A way to inspire the more than 10 million people in prison around the world

Alpha creates a space where prisoners can ask life’s big questions and find out about the Christian faith in a safe, informal, and friendly environment.

Prisons and Jails: The Mission Field in Your Own Backyard

There is an overlooked mission field in our own backyard, one full of people desperate for help, healing, and wholeness. It’s a place much of our society tends to dismiss, filled with people who believe they have been cast aside, forgotten.

Alpha is brought to prisons and jails by dedicated volunteers who have attended Alpha at their local church or parish. These volunteers tangibly show the love of Jesus to men and women that society had tossed away and labeled as unworthy, broken, dangerous, or beyond help. Through Alpha, prisoners are reminded that God does not label them—he loves them.

The Alpha Reentry Model

Based on research by Dr. Byron Johnson concerning offender reentry, the Alpha USA Prisons and Reentry team further developed a model of reentry which encompasses both pre-and post-release interventions for offenders. There are many similar organizations like this within the U.S., and all report positive results in terms of ease of prison management and reduction of recidivism rates.

Recent studies show that 68% of offenders are re-arrested within five years of release. However, those inmates who complete reentry initiatives have an average recidivism rate of 20%.

While each reentry initiative is location-specific in design, the curriculum provided is based on a needs assessment completed to determine the offender’s success upon reentry. The curriculum consists of five areas of concentration: character development, anger management, addiction prevention, family/child relationships, and daily living skills.

Partner with Us

God has used Alpha USA Prison and Reentry to reach tens of thousands of those considered ‘unreachable.’ We are grateful he has called us to be a part of this work. We invite you to partner with us as a local volunteer, bringing Alpha to a jail or prison, as a prayer partner, or by giving to help reach more inmates with the good news of Jesus.

Questions about running Alpha in the Prison Context?

Contact us!

Benny Lopez

Prisons Coordinator

    ENCOUNTER

    This track is full of amazing main-stage speakers who will showcase the power of prayer in every generation, equip you to live a naturally supernatural life and train you to heal as Jesus did. Senior pastors, church leaders, non-profit leaders, this track is you!

    Workshops in this Track

    Learnings from Asbury on the Power of Prayer

    Speaker: Angela Chadwick, Global Director of Prayer, Alpha USA

    Alpha’s Global Director of Prayer will interview some of the spiritual leaders involved in the Asbury revival where a chapel worship service caught the attention of our country. You’ll hear stories of how the students were deeply moved by God through the simplest forms of worship and how the leaders made sure the only celebrity on stage was Jesus. You’ll also be amazed by the powerful breakthroughs in young people’s lives through the gentlest of prayers.

    Additionally, we will explore how the resurgence of faith in one small American town is relevant to every person in the Church and how it shapes how we share the good news in a good way with this generation.

    How to Facilitate Eternal Connections with Jesus

    Speaker: Danielle Strickland, Spiritual Leader, Justice Advocate, Communicator, Peacemaker

    Encounter is God’s favorite way to spiritual revelation. Why do we emphasize information-formation as our primary means of discipleship? What if we put more time, energy, and effort into facilitating more encounters? Be prepared to discuss together how cultivating curiosity becomes a means to do just that. We will talk techniques, experiences, and new ideas.

    Everyday Miracles

    Speakers: Dr. Chloe Swart, Associate National Director for Alpha UK, and Dr. Russo Swart, New Wine Cymru Prophetic and Healing Team

    This workshop will look at how to heal the sick as a part of our everyday missional lives. Following Chloe’s PhD studying healing miracles in Wales, Chloe found that Christians in Wales were praying for their friends, family, and colleagues, in the gym, in the supermarket, at work; wherever they found themselves, as well as in church services, and Alpha courses. Healing is a missional tool that points toward Jesus. Unpack the theology of healing, while also hearing very practical teaching and demonstration of how to heal the sick in an everyday way.

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