New Canadian-made Alpha film series is part of a global campaign to reach 1 billion people with the gospel

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Alpha has undergone a massive re-energization. The iconic film series, featuring Nicky Gumbel, is no longer the centerpiece of the Alpha initiative. While churches can still use those videos, Alpha Canada recently spearheaded production of an entirely new film series for Alpha International. The new series seeks to help the Church engage Millennials in a journey exploring questions of faith.

“The new film series was created to serve churches around the globe, to reach a younger demographic,” explains Shaila Visser, national director of Alpha Canada and co-producer of the new series. “We realize that the original way Alpha was filmed was not going to necessarily engage a younger demographic. So we really designed this for Millennials.”

The series includes 16 half-hour-length episodes. Nicky Gumbel, however, is no longer the only presenter. The format is more like a documentary, featuring stories and interviews from around the world.

“Nicky really is brilliant and a fabulous communicator.” Photo courtesy of Alpha Canada.

“This has a distinctly different feel. It still features Nicky, because he really is brilliant and a fabulous communicator. We also feature two new hosts: Toby Flint and Gemma Hunt. They travel around the world, to places like France, Israel, Hong Kong, Chile, the US, and here in Canada, taking people on a journey through the Christian faith.”

They also share stories from across the globe to help viewers understand aspects of the Faith.

“The videos are emotive, engaging, and epic,” states Lakshmi Rutnam, who leads the Capital Region Alpha Team. “Times are changing. The old videos addressed the culture then. The new videos address the current culture. They reach a diverse audience.”

Rutnam says one strength Alpha always carried is how it allows people to be themselves. Guests feel welcome in the informal atmosphere, enhanced by sharing a meal.

“No question is a wrong question. When people feel accepted and respected they are then open to hearing the gospel. Because we move at a slow pace, taking everyone one step at a time, they gradually open to accepting the Good News.”

More than 29 million people have taken Alpha, worldwide, including nearly 700,000 here in Canada. Alpha Canada was asked to lead production of the new series after the success of an Alpha Youth series, also developed by Alpha Canada, back in 2013. More than 60,000 teens participated in that program in the first two years.

Toby Flint and Gemma Hunt filming in London, England. Photo courtesy of Alpha Canada.

“When our colleagues around the world saw the success of the Alpha Youth Film Series, they said, ‘We’ve got to do this for Millennials,’” Visser says. “We are thrilled. It was a $3.2 million project that was primarily funded in Canada. We are so pleased to be able to gift this to churches, not only in our nation, but around the world.”

The new film series came out April 14. They are currently going through translation for other languages. The series also comes out several months ahead of a massive global Alpha campaign, which starts this fall.

Working with churches around the world, Alpha hopes to invite 1 billion people to “an Alpha experience.” Their campaign partners with legendary adventurer Bear Grylls, using his brand to promote Alpha in churches everywhere. Grylls’ faith came alive through Alpha.

“It is really to help serve the Church to evangelise the world. Bear is so widely respected. We are delighted he offered us his brand to help more people have the same experience he did.”