Alpha Leadership Tour and Conference

Two Perspectives from the Alpha Leadership Tour

South Moreton Presbytery Minister Rev Catherine Solomon

In May I had the opportunity, through Continuing Education for Ministry, to attend the Alpha Leadership Tour and Conference in the UK - an experience that deeply renewed both my faith and ministry. I was drawn again to the heart of the gospel: Jesus’ humble service, calling us to “clean feet and dirty hands” (John 13). Framed by Christ as our true Rock in a shaken world, the Alpha Conference invited honest reflection on where we ground our identity amid pressures of performance and control. Leadership was reframed as flowing from being before doing, rooted in prayer and attentiveness to the Spirit.

Repeatedly over the 9 days, we heard powerful testimonies of people having a personal revelation or encounter with God, prompting them to search for meaning—sometimes literally “Googling” their experience. Discovering connections to Christianity, some spoke with a Christian friend or colleague, while others found their way into a local church that felt open and approachable. There they were welcomed, listened to, and invited to explore faith through Alpha. Many chose to follow him, and in some communities were soon supported and mentored to lead Alpha groups themselves.

I came away with these two thoughts specifically for our Presbytery:

1. Are we ready and approachable to receive people seeking Christ – not just on a Sunday?
2. How might we hold together hope through our ‘head, heart, and hands’ - thinking well, loving deeply, and serving courageously - trusting that God is already at work among us?

by Rev Emma Nicholls, Community Life Uniting Church

One vivid memory from the UK Alpha Leadership Tour was an all-night prayer gathering we joined at SAINT Church, Hackney. So many people came, that we waited in line for nearly an hour just to get through the doors! Inside, hundreds of young adults worshipped passionately. It was a powerful demonstration of the stories we heard throughout the tour, of a growing spiritual hunger among younger generations.

Another highlight was visiting a much smaller revitalised church serving a lower socio-economic area in East London. We were welcomed with coffee, joined a family-friendly service and shared in Communion together. During the week, the church’s café and community centre provide local support, including ministry alongside folks recovering from addiction. It was a reminder that renewal can look very different in different contexts.

I returned challenged by conference speaker Stephen Foster’s observation that ‘churches tend to go upward in age and inward in focus. If you want your church to grow, you need to go downward in age and outward in focus.’ Similarly, Catholic priest Fr James Mallon spoke about the need for churches to move ‘from maintenance to mission.’

It was inspiring to go and see the many ways God is at work across traditions, communities, and contexts. I returned convinced that renewal begins with prayer, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and a willingness to look for what God is doing among us. Tools such as Alpha can help us foster that outward-looking culture and equip us to provide a pathway for people to discover faith in Jesus and belonging in the church. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to go on this tour.