Introduction

Alpha for Prisons focuses on assisting volunteers from local Malaysian churches to run the Alpha course in prisons and halfway houses. The course is running in prisons in more than 80 countries worldwide, including 73% of prisons in the United Kingdom.

Vision

Our vision is to help reduce the re-offending rate by giving every person in prison the opportunity to attend an Alpha course, and by linking prisoners who have completed Alpha with supportive churches.

What is Alpha for Prisons

Alpha for Prisons is a 15-session practical introduction to the Christian faith. At each session there is a time of fellowship amongst the prison inmates and volunteers, followed by a talk on a subject central to the Christian faith.

After the talk, course participants break into small groups (in correctional facilities where such discussion groups are allowed) to discuss the talk and any questions, thoughts, or objections they have. This discussion time is conducted in such a way that everyone is free to ask or say whatever they wish.

Internationally, the Alpha course has been successfully run in all types of prisons and correctional institutions for both men and women, and has also been used in young offender and juvenile institutions. Prison volunteers from local churches are running the Alpha course in prisons along with volunteers from other prison ministry organisations.

Why run Alpha for Prisons

For many in prison there is a desperate sense of loss and a deep hunger for meaning in life. Jesus Christ satisfies this hunger and the Alpha course is designed to answer some of the questions people have about the Christian faith and the meaning of life. It is only through lives changed by the love and forgiveness of Jesus that we can hope to reduce the crime in our world and the desperately high re-offending rates.

Our partners

Alpha International works closely with Prison Fellowship International, and Alpha Malaysia has begun relationships with the Malaysian branches of this and other international organisations.

Our desire is to complement organisations such as Prison Fellowship Malaysia, Malaysian Care and the Catholic Prison Ministry in bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people in the prisons of our nation.

We are also in early-stage work with clients of rehabilitation centres and halfway houses.

Where are we working?

About a year ago the doors of the new Bentong Prison were opened to Alpha. Three volunteers have since begun conducting the Alpha course for about 60 male prisoners, and in November 2009 a course began in the women’s block of the Prison. The word of God is also being shared amongst special-needs inmates at the prison.

In early 2009 Alpha for Prisons started a pilot project at the Kajang Juvenile Prison (Sekolah Integriti Kajang). With the approval of the Prison authorities, Malaysian Care volunteers are now running six rounds of Alpha for Prisons at this centre.

Alpha is also taking place in a number of drug rehabilitation centres. In September 2009 the Alpha course was started for 10 ladies at the Rainbow Home for Women in Kuala Lumpur. There is a sense of forgiveness and reconciliation among the residents. There are plans to soon start the Alpha course in a men’s centre, Kenosis Home, and doors are opening in Serentis in Raub, Sungai Ruan and Temerloh.

Training

Prison Alpha training events are taking place across Malaysia in 2010, and a training calendar can be viewed at alphafriends.org.my. You can also call the Alpha Malaysia Office for details. If no events are scheduled in your region, then training can be specially requested for your church team and churches in your local area.

The Alpha talks

There are 15 talks on the Alpha course, which are given over the ten weeks of the course and the weekend away. Each talk covers key areas of the Christian faith, and small group discussions take place after each talk.

Is there More to Life than This?
Who is Jesus?
Why did Jesus Die?
How can we have Faith?
Why and how do I Pray?
Why and how should I Read the Bible?
How does God Guide us?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
What does the Holy Spirit do?
How can I be Filled with the Holy Spirit?
How can I Resist Evil?
Why and how should I tell Others?
Does God Heal Today?
What about the Church?
How can I Make the Most of the Rest of my Life?

Endorsements

“I know of many people whose lives have been transformed through the Alpha course. I rejoice at how God is using it so powerfully to renew many churches both inside and outside prison walls.” - Charles W. Colson, Prison Fellowship Ministries.

“What impresses me most about the work of Alpha for Prisons is the continuing commitment of the Alpha teams to the welfare of those they have met in prison. Many churches are now working with the prison and probation services in helping ex-offenders live fulfilling and law-abiding lives on their release... I endorse this tremendous initiative whole-heartedly. It is a wonderful sign of God’s power to change lives and I hope that many local churches will support it in whatever way they can.” - Lord Carey, Former Archbishop of Canterbury.

“I would love to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution that Alpha in Prisons makes to the resettlement of offenders, both in prisons and on release.” - Fiona Mctaggert MP, former Parlimentary Under Secretary of State, UK.