The Alpha course has been a huge success in driving evangelism in the UK and elsewhere in the world, but a recent initiative has seen the Holy Trinity Brompton-based course's reach massively increased – in Kenya.
It's all down to a partnership with child sponsorship charity Compassion International.
Since Compassion Kenya began using Alpha as a tool to help with the spiritual formation of the children in their projects, more than 28,000 young Kenyans have taken part in the course. It's because Compassion is committed not just to feeding, clothing and educating children living in poverty, but to helping them grow into capable, confident adults. Spiritual development is part of that growth, and that's where Alpha comes in. It's used primarily as a discussion tool and is one of the many courses on offer for children at their local Compassion projects.
Compassion works through local churches and believes they provide the best platform for long-lasting, relational development, though it's keen to stress that it's not only interested in seeing people become Christians; it wants to empower children to make choices for themselves. However, it's also clear in its belief that the key to unlocking poverty – in all its forms, physical, social, economic and spiritual – comes from personally knowing God.
Alvin Chole is the project director in Kenya of Compassion in Partnership with the Church and organises the different programmes the churches run. He tells Christian Today: "The Alpha Course was introduced to us about two years back. We embraced it because it appeared fruitful in transforming our youth into young Christian leaders. The Alpha Course is a step by step discipleship guide that is designed to introduce young believers to Christianity and give them a well-designed orientation to the beliefs and doctrines of Christianity based on the word of God."
And, he says: "We have seen the result of the course producing a Christian youth leader who is committed to service and also committed to teach others what they have learned."
He stresses that the course is entirely voluntary and that there is no compulsion on the children to attend. However, he says: "Many youth have however become interested in the course after seeing the positive impact it has had on their friends who have taken the course. Most of the youth who have done the course are serving as praise and worship leaders in their churches, intercessors and even evangelists. So many talents have come up among them including leadership and music."
The team has seen "major transformation" in the lives of the young people, he says, with a much deeper understanding of the Bible – and it affects their behaviour, too, with cases of "misbehaviour" dropping dramatically. And this is part of Compassion's holistic mission: "The spiritual life a person forms a foundation that defines how a person lives in the other dimensions of their lives. We believe that youth who understand the Bbible and keep a close relationship with God will be able to successfully manage other areas of their life. This will enable them to handle the different daily challenges that they face such as peer pressure, self-esteem and the challenges of poverty.
"We believe that if our youth can capture this discipleship then it would be a perfect genesis of transformation to the future generation."
One of the young people who's been through the Alpha programme is Charles, who will feature in a Compassion video to be released on November 30. He tells Christian Today his own transformation has been dramatic.
"I used to go to church but I didn't really know the significance of going there," he says. "It was just a routine that I followed. I used to believe that I was saved. But looking back, I surely never knew the meaning of salvation.
"At home I was big trouble. I spent most of my time loitering around with friends. I was rude and untidy. I never knew the importance of respecting my parents and being decent. I used to sleep out just on the streets. I was a bad boy. I used to hear a lot about Jesus but I never knew him."
He enjoyed the discussion aspect of the Alpha course. "Many of the questions that I had in my head for a very long time were answered. It's like the discussions were mainly meant for me. Things I never knew became as clear as glass."
And, he adds: "My life started changing drastically. I learnt that there is no fruitful life without Jesus. I realised that I was a sinner yet he still loved me so much. He went through so much pain just for me. I still remember the voice of my teacher assuring me that even if I was the only one on earth, Jesus would still die for me. To say the truth, I shed tears. I had to give my life to him. I got born again and received the mighty Holy Spirit of God. He transformed my life."
He now takes a full part in the life of the church and has recorded a music CD. And he's acquired a new name: "People call me Blessed Charles. I am assured that my life is headed towards the right direction."
The Kenya connection between Alpha and Compassion has sparked new programmes elsewhere. Bonnie Yule-Kuehne, Alpha International global vice president, tells Christian Today: "The relationship between Alpha and Compassion in Kenya has indeed spread to other countries and we are delighted. The aligned mission, supported by fantastic local leadership, has resulted in some great work to give many young people the opportunities of education, health checks, the care of a local church-based Compassion project and the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus on Alpha Youth."
She recently travelled to Kenya to visit her own sponsored child and to see the partnership in action. She remembers one teenage girl in particular who said: "During Alpha, I came to understand that there was a God who knew me and loved me. For me that meant that I had to love the people around me in a way I had not before."
Yule-Kuehne says: "When you looked around her community there were a lot of things not to love. But she understood God's love for her and for her neighbours even though it was a tough environment to be in. She made a real impact on me and my understanding of the effect of God's love in my own life."
A partnership between two organisations with very different focuses – evangelism and poverty relief – is showing how the holistic gospel can be preached in the whole world.
Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
