Prison Stories: "Bored - so he came to Alpha"Ed, like so many other prisoners, found the tedium of prison life boring beyond endurance. So, he signed up for as many programs as possible. Every one was full, as last resort he put his name down for Alpha.
At the first session we went around the group asking each person why they had signed up and what they hoped to get out of the the course.
When Ed's turn came to speak, he said: "I don't have any expectations, I only signed up to relieve the boredom of being in this place. What's more I k...
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Alpha Behind BarsAlpha in Prisons began in Britain in 1995, when a father and son in Exeter prison
first asked their chaplain about it. Since then, over 150,000 prisoners worldwide
have done the course (some more than once), it is now part of life in prisons in many
countries.
 The leader of the Alpha prison initiative is Paul Cowley (left), a straight-
talking ex-offender and soldier who had himself had come to faith on an
Alpha course. (Read Paul's biography of the About us page). Alpha for
prisons is now the second largest prison ministry in the world.
Each prison runs Alpha in its own way volunteers from local churches
work with the chaplain. The number of prisoners on each course
varies from 10 to 35.
The outline of the teaching is the same as on any other Alpha course:
discussion is a key element to the impact of Alpha on their lives.
Often no one has ever taken the opportunity to ask these men and women what they think about anything.
On Alpha they can ask anything and express anything, however off the wall.
Alpha is being used by God to change the lives of thousands of men and women in prisons in the USA and in many other parts of the world.
Alpha in Prison is now the second largest prison ministry in the world.
Reprinted from the British Anglican newspaper "The Church Times" by Pat Ashworth
Exploring the Questions of Life
This why small groups are so important on Alpha. It is in these groups where the 'big' questions can be aired without fear of rejection or judgment. In these groups participants learn to encourage and pray for one another.
A - Alpha welcomes anyone who wants
to learn more about the Christian Faith
L - Alpha is for learning and laughter,
we can learn and have fun together.
P - Alpha is about prayer in prison, we will
support each other in prayer.
H - Alpha is about helping each other
in small groups.
A - On Alpha you can ask anything,
because no question is too dumb or
too hostile.
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