for 25 guests can be found in The Just Beginning Kit. Naturally If your course is larger, you can order additional manuals as needed. The kit gets you started with: (1) Alpha Course DVD Long Version, (1) Alpha Course DVD Express Version, (25) 6x6 Square Manuals, (1) Small Group Training DVD, (4) Small Group Training Guides for Hosts & Helpers, (1) Director's Handbook, (50) Why Jesus, (4) Questions of Life, (2) Searching Issues, (1) Telling Others, (3) each of the Searching Issues booklets, (4) posters, (2) Multiple Face Invitations/Pack of 50, (2) Explore the Questions of Life Invitations, and (1) Alpha Cookbook. While you can deliver the talks "live", most churches starting the course for the first time choose the DVD-set the first year or two simply to relieve the pressure of developing their own talks and it allows them to concentrate on other course details. While the cost of your Alpha course will depend on which resources you choose and how many are attending your course, expect to spend around $500-$600 on one-time startup costs.
 , can be found in the Mini Just Beginning Kit This kit gets you started with: (1) Alpha Course DVD Long Version, (1) Alpha Course DVD Express Version, (10) 6x6 Square Manuals, (1) Small Group Training DVD, (2) Small Group Training Guides for Hosts & Helpers, (1) Director's Handbook, (2) Questions of Life, (2) Searching Issues, (1) Telling Others, and (1)Alpha Cookbook.
and to connect with others and glean from their experience, attending an Alpha training event is highly
recommended. If however you are excited to start now or funds and time are limited, the book How to Run the Alpha Course: Telling Others presents the principles behind the Alpha course, explains the best way to go about setting up your own course and provides detailed timetables for the course and the weekend away. The How to Run the Alpha Course Director's Handbook is one of the most important tools in setting up and running an Alpha Course as it provides a guided step by step tour through every stage of the course... and it contains great stuff like reusable checklists, forms for recording and organizing information, tips on booking venues for the
weekend or day away and advice on organizing guest services. The How to Run the Alpha Course DVD is great to use as a training tool for your team to really understand the Alpha ''recipe'' including the Principles of Alpha and the Practicalities of Alpha presented by Nicky Gumble. Sandy Millar provides an understanding of how Integrating Alpha Into the Church will benefit the overall strategy of the ministries that occur within the church structure. And don't forget the How to Run the Alpha Course Getting Started booklet is a wonderful and basic step-by-step guide.
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and takes place right before a course is run. The Alpha Course Small Group Leaders Training DVD and Alpha Course Small Group Leaders Guide cover topics like 'Leading Small Groups' and 'Pastoral Care,' as well as 'Praying for Others,' It also helps if Leaders are familiar with the book Searching Issues which contains responses to the seven most commonly raised objections to the Christian faith. Plan on providing these resources to your Leaders along with the Alpha Course Manual (classic or square) and possibly Questions of Life
For your budget, you can figure on about $15 per leader, but remember, some of the leadership team will return for the next course, so not everyone will need new copies. After your first course, your ongoing Alpha costs will be approximately $5.00 per person for the Leadership team members.
While the Alpha Course DVD Long & Express Talks is not essential to present the
course, most have found it is a great way to get started as it enables the Leader/Speaker to concentrate on greeting guests and dealing with other important areas of the course, particularly the small groups. The talks can be done live provided a dynamic speaker is available and committed to preparing notes based on the chapters of the book Questions of Life (which is the Alpha course in book form), or by watching the DVDs. A CD-ROM is also available with the book Questions of Life and the transcripts of all the Alpha talks.
The Alpha Course Manual (classic or square) when they arrive on the first night as it includes outline notes for each talk.
The Why Jesus? booklet is also great for guests and can be given out the second and third talks on the Alpha course.
Because it is recommended these booklets are provided to guests free of charge, plan on approximately $5.00 per guest. (please note: the cost can be recouped by donations or can be considered part of the church's giving.)
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