ALPHA course in Prison (Including three Videos)

Prison and God's priorities.

In both Testaments, (Isaiah 58 and Matthew 25) God puts visiting those in prison, helping the poor, the orphans, those suffering from injustice, and forgiving one another, as a priority over all our other religious duties.

He says that, before going to worship God, restore your relationship with anyone who that has a complaint against you, and that you have forgiven those who have wronged you (Matthew 5). And He said that if we do not visit the prisons, it's like not visiting Him.  For us, getting involved in a prison ministry, with a resource that actually helps transform lives, is miraculous. That is why we consider the Alpha course, a gift from God to the church.


Portland, Oregon.

The Alpha course in our church inspired one of the Alpha graduates, Susan Triplett, to start an Alpha course in a prison in Portland, Oregon.  It took her about 4 months to get all the approvals and the first Alpha class in prison started in March of 2013.  She started with six volunteers and after one year she has 13 volunteers and growing.  Each Alpha course is 11 weeks long and a new class starts right after each one is completed.  As of November of 2014, they are doing their 6th Alpha course

The response from the inmates is amazing.  They come in depressed, or angry and at the end of 11 weeks, they are filled with inner peace and enthusiasm for their future even in prison!  The transformations that I have seen in the prison, and that Amy & I have seen in churches, are as amazing as the transformations you read in the New Testament.  We have over 35 inmates that have experienced a new life in Christ.


Eastern Europe.

These are the same results the Orthodox priests in Bulgaria and Romania are experiencing.  And that is why priests are looking to expand the use of this program.
(More info under the tab on Bulgaria.)


Secular Press.

In case you are not familiar with the Alpha course, below are links to two very interesting articles from the press and two video clips.


An article from BBC UK about Alpha in prisons in England, that would be a quick read and insight to what it does.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/807804.stm

An article on the Alpha course by Times magazine that does a good job describing it's impact in London, England.

http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1866094,00.html



Alpha prison videos.

Links to three videos on Alpha in prison, from England, US and Bulgaria.


England:  (Video is being updated)



US:  Alpha for Prisons | Ron Smith



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6DsdV-TS0w

Bulgaria: 
This interview that appeared on Bulgarian TV regarding the Alpha conference in Sofia.  And it included the congregation of Southlake Church volunteering at Roosevelt High school.

 

Link:



Questions?

If you have any questions about the Alpha course, please feel free to email me at:  jamesrozos@gmail.com