The Alpha Initiative for Eastern Ontario
If you are not familiar with Alpha, we suggest you begin at the Local Info Page.
If you have been involved somewhat in running Alpha in the past, you will probably find this page of most interest - The National Initiative program.
If you would like to know just what's happening locally, and maybe even be a catalyst to your church in matters of Alpha, we suggest you read Local Initiative Programs.
Download Local Alpha Initiative Newsletter No 1 - Local Plan for the Eastern Region.
Right click the icon, then Save Target As...
View a map of all courses as of Sept 25, 2003.
Are you wondering what Alpha is, and whether you should go on the course? Why not accept the offer of a free dinner in many local churches in mid September and sample the course for a couple of hours. If it's not for you, no-one will call you if you don't come back. But if you like what you see, you could join the 6 million who have attended Alpha in 134 countries including 500,000 Canadians, and have a great experience. It will change your life and way of thinking! There are courses in churches, homes, community centres etc. Wherever you take it, the course is the same. Call the Hotline now: 592-5310 or 1-866-92-ALPHA for long distance. Alternatively, to find out where courses will be running in September, visit the courses page.
Alpha Advisors:
Ottawa: Dave & Carol Atkins, Tony Copple, Laurie-Ann Copple, and Padre Michel Dion,
Kingston: Merrilyn & Neil Barber
See also here.
OK, your church has decided to run an Alpha course this fall to take advantage of the momentum from the Initiative. Here are five things to do as soon as possible:
- Register your course on this site, and at Alpha Canada. Once you are registered, our hotline volunteers can recommend seekers to your course. If you don’t register, others will not know about your course.
- Be sure to arrange pre-course leaders training for all small group leaders and helpers (and other volunteers if possible). Several courses are opening up their training sessions this fall to other local courses (eg Greenbelt Baptist, Kanata Community Alpha)
- Book your weekend venue - Suggestions.
- Plan your food arrangements. The meal is an indispensable part of the Alpha course, so you’ll need people who can cook. Most courses ask for a donation of about $5 to offset the cost of food (except at the Introductory Dinner).
- Start praying
For advice, call an Alpha Advisor.
Links
- Invite the Nation
- National Initiative program
- Alpha Canada
- Churches invite Canadians to dinner and discussion by Bob Harvey, Ottawa Citizen, 26 July 2003
The AIfEO Team outside The AIfEO HQ
Right click the icon, then Save Target As...
Right click the icon, then Save Target As...
Right click the icon, then Save Target As...
Right click the icon, then Save Target As...
This page will report on current and future aspects of the Alpha Initiative for Eastern Ontario - AIFEO. If you have a heart for Alpha you will want to know what's going on as this vitally important project unfolds.
What is the AIFEO?
The Alpha Initiative for Eastern Ontario (AIFEO) Committee chaired by Helen Lenthall is organizing additional promotions and training in Ottawa. The goal is to encourage as many Alpha courses as possible be run this fall, kicking off with introductory dinners between September 15 - 21, 2003. We hope churches will stage unique and creative ways of dining with the many guests who will be attracted by national advertising, local events and personal invitation. In the first week of July, 2003 letters have gone to churches across Eastern Ontario with details of the Initiative. An Alpha Church Kickoff session was held on the 25th of July, 2003 and a follow-up Kickoff
information package mailed to churches.
Alpha Sundays
We are counting on you to help us get the word out about this initiative and on the kindness and generosity of individuals in your membership to help us with fundraising. The Initiative needs $20K to fulfill the commitments of this program. We request that you hold two Alpha Sundays in your church, preferably July 27th and September 7th, 2003 (or any other Sunday that works better for you), when you should promote the Alpha Initiative and Introductory Dinners from your church podium before the service. We would appreciate an envelope collection from your membership as a donation from your church. Please advise your congregation about the Alpha Sundays in advance of these dates.
Internal communications...
There is a private Yahoo! Group for those involved in organizing the Initiative. If you would like access to this web site, please contact Tony Copple.
AIFEO Headquarters at 1031 Pinecrest RoadAlpha Hotline
Our Hotline is in operation 24 / 7 to direct candidates to your church and to answer your questions 1-866-92-ALPHA. Please respond to course candidates within 48hrs of receipt of notice from the Initiative. We request that you contact them by phone and send a hand written confirmation. We also recommend there be no charge for the Introductory Dinner.
AIFEO Team Photo for Ottawa Citizen July 2003Telephone Campaign
The AIFEO team would like to support you and your plans for Initiative dinners 15 - 21 September, 2003. If you have questions we may answer them immediately, or pass them on to an Alpha Advisor to call back.
Travelling Information Booth at Carlingwood Mall August 2003Travelling Information Booth
You may have seen the Alpha Information Booth at Carlingwood and Lincoln Fields malls, and in Christian bookstores — Blessings, WDTWS and Salem Storehouse in August and September.
Volunteer Coordinators: Jeannine Milburn and Vice-Chair & Marketing: Janette Sears-PoulinFront Line Inviting
During August and September a group of volunteers did sterling work on our booths, answering questions from hundreds of the public, and encouraging them to attend an Alpha course near them. The background infrastructure to this campaign included a computerized course selection system based on postal codes to direct folk to the most convenient course for them, and arrange for the church in question to send an invitation.
Nicky Gumbel at the Toronto Alpha Conference, Aug 2, 2003, with members of the AIFEO team: Janette Sears-Poulin, Mark Poulin, Tony Copple, Helen LenthallAlpha at Worshipfest
We partnered with Worshipfest August 29 - 31, 2003, bringing Alpha content to this huge praise and worship event sponsored by Compassion Canada, CHRI FM, Capital City Church, and Alpha Canada. There was continuous Alpha content with an emphasis on Alpha for Youth and Alpha On Campus.
Thank you for your support of the Alpha Initiative for Eastern Ontario.
