How to run Alpha > Before Alpha begins
Before Alpha begins
Running Alpha is simple but preparation makes all the difference.
Start with prayer and partnership.
Share your vision for people coming to faith in Jesus through Alpha with your church leadership, and ask for their support and blessing.
Here are five steps to help you get ready:
STEP 1: BUILD YOUR TEAM
Your Alpha team will help you lead, organise, and create a welcoming space.
We’ve found that the key is to handpick your team and use a personal invitation rather than a broad, sweeping question to many.
Ask yourself the question: Would I be happy for my friend to be in this person’s group? This is a great test to determine if someone would be a good fit for the team.
Your team might include:
Alpha leader (may also be a group Host)
A mature Christian with a heart for evangelism and pastoral care. The leader oversees the course, welcomes guests, and introduces each session.Alpha coordinator (may also be your church administrator)
The organiser who handles logistics, internal communication, and often everything behind the scenes.Hosts
During the group discussion time, hosts greet newcomers to the group, introduce guests to one another, and facilitate the discussion. Choose people who are good listeners, welcoming, and able to guide conversation gently.Helpers
Helpers look after the needs of the guests. They don’t need to say too much during the discussion, but are there to be an encouraging listener. (Often the best helpers are those who’ve come to a previous Alpha as a guest.)Head chef (optional!)
If you’re able to provide a meal, this person will plan and help organise the food.Worship leader (optional)
If your Alpha has more than 20 guests, you might want to include a short time of worship. Keep it simple, one or two well-known songs, live or recorded, and sensitive to those new to faith.
Alpha Youth tip: invite young people to co-host or facilitate discussion groups – it builds ownership and relatability. Remember to address safeguarding or parental consent if you’re running Alpha Youth with young people under 18.
For online Alpha, include a digital host or moderator who manages the chat, manages any screen sharing or breakout rooms.
Welcoming guests with warmth and friendliness as they arrive is really important, helping newcomers feel at ease. Introduce guests to one another and dedicate time to chatting with each guest – help them know they’re valued.
STEP 2: PLAN YOUR ALPHA
Set your dates
Choose when Alpha will start, and plan for eleven weeks plus a day (or weekend) away, or eight weeks if running Alpha Youth.
Decide where to run it
Alpha can take place anywhere: in a church, café, home, office, youth club, school, or online. What matters most is that your space feels warm, welcoming, and comfortable for open conversation.
If running online only, consider running it in partnership with other local churches.
Plan your Alpha Day or Weekend
Select and book your venue in advance, and begin preparing invitations. It’s often best to organise the day between sessions seven and eight. See the Alpha Day or Weekend section later in this guide for more information and example schedules.
Select your small group hosts and helpers Choose people who are good listeners, welcoming, and able to guide conversation gently.
Create your invitation strategy
Did you know that 9 out of 10 guests come to Alpha because they were invited by a friend? A friendly, personal invitation makes all the difference.
Start thinking about how and when you’ll promote your Alpha. Grab a copy of our Alpha Campaign Guide, where you’ll find an example timeline for advertising your Alpha as well as examples of the invitational resources we create and make available to support those one-to-one conversations.
Alpha Youth tip: use communication channels where young people are already active like Instagram stories or short TikTok clips that show the fun and authenticity of Alpha.
You can find ready-made invitation resources on the Alpha UK website at alpha.org.uk/promote, including:
social media graphics
promotional videos and trailers
templates for invitation cards, posters, and banners.
You can also get professionally printed prayer cards and customisable invitation cards, posters, and banners on the Alpha Shop.
Get course materials
Giving each guest the gift of an Alpha Guide and Why Jesus? booklet is often appreciated, offering them the chance to reflect on the topics in their own time. The Alpha Team Guide is also a great resource for hosts and helpers.
Guests can also download the free Alpha App and access resources their.
Prepare to make Alpha a welcoming space
Showing up to Alpha for the first time can feel intimidating, especially for guests who wouldn’t normally go to church. That’s why creating a warm, fun, and welcoming atmosphere is so important. It helps guests relax, engage in conversation, connect with others, and want to come back each week.
Think of your Alpha like a casual get-together, welcoming people into your home. Here are some ideas to help you set the tone:
Room decor – Table settings, signage, lighting, and creative touches make the space feel inviting. Adjust these elements to reflect your guests and keep things fresh each week.
Music – Play upbeat tracks or invite a local musician during the mealtime. Some groups introduce worship music later on. Whenever you do, briefly explain its meaning.
Food – Sharing a meal or snack creates space for natural conversation. Much of Jesus’ ministry took place around mealtimes. Always include a vegetarian option and check for allergies.
Temperature – Keep the room comfortable remembering that crowded rooms warm up quickly!
Venue – Choose a location that fits your audience. While many Alphas run in churches, others thrive in cafés, homes, schools, universities, gyms, or pubs.
Fun – Laughter builds community and eases awkwardness. Try a light-hearted video, joke, or quick icebreaker.
Seating – Encourage conversation with relaxed, small-group setups. Round tables, couches, or even floor cushions work well.
When we intentionally create a welcoming environment, guests feel at home, engage deeply, and are more likely to invite their friends to Alpha.
For youth gatherings, consider creative ways to make the environment feel relaxed. Beanbags, string lights, and fun icebreaker games help.
For online Alphas, create a sense of warmth digitally. Encourage cameras on (if comfortable), use reaction emojis, and open with a light-hearted poll or ‘get to know you’ question.
STEP 3: REGISTER YOUR ALPHA
MyAlpha is the home to our series videos, training sessions, and resources to help you run Alpha.
We ask everyone who runs Alpha to register their course on MyAlpha – it’s completely free and quick to do.
If you’ve not decided when your Alpha will start yet, that’s not a problem. Just add your best guess of the start date and location. You can edit these at any point in the future.
Every year, thousands of people search on our website to find an Alpha near them. When you register your course on MyAlpha, you can choose to make it visible on our ‘Find an Alpha’ webpage - we recommend that you do!
It’s the place where you:
Get training materials: download the small group training videos, the weekly briefings, and more.
Download the videos: choose if you want the talks with subtitles, in different languages, or in various resolutions.
Connect the Alpha App: the Alpha App is designed for guests; they can watch
a missed session, explore extra weekly content, and more. Find out more about it at alpha.org.uk/app and connect the app to your course in MyAlpha. (Please note: the app does not include Alpha Youth content.)
For online Alpha, ensure that all participants receive the digital links and meeting passwords well in advance.
STEP 4: PROMOTE YOUR ALPHA
Visit alpha.org.uk/promote which is a free resource hub that helps you spread the word about your Alpha.
It includes ready-to-use promotional materials like videos, posters, social media graphics, and editable templates to suit your context. These tools save you time and ensure your messaging stays clear and consistent with Alpha’s tone and branding.
You’ll also find tips on how to invite guests effectively, whether through digital campaigns or personal invitations.
Using these resources helps you create awareness, build excitement, and ultimately welcome more people to experience Alpha.
Inspire your church community
Why not host a Sunday service focused on invitation and share testimonies from previous courses? Hearing first-hand from someone about the difference Jesus has made in their life builds faith and encourages others to invite friends, family, and colleagues. Use this ‘Alpha Sunday’ – typically held 3 to 4 weeks before the first session – to mobilise prayer, spark invitation, and build momentum. Read more in the Run Your Best Alpha booklet.
For youth audiences, invite youth pastors or student leaders to share their personal Alpha stories at a youth night, school assembly, or church service. It builds trust and curiosity.
For online outreach, consider hosting a short Instagram Live, YouTube Q&A, or TikTok story series where past guests talk about their experience of Alpha.
STEP 5: TRAIN YOUR TEAM
Before Alpha starts, gather your hosts, helpers, and team for training.
Watch the Small Group Training video together – available on MyAlpha – which gives practical tips on how to host a small group.
We also have several super helpful training sessions running throughout the year, both in-person and online, which you can sign up to.
During training:
emphasise an attitude of servanthood and hospitality
clarify each role and task
pray together for your guests and for unity as a team
We recommend you give each small group host and helper a copy of the Alpha Team Guide or Alpha Youth Discussion Guide, which contains top tips and advice.
Good preparation builds confidence and sets the tone for your Alpha.
Now it’s time to begin!
Follow the Alpha format, stay prayerful, and trust God with the process.
Every Alpha looks a little different, but the heart remains the same: to create space for people to encounter Jesus.