Across the Canada and Bermuda Territory, The Salvation Army is using Alpha to welcome newcomers and deepen discipleship within the church. For many people, Alpha has become a pathway to faith and transformation.

While many corps have independently run Alpha for years, the territory intentionally partnered with Alpha Canada in 2023.

“I firmly believe that beautiful kingdom work happens when we unite,” says Peter Park, territorial corps life director in the corps mission department at territorial headquarters. “This isn’t about just strengthening The Salvation Army—it’s about the church serving the church to build the kingdom.”

Through this partnership, corps across the territory are incorporating Alpha into their ministry strategies, from group gatherings over shared meals to outreach efforts for youth.

A SPACE FOR CONNECTION

Alpha is a parachurch ministry dedicated to building God’s kingdom beyond denominations. It is a tool for discipleship and evangelism, offering churches an accessible framework to form friendships, deepen relationships and provide a safe space for people to encounter Christ for the first time.

According to Major Doug Binner, assistant secretary for mission, Alpha is an invaluable entry point that brings new people into churches and into fellowship with one another. “It sparks deep, meaningful discussions and moving experiences with the Holy Spirit,” he says.

At its core, Alpha is a curriculum for sharing the gospel with those who may be unfamiliar with Jesus or church. It helps churches create safe, hospitable spaces where people can ask questions about the Bible and learn about Jesus without fear of judgment. It opens church doors for people who may have been hesitant or nervous to explore faith or church membership before. 

"It's about serving the church to build the kingdom." - Peter Park

“Even lifelong believers in our congregations are attending Alpha because they have questions they’ve been curious to ask,” says Park.

A key goal of the corps mission department is to shift the narrative around Alpha. It’s not just a 12-week program to complete and move on from. Instead, corps are encouraged to integrate Alpha into their church culture, inviting people in, making disciples, launching small group ministries and inspiring participants to return and bring their friends.

In addition to its curriculum, a core tenet of Alpha is sharing a meal—bringing people to the table, making them feel welcome, breaking bread and fostering connection. “Something beautiful happens when you break bread with a stranger and say, ‘Before we talk about deep, heavy stuff, let’s just talk about life,’ ” says Park. 

ST. ALBERT CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE, ALTA.

In November 2024, Alpha Canada launched a new and improved curriculum for Alpha Youth, based on research showing that the next generation has a deep curiosity about spirituality. According to Park, faith hasn’t declined in youth, but the focus has shifted. Instead of asking, “Is there a God?” young people are now asking, “Is God good?”

“The future leaders of the church aren’t even Christian yet,” says Park, referencing a profound quote by Shaila Visser, national director of Alpha Canada and the global senior vice-president for Alpha International. “So how do we invest in next-gen ministries?”

One corps that has successfully implemented Alpha Youth is St. Albert Church and Community Centre in Alberta, which has been running the program for two years in partnership with the local Alliance Church. Hosted at a public school, lunchtime sessions offer pizza and typically draw between 60 and 80 students.

“We don’t run traditional Alpha—we tried it, and it became more like a Bible study, and that’s not what Alpha is supposed to be,” says Captain Daniel Rowe, corps officer. Instead, they adjusted the Alpha framework to work within their ministry and community, with a goal to make it as accessible as possible to young people.

The program runs in two eight-week sessions, from January to March and September to November, led by Andrew and Natasha Waine, youth outreach worker and community outreach worker.

“When it comes to Alpha, you have to give it time,” Captain Daniel explains. “We’re in our second year of running Alpha Youth, and just this week, Natasha shared in a staff meeting that a student asked her to pray with them. That’s a big win.”

According to Captain Bhreagh Rowe, community ministries officer, they’ve found that running Alpha Youth offsite has been a benefit to the program. It removes the barrier of the church building and engages with youth in an environment where they feel more comfortable.

“It’s the definition of meeting people where they are,” she says. “We’re not expecting them to come to us first. We’ve found that the most success comes when we go out into the community, build relationships and then, eventually, people end up coming back to our building in some capacity.

“The only way to break down barriers is through genuine connection—showing up, having conversations and letting the students see our faces and get to know us,” Captain Bhreagh adds. “Running Alpha outside our building has helped us do that.”

NORTHRIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH, NEWMARKET, ONT.

Northridge Community Church in Newmarket, Ont., has been running Alpha for more than 15 years and, as of 2023, is one of Alpha Canada’s hub churches. As a hub church, Northridge serves as a resource and support for other churches, including those within The Salvation Army and from other denominations, that may be interested in starting Alpha.

Volunteers John and Margaret Tillsley spearhead the program, currently hosting sessions twice a year, with participation ranging from 20 to 40 people.

“We really try to focus on bringing new people in and making Alpha part of our evangelism strategy,” explains Captain Fred Reid, corps officer. “We share a meal and create a welcoming space to ask questions, such as ‘Who is Jesus?’ and ‘What does it mean to believe in him?’ I think what draws people in is that feeling that they belong, that they’re safe, and that they have a place to engage in meaningful conversations about faith and life.”

To help foster fellowship and connection, Northridge’s small ministry groups, called life groups, take turns catering the meal for each Alpha session. Every week, a different life group prepares and shares the meal with participants.

“It helps bridge the gap,” explains Captain Reid. “If someone from Alpha decides to come to a Sunday service, they’ll recognize at least one person they’ve shared a meal with over the 14 weeks.”

And according to Captain Reid, there are some people who have come through Alpha, found a sense of belonging and are now actively involved in the congregation or other church ministries. Even those who decide they’re not ready for church or who belong to another church in the city sometimes return to volunteer with The Salvation Army. Most recently, a woman who first connected with Northridge through Alpha applied for an administrative position at the corps and is now a Salvation Army employee.

Though Alpha functions as its own evangelism program, it also connects with and feeds into other ministries at Northridge. The corps uses Alpha as a starting point in discipleship, leading participants into its “Practice of the Way” program, which explores what it means to follow Jesus. From there, they discuss church membership.

“Kingdom impact happens one person at a time,” says Captain Reid. “The material is powerful, and we’ve seen it transform lives and bring new life into the church.”

“YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG”

“Part of Alpha is trusting the Holy Spirit,” explains Park. Though the church sets the scene, offers the program space and provides a meal for sharing, the Holy Spirit will lead the results. “If someone leaves Alpha with no change of heart or thought, we’re going to trust the Holy Spirit. But if they complete the course and are curious, let’s get them straight into ministry. All we must do is create that space to let the Spirit do its thing.”

For corps that are considering Alpha or who have tried it in the past without success, Captain Reid offers a word of encouragement: “You can never go wrong by creating a space where people feel welcome. There’s support available through The Salvation Army, our corps mission department and us. Even though Northridge is a regional hub church, we’re also the only Army hub church, so we can support churches across the country.”

And according to Captains Rowe, Alpha Youth is thriving now, but it took time and plenty of trial and error. “We’ve failed at more things than we’ve been successful at,” Captain Daniel admits. “You must be willing to put yourself out there. If God is leading you to do something, you just have to keep pushing until you find the right approach.”

Captain Daniel also encourages officers and ministry leaders to see Alpha not as just another program to run, but as an adaptable tool that fits within existing ministry. “You can run it anywhere—at a coffee shop, in someone’s home, even while going for a walk together,” he says. "At its core, Alpha is about conversations and connection. How can you integrate that into the context of your own ministry?”

This story is from: