Alpha Dinners 2003 to Nourish the Body and Soul with Free Meals the Week of September 15th

An Alpha Dinner is an opportunity to share a free meal together and make friends while exploring the meaning of life and engaging in spiritual discovery in a fun, relaxed, non-judgmental setting. No question is considered too simple, too hostile or too outrageous. You dont have to agree with everything you hear -- the wonderful thing about Alpha is that the more diverse the participants, the more interesting the discussions.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) August 19, 2003 -- Alpha Dinners 2003 (A.D. 2003), a grassroots campaign involving more than 100 Christian churches of many different denominations, is inviting everyone in the Silicon Valley to a free dinner in their neighborhood the week of September 15th to kickoff The Alpha Course.

Encouraging residents to explore the meaning of life over dinner", a major advertising campaign is under way with billboards, bus signs, radio and print ads along with advertisements in major movie theatres and shopping malls, all aimed at promoting Alpha Dinners.

An Alpha Dinner is an opportunity to share a meal together and make friends while exploring the meaning of life and engaging in spiritual discovery in a fun, relaxed, non-judgmental setting," said Pastor Ira Popper, Chairperson, A.D. 2003. Dinners typically involve a meal, a short video, some laughs, and often live entertainment, and a chance to sign up for the free Alpha Course, which is a ten-week series of dinner and spiritual discovery:"

Many people worry that the church is trying to make them change their beliefs," said Popper. With Alpha, you dont have to change your beliefs or your actions to belong or to attend."

What makes Alpha different is that we accept people for who they are and what they believe," said Dr. Cliff Daugherty, a schools Superintendent in the Silicon Valley. Alpha is based on respecting people's opinions and giving them a safe environment to express thoughts and exploring the difficult questions in life. Alpha provides answers to life's difficult questions by using the Bible as a foundation and allowing individuals to use the information presented to make their own choices," added Daugherty.

It took Jade Frantz of San Jose nearly 22 years to find the meaning of her life. On the outside everything appeared to be fine. I had a steady job, my own apartment, a nice car, and a caring boyfriend," said Frantz. However, even with all the apparent success she was beginning to realize that her lifestyle was keeping her empty and alone. I struggled with anger, depression, and fear while trying to figure out what life was all about," said Frantz.

Making changes in ones life is never easy, and finding answers to lifes difficult questions is even harder. For Frantz, the Alpha Course began to answer the hard questions that had always resonated in her heart. Toward the end of the course she vowed to make a change. In the process of searching for the meaning of my life, I have regained direction in my life and filled the emptiness with purpose and joy," adds Frantz.

While there have been countrywide initiatives in the U.K. and New Zealand (and one is currently going on in Canada) along with individual courses in the US, this is the largest initiative in the United States to date.

Everyone is welcome to attend and explore the meaning of life and discuss whether God has any real relevance for their lives. Some want to investigate whether God exists or if there is any point to life, while others may be concerned about what happens after death. Still others may have attended church but feel they have never really understood the basics of the Christian faith. You dont have to agree with everything you hear -- the wonderful thing about Alpha is that the more diverse the participants, the more interesting the discussions," states Carl Guardino, a Silicon Valley executive.

About A.D. 2003
http://www.alphadinners.org A.D. 2003 is a cooperative grassroots effort involving all major Christian denominations and more than 100 churches from Menlo Park down to San Jose and up to Fremont. A.D. 2003 is supervised by Pray the Bay, an ecumenical association of local pastors, and sponsored by Alpha USA, KTLN Television, Fuller Seminary and the management of KFSB 1220 AM. Local churches and charitable foundations provide funding.