Global Story
We are by the Church, for the Church, and through the Church.
Alpha began at a church called Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in London in 1977. In 1990 Nicky Gumbel repositioned Alpha as a course for those outside the Church. The number of people attending Alpha at HTB grew quickly into the hundreds and attracted the attention of other churches across denominations seeking to find an effective tool for evangelism.
This led to the first Alpha conference in 1993 at HTB where more than 1,000 church leaders attended to learn about Alpha and how to use it in their congregation. As interest grew, Alpha conferences were organized internationally, and the original film series, Alpha with Nicky Gumbel, was produced in 1994 to make it accessible to the widest possible audience.
Millions of people worldwide have tried Alpha, and it has been translated into 112 different languages. The Alpha talks have been repackaged for today’s audience in the Alpha Film Series, and the Alpha Youth Series was created to reach a younger generation with the gospel. Even as times have changed, Alpha has continued to be used by the Church as an effective tool to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Alpha USA
Alpha USA is a ministry that started in England and has expanded to the United Sates and many other countries. It is intended to be self-perpetuating, so that new and interested people can find a safe place to ask questions, to be listened to, and to be curious about Life! Once the first course has completed, those who have benefited from it can take it a second time and/or invite friends to join in this adventure. See Alphausa.org for more information.
Amherst County Alpha
Amherst County Alpha is our Christian ministry which seeks to ground interested persons in their knowledge of Jesus Christ, to promote an ongoing, personal relationship with Jesus, and to learn and experience the person and power of the Holy Spirit.
We have two audiences that we seek to minister to. [1] Those who are searching, questioning, wondering about life’s meaning, faith, and purpose. [2] Those who know Christ, but also know there is so much more to this new life that has been given to them by God.
Beyond Alpha
We will offer specific courses to help Christ-followers to continue to grow in faith, hope and love!