Is the message of Christ timeless? How can we share faith in a way that truly speaks to today’s world?
One powerful way is through the Alpha Course—an initiative that has spread across Catholic parishes worldwide, transforming lives and strengthening evangelization efforts. Originally developed in the Anglican Church by Rev. Nicky Gumbel, Alpha has become a bridge for Christian unity and a tool for engaging young people in faith.
We sat down with Nicky Gumbel to explore what makes Alpha so effective, how it captures the hearts of young people, and his mission to unite Christians in proclaiming the Gospel.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief
Is the method of conveying this message to the world today, is that changing?
Nicky Gumbel — Developer of “Alpha” Course
We must never change the message. Sometimes churches are tempted to think, ‘Oh, the message is not acceptable to our culture we need to change the message’ but if you change the message it loses its power.
But, that message comes to us in a cultural packaging. And if the packaging puts people off, then they won’t hear the Gospel. So, we have to work out what is, what is the right way to convey the unchanging message of Jesus Christ, risen from the dead in a way that is relevant to people today and especially to the young people of today.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief
How are you doing it?
Nicky Gumbel — Developer of “Alpha” Course
I didn’t invent it, I didn’t create it, but I inherited a course that we found all these young people, the average age was 27 with people coming. The vast majority of guests were aged between 18 and 35 and they were encountering Jesus. Last night we went to St. Philip Neri’s house and it was just amazing to go to that place, because St. Philip Neri has always been a huge hero of mine. But I thought how similar what he was doing is to what “Alpha” is.
And central to Alpha is the Holy Spirit and you look at that heart with a fire coming out of it in that house. And that’s what it’s all about, experiencing God’s love. And young people are hungry for spiritual experience. Atheism has pretty much died in the UK.
Speaking to one witness of Alpha, Nicky Gumbel — Developer of “Alpha” Course asks:
What difference has Jesus made for you?
Witness
He made a big difference for me. I’ve got friends again. I love my family again.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief
Your “Alpha” course is really for Christian churches. You are a fan of Saint Philip Neri who was waving goodbye the priests that were educated here at his time and going to England basically to die there. It was a very difficult time. Where are we on Christian unity?
Nicky Gumbel — Developer of “Alpha” Course
I think things really shifted. In 1990, I went to a conference at which Father Raniero Cantalamessa was speaking, and he spoke about the importance of Christian unity. And from that moment onwards, I have done everything to preach about what he was talking about, which is really from John 17—that Jesus prayed for the unity of the Church in order that the world would believe.
And how are we going to get the message out unless we’re united? Because a friend of mine, who was not a Christian, said this:
He said, “Look, you Catholics, you Anglicans, you both have church buildings, you both sing these hymns, you both do something with bread and wine. Whatever it is you disagree about—I have no idea what it is. It’s got nothing to do with my life. But while you’re fighting each other, I’m not interested.”
And I think there are so many people out there who just look at a disunited Church and say, “I’m not interested.”
But let’s focus for now at the absolute core, the heart of the Gospel and so that we can communicate that to a world that desperately needs to hear about Jesus.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief
How does the digital age influence that? Does that change the concept?
Nicky Gumbel — Developer of “Alpha” Course
Technology is not the same as human encounter.
What people need is an encounter with Jesus and the church. The church is the greatest community on planet earth and all the young people, everyone on the planet is searching for three things.
They’re searching for love. They’re searching for meaning and purpose. And they’re searching to belong. And the Church is the greatest place of belonging.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief
Thank you very much for being with us and for sharing also your experiences with spreading the Gospel also through new technology.
Nicky Gumbel — Developer of “Alpha” Course
Thank you.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
