ABOUT ALPHA MID ATLANTIC
Alpha Mid Atlantic equips and serves the Church in PA, NJ, and DE in its mission
to help people discover and develop a relationship with Jesus through Alpha.
Alpha is a global non-denominational ministry which runs in over 150 countries and has had over 34 million participants. Alpha Mid Atlantic is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working in partnership with Alpha USA to train and equip churches in PA, NJ, and DE in running Alpha.
Founded in 2000 by our visionary leader, Bill Drennen, Alpha Mid Atlantic has helped churches set the table to welcome people who are hungry for a safe space that allows them to ask questions, express doubts, and explore faith. Alpha provides a judgment-free, safe place for people to explore deep questions of faith where no question is off-limits and no opinion is considered wrong.
Alpha is run in churches, youth groups, coffee shops, colleges, bars and restaurants, food pantries, crisis pregnancy centers, prisons, homes, and in the workplace. Whether you’re looking for an Alpha course to attend or you’d like to run Alpha at your church or with a group of friends, we’re here to help.
WHAT WE DO
Alpha Mid Atlantic introduces churches, ministries, organizations and individuals to the Alpha course, and trains and equips them in running Alpha effectively. We provide in-depth training opportunities for churches to explore what Alpha is and how to run it well, and to learn how to integrate Alpha into the culture of their church. We facilitate opportunities for Alpha leaders to connect with one another for ongoing learning and strengthening of their courses. We also host a region-wide Alpha Day Away that all churches running a fall Alpha course are invited to attend.
GET INVOLVED
Be a part of what God is doing through Alpha Mid Atlantic!
- Join our weekly prayer team
- Volunteer on one of our ministry teams: Prison Ministry, Youth Ministry, Special Events (like the Alpha Day Away)
- Become a financial partner—at Alpha we offer everything for free, and we can only do this with your help.
Contact us to talk about how you can get involved today!
Meet Bonnie O’Neil, Executive Director
Bonnie first experienced Alpha while living in London with her family, where they were members of Holy Trinity Brompton Church, the birthplace of Alpha. Upon returning from London, she launched her first Alpha course in her home, and hasn’t looked back since! She served as an active board member of Alpha Mid Atlantic for close to a decade before taking on the role of Executive Director. Bonnie’s background as a banker in both New York and Boston and as a volunteer leader, fundraiser, and board member at several nonprofit organizations has prepared her well for her role as leader of Alpha Mid Atlantic. Bonnie is a spiritual director, an experienced Bible teacher and an engaging speaker at church and leadership retreats and has authored three books—My Identity Is In Christ, Chronic Hope, and Where the Light of Hope Falls. More of her writing can be found at www.bonnieoneil.com.
Contact Bonnie at: bonnieoneil@alphausa.org.
Meet Amy Clipston, Ministry Assistant
Amy was raised in a culturally Christian family, but it was Alpha that led her to faith in Jesus. She attended her first Alpha course in 2002 at St. Bartholomew’s Church in midtown Manhattan, with no intention of staying through all 10 weeks. Trained as a chemist and working as a management consultant in NYC, Amy was a devoted agnostic. God had other plans, though, and by the next course, she was an Alpha table helper (where she met her future husband!), and on the following course, she was an Alpha course administrator and a new Christian. Shortly thereafter, Amy joined the staff of Alpha USA, eventually leading Alpha USA’s Marriage Course program. Whether in NYC, or now living in the Philadelphia suburbs, Amy is passionate about giving people an opportunity to be authentic and ask deep, meaningful questions about life and is excited to be back with Alpha.