Inside Alpha: Explorations in Evangelism (Studies in Evangelical History and Thought) - Softcover

Heard, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1608994503 ISBN 13: 9781608994502

Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub, 2012

Synopsis

UK church attendance hemorrhaging and one course is hailed as the most effective tool for "turning back the tide" From small beginnings in the early 1970s, Alpha has grown to become a global success. Churches from across the denominational spectrum have enthusiastically seized upon the course, seeing it as the remedy for declining church attendance. Inside Alpha explores such claims through richly grounded qualitative research on six Alpha courses. It assesses Alpha's primary aim of converting non-churchgoers and its longer-term goal of spiritual maturity (Colossians 1:28-29). It questions whether the Alpha program is as successful as it claims at uniting evangelism and discipleship, mission and spiritual formation. This is an invaluable study for those-in the academy and the church-who have an interest in ecclesiology and mission. How exactly is one to understand conversion? What is it to "be Christian" How does ambiguity and doubt fit within one's journey of faith? The importance of this work is in discovering-through an engagement with Alpha-how people might appropriately be initiated into and discipled within the Christian faith in contemporary culture.

About this title

About the Author

James Heard has worked with Operation Mobilization in the Indian sub-continent, and at Holy Trinity Brompton. He trained for the Anglican priesthood at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and is now Associate Vicar of St. Luke's and Christ Church, Chelsea.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1608994503
• ISBN 13: 9781608994502
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288