and contribute to the
Church as a whole.
During our 2nd session of Alpha we offered a one-page paper listing a smorgasbord of connection
opportunities available within the church. It seemed to lack the specific interactive guidance that the guests
seemed to be hoping for. That was understandable since we know from research that those in the Christ
Explorer segment do not always have historical reference or experience with a church environment, nor were
they familiar with the pathways or communication channels to navigate their way into certain areas of ministry
or the church infrastructure on their own. The idea of where to start and how to begin can be somewhat
intimidating, complex and daunting for a new comer.
During session #3, we developed a document that visually grouped the various serving opportunities
under 4 existing ministry umbrellas of the church: Passionate Worship, Enthusiastic Service, Offering Hope
and Authentic Community. We felt that this would provide a needed visual construct and important
conceptual framework to assist the guests in choosing connection-serving options that would best match their

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interests, skills and gifts. In addition, we included the names of the pastors responsible for each of the four
umbrella areas to illuminate and clarify the executive pastoral structural configuration of the church.
In session #4, we incorporated this information in an on-line survey tool to give to each of the Alpha
participants the ability to easily associate the options available to them since the options were outlined in the
context of the church ministry structure and then match their skills and interest to any number of ministry
areas.
Evidence Used for Evaluation
The results from the on-line survey were tabulated on a spreadsheet. Responses were categorized under
the four umbrella ministries, and analyzed (Appendix B). To facilitate communication, the lead pastors of each
ministry received the survey results with contact information of the participants. Comments and anecdotal
information from the survey were catalogued and analyzed separately from the rest of the survey data as they
provided the perceptions and individual stories that provide evidence of the thoughts, heart and spirit of the
guests (Appendix C). Observations, conversational information, and notes were gathered and reported as well.
Evaluation
Of the 11 first time Alpha guests that filled out the survey, a total of 27 areas of ministry were check
marked as potential connection points and/or serving opportunities. The responses were spread out fairly evenly
with two areas receiving 7 check marks, two areas receiving 4, and one area receiving 5.
PASSIONATE
WORSHIP
ENTHUSIASTIC
SERVICE-
AUTHENTIC
COMMUNITY
OFFERING
HOPE
ALPHA
Number of
times each
ministry was
chosen by the
Guests
7 7 4 4 5
Comments and anecdotal evidence: Comments from the survey fell into three identifiable categories:
connection and relationship building, spiritual growth, and course tone and format. Alpha Guests indicated that
meeting new people, connecting with people and the church and building relationships were very important to

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the guests. In the area of spiritual growth, guests reported feeling closer to God, growing with God in their
spiritual journey and in faith. They also reported that they have learned and acquired a greater understanding
about being a Christian. Comments about the course tone and format included: “I would have liked a little more
discussion time and more time for questions from hosts and from the attendees. It was a little too basic for
someone who already was a Christ follower and wanted to find out more about God and the Bible, however it
was nice to talk openly with other people about matters of faith.” “I really enjoyed our Saturday in Burlington
learning about the Holy Spirit and experiencing his presence.” “It was not boring like a lot of classes could be.”
“Did you make a commitment to Christ at any point during the Alpha Course?” Question: A number of
guests had identified themselves as “Christian” before and after the Alpha course but then indicated a “yes”
when asked if they accepted Christ. While it may indicate confusion on the part of the guest as to what the
biblical definition of “Christian” is, for the purpose of this evaluation, the answer of “yes” was considered to be
an indication that spiritual growth took place and that a significant and effectual movement closer to Christ
transpired during the Alpha Course. Seven of the eleven respondents answered “yes” to having received Christ.
Observations, Conversational information, and Notes: Informal conversations and observations were
recorded in my research journal that indicated creative and intentional efforts for deeper engagement with
others and a willingness to be vulnerable and transparent. In addition, evidence was collected that indicated that
Alpha volunteers and hosts and helpers were also energized to initiate programs, bible studies, or meetings to
help facilitate connection and provide assimilation opportunities when Alpha was over. Examples include:
 One of the facilitators began texting and emailing snippets of biblical scripture and wisdom
occasionally through the week to men that were in his discussion group. He is contemplating the
idea of a routine scheduled time together with them for further growth and relationship building.
 Three of the Alpha participants attended the “New Member” class that was scheduled shortly after
the Alpha Class concluded.
 An Alpha facilitator from a previous Alpha session initiated an abortion support group and is
meeting on a regular basis. In addition, the executive pastor and overseer of the Alpha program

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also made himself available on a special occasions to minister to the group.
 Two discussion groups formed their own small groups. One of the groups attended a quarterly
“Group Connect” offered at the church designed to help church partners find a life group. This
Alpha discussion group took a leadership role and created their own life group and other members
of the church joined them.
 One of the executive pastors announced his intention to start up a new believers class as an
avenue for Alpha graduates and other church attendees to build relationships and encourage
movement on the growth continuum.
 Past Alpha volunteers and guests returned to cook one of the evening meals for the upcoming
Alpha session.
 Participants remained together talking, laughing, and praying, 30 minutes to an hour after each
Alpha class officially ended.
 A number of Alpha participants took action immediately upon filling out the survey by calling the
church office and successfully made contact with the people in the specific area of ministry that
they checked on the survey.
Over all, people found very creative and interesting ways to continue to fellowship with each other and
find their “place” by creating their own programs and meeting opportunities.
REFLECTION
Perhaps the one disappointment was that only 11 out of 25 guests competed the survey. Some may have
not attended the last two classes and that was the time when the survey was presented. Or, perhaps the fact that
it was an “on-line” data collection form proved to be challenge for some. Looking back on our intervention
method with the benefit of the data, I now think that more information and data could have been gathered if we
had computer stations set up before and after the class with a person who could enter their responses to the
survey on-line, or we could have provided a paper survey option to the guests who would not, or could not
complete the survey on-line.

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During the last Alpha class the host opened the microphone for people to share their thoughts about
the Alpha course. A number of people courageously came foreword and provided moving and inspiring stories
of transformation, renewal, and spiritual awakenings. It seemed that while the learning and instruction was
valuable and important to the guests, sharing their personal stories and struggles with God and the Bible during
the class was very important as well. The methodology of non-threatening open discussion in small sharing
groups was extremely important to the participants.
Lastly, the survey comments reflected an expectation that the course could have covered biblical
foundations on a deeper level then it did. Perhaps this is area that can be evaluated as to the way the course was
marketed and presented to the congregation. We could have potentially done a better job of targeting those who
are in the Exploring Christ segment.  
CONCUSIONS
The overall goal of my Action Research was to evaluate the Alpha Course in preparing and responding
to the Alpha graduate’s perceived needs to take the next step of growing deeper in spiritual relationships and
assimilating into the life of the local church. I was surprised at the amount of clear and overwhelming
collaborative evidence from the qualitative and quantitative data that strongly indicate that the guest/graduates
did engage in serving and other connection opportunities within the local church community when Alpha was
over. There are a couple of additions and changes I would like to consider as we launch into cycle two of the
research:
1) Provide options for survey completion (i.e., computer assistance, or hard copy)
2) The survey tool used in cycle one reflects desires on the part of the Alpha graduates to align with
ministry activities. To uncover data closer to the question, “Is assimilation actually happening?” We
must look at what is being demonstrated in the lives of the Alpha guests over a period of time.
Therefore, Cycle Two question would be: Are the areas check marked by the Alpha graduates in the
Post Alpha Survey being actively demonstrated in their lives 2 months after the survey was completed?

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3) Research opportunities abound in which to further understand and uncover existing church
assimilation process effectiveness and knowledge creation helpful for organizational cultural evaluation,
vision, planning, goals and direction.
FINAL REFLECTIONS
Alpha volunteer leaders took on roles that carried significant responsibility in program implementation
as well as other roles and activities that included: marketing- planning and creation, program coordination and
executive decision making that, prior to the Alpha Course, seemed to rest primarily in the domain of paid staff.
This new dynamic seemed challenging for those in paid staff positions. In addition, the church proved itself not
an easy enterprise to navigate and interface for volunteers. Communication channels and pathways as well as
authority centers are known by the paid staff, but were are not intuitive or simple to access for the volunteers.
System procedures and unexpected issues such as double booking rooms and space, missed booking or
miscommunication of work orders, unexpected church calendar changes and event switches were regularly
experienced.
Routine decisions around the Alpha Course frequently resulted in power struggles between the
volunteers that were trained in Alpha Course implementation and the paid administrative and technician staff
who seemed to have minimal understanding of what the Alpha Course was or why it was considered an
important program addition to the church by executive leadership. Checking in frequently and early with the
executive pastor when things are not going well with the coordination and collaboration with various
departments in the Church proved critical for the success of the program.
This investigation revealed support for Alpha and a respect for the research process by the executive
pastoral staff. However, interactions with other staff seemed to reveal adverse attitudes toward the research
process and/or Alpha in general. Further research would perhaps reveal insights into the church organizational
culture and provide keys and answers to determine if this was a pocket of negative sentiment toward research,
or if this issue is more wide spread within the church organization.

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REFERENCES
Anderson, Leith. A Church for the 21st Century. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1992.
Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith. Philadelphia:
Fortress Press, 1977.
Brueggemann, Walter. The Prophetic Imagination. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 2001.
Christiano, Kevin J. "Church as a Family Surrogate: Another Look at Family Ties, Anomie, and Church
Involvement." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 25, no. 3 (September 01, 1986): 339-54.
Accessed April 24, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/1386298?ref=no-x-
route:227175c99bb3a48314396c923d73eac3.
Durey, David Duane. "Attracting and Assimilating the Unchurched in the 21st Century." PhD diss., Asbury
Theological Seminary, 2002. Accessed June 1, 2015.
http://garyrohrmayer.typepad.com/files/assimilation-report.pdf.
Hawkins, Greg L., and Cally Parkinson. Focus: The Top Ten Things People Want and Need from You and Your
Church. Barrington, IL: Willow Creek Resources, 2009.
Hawkins, Greg L., and Cally Parkinson. Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal about Spiritual Growth. Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.
Hawkins, Greg L., Cally Parkinson, Eric Arnson, and Bill Hybels. Reveal: Where Are You? Barrington, IL:
Willow Creek Resources, 2007.
Hawkins, Greg L., Cally Parkinson, John Ortberg, and Bill Hybels. Follow Me: What's next for You?
Barrington, IL: Willow Creek Resources, 2008.
Heck, Joel D. New Member Assimilation: Practical Prevention of Backdoor Loss through Frontdoor Care. St.
Louis: Concordia, 1988.
"Interview with Jim Charlton, Diri of Development, Alpha USA." Telephone interview by author. April 7,
2015.
"Interview with Pastor Dan Ramus, Senior Pastor of Journey Church, Kenosha WI." Interview by author. April
17, 2015.
Martinson, Oscar B. "Religion and Community-Oriented Attitudes." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
21, no. 1 (March 01, 1982): 48-58. Accessed April 24, 2015.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/1385569?ref=no-x-route:a319885dd4ea4a8bfe1038266cac6158.
Miller, Herb. How to Build a Magnetic Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1987.
O'Brien, Rory. "An Overview of the Methodological Approach of Action Research." 1998. Accessed May 17,
2015. http://web.net/~robrien/papers/arfinal.html.

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Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation.
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
Ratz, Calvin C. "The Velcro Church." Leadership Journal, September 1990. Accessed May 23, 2015.
Roberts, Michael K. "The Nature and Sources of Religious Involvement." Review of Religious Research 25, no.
4 (June 01, 1984): 334-50. Accessed April 24, 2015.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3511367?ref=no-x-route:78688a79a569340be87b18bfddb51e61.
Roof, Wade Clark. "Church Involvement in America: Social Factors Affecting Membership and Participation."
Review of Religious Research 21, no. 4, Supplement: The Unchurched American: A Second Look
(January 01, 1980): 405-26. Accessed April 24, 2015.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3510681?ref=no-x-route:85dc71bdf5bba220b86f791061e3a9d9.
Russell, Maura. "The Spiritual Dimension in Addiction." Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review 92, no. 367
(2003): 234-42.
Savage, John S. "The Teflon Church." Leadership Journal, September 1990. Accessed June 4, 2015.
Shelly, Marshall. "From the Editors." Leadership, 1990.
Stutzman, Ervin R. Welcome!: A Biblical and Practical Guide to Receiving New Members. Scottdale, PA:
Herald Press, 1990.
"T2 Resources." Center For Collaborative Action -. Accessed April 07, 2015.
http://ccar.wikispaces.com/T2+Resources.
Taylor, Robert Joseph. "Church Members as a Source of Informal Social Support." Review of Religious
Research 30, no. 2 (December 01, 1988): 193-203. Accessed April 24, 2015.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3511355?ref=no-x-route:901fe5fe02458eb80f1200a3810aedac.
Warren, Richard. The Purpose Driven Church: Growth without Compromising Your Message & Mission. Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub., 1995.

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APPENDIX A
Offering Hope- Pastor Dan Remus
☐
Invite and attend
Alpha with a friend
☐ Prayer
☐
MissionTrips (Local
or International)
☐
Crossroads
(Brass Elementary,
Mentoring program)
Alpha
☐ Host / Helper ☐ Technology ☐ Meal Coordinator
☐
Hospitality
(food/prep/clean up)
☐
Lead
worship/guitar/sing
Would you like someone to contact you from the area(s) you checked?
☐ YES ☐ NO

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APPENDIX B
Name
Did you make
a
commitment
to Christ?
Additional Comments: WORSHIP SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE
Guest 1 I am a firm and happy Christian for many years. Usher/Greeter
Compassion
(Ministry to People in
need)
Serve Team
(Community
Service)
Guest 2
Guest 3
Men’s ministry
to widows &
single parents
Guest 4 Yes
Children’s
Ministry (Birth to
5th Grade)
Guest 5 Yes
Guest 6 Yes
Thank you to the leaders. Because if Steve he asked us to join the
group when we were Loki g to connect with a group.
Children’s
Ministry (Birth to
5th Grade)
Name
Did you
make a
commitm
ent to
Christ?
Additional Comments: WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP SERVICE
Guest 7 Yes Audio/Video
Camera
Operator/Stage Hand
Guest 8
Serve Team
(Community Service)
Guest 9 Yes
always have loved and believed in Jesus; however, it got
stronger
Usher/Greeter
Serve Team
(Community Service)

30
30
Guest 10 Yes
I try to make that commitment every day.I was baptized 2
summers ago.
Choir/Singer Band/Instrument Audio/Video
Camera
Operator/Stage Hand
Guest 11 Yes
Name COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
OFFERING
HOPE
OFFERING
HOPE
OFFERING
HOPE
OFFERING
HOPE
ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA
Would you like
someone to
contact you from
the area(s) you
checked?
Guest 1
Crossroads (Brass
Elementary,
Mentoring
program)
Host/Helper Yes
Guest 2 No
Guest 3 Host/Helper Yes
Guest 4
Invite and
attend Alpha
with a friend
Hospitality
(food/prep/clean-
up)
Yes
Guest 5 No
Guest 6 Yes
Name COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
OFFERING
HOPE
OFFERING
HOPE
OFFERING
HOPE
OFFERING
HOPE
ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA
Would you like
someone to contact
you from the
area(s) you
checked?
Guest 7
Welcome to
Journey Church
class
Yes
Guest 8 Life Group
Essentials Groups (On
Campus) (Men, Women,
Marriage, Finances,
Bible Study)
Welcome to
Journey Church
class
Invite and attend
Alpha with a
friend
Yes

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Guest 9
Invite and attend
Alpha with a
friend
Yes
Guest 10 Host/Helper Technology Yes
Guest 11
APPENDIX C
Name Additional Comments: Please share any additional thoughts about Alpha and how you benefited from the program

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Guest1
I am a firm and happy
Christian for many years.
It has been heavyon myheart to help at the Brass School crossroads mentor programthis year, life certainlygot busy, but I want to start upi nthe fall. I am a reading teacher , tutor ,
interventionist andcompassionate person. I feel mygifts can touchthe life of a student andtheycantouchmine - Lisa B
Guest2 Alpha brought be closer to God withall the speaking videos andalsogettingto know newandexciting people. Thank you!
Guest3
I thought Alpha was a verygood, beginningcourse for newbelievers or people unsure of Christianity. I wouldhave liked a little more discussiontime andmore time for questions fromhosts
and from the attendees. It was a little too basic for someone who alreadywas a Christ follower andwantedto find out more about Godandthe Bible. However it was nice to talkopenlywith
other people about matters offaith.
Guest4
I have reallyenjoyed the Alpha course andthe people I have met during the course. It has made me feel more connected to the church. I have alreadyreachedout to JonathanFoster
regarding myinterest inthe children's ministryandhe put inincontact with Denelle Carson. Thanks!Donna Reineke-Hernandez
Guest5
Guest6
Thank you to the leaders.
Because ifSteve he asked
us to join the group when
we were Loki g to connect
with a group.
Guest7
This classhas beena blessingto me and myfamily. We are new to the community, andwe were looking to connect witha group. We knew there were happenings onWednesday, we showed
up, Steve saw us wondering the hallwayandaskedus to join the group. We have enjoyed the fellowship, have beenblessedto connect with a small group, we have connectedto other smaller
groups, and built great relationships with fellowChristians because of Alpha. Even though Alpha is gearedtowards newer Ch ristians, we attendedeverysession, learning more about being a
Christian, andultimatelygrowing inour faith. We nowthere are noaccidents withGod, we are sothankful for Steve, Nancy, the Alpha leaders and The Alpha course.
Guest8
My relationship withGodandmy spiritual journeygrewduringthis course. I lovedthat I got to meet new Christian people andconnect withmygroupmembers. I am grateful that this course
was offered. It wasa non threateningwayto get involved, get connected, andlearn more. I really enjoyed our SaturdayinBurlington learning about the holyspirit andexperiencinghis
presence. I want to thankeveryone for their encouragement and prayers duringthis course.
Guest9
always have loved and
believed in Jesus;however,
it got stronger
Everyone was terrific from top, down. We met some fantastic people that I hope to connect withfor a verylong time! Thankyou again!
Guest10
I try to make that
commitmentevery day. I
was baptized 2 summers
ago.
I was not raisedwithreligion or spiritualityand I feelI amjust learningabout and trying to read The Bible. I thoughthere maybe more informationthenthere was inthe class. But it did
helpme understand some things I didnot know. It wasnot boring like a lot of classes could be. It also gave me the opportunityto meet new( great ) people within the church. Over all, I was
satisfied withthe class. I would, have , andwill recommendit to others
Guest11
There are so manywonderful opportunities to get involvedwith, however, I just starteda new jobwith non-traditional hours, I workeveryweekend. This makesit difficult to commit to
anything at this time. I enjoyedAlpha, again, I felt thiswas anextensionof God sendingJesus to rescue us. Alpha was a great experience for me. GodBless.

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