Truro Hosts Alpha Conference: Evangelism Focus Draws Locals, International Anglican Leader

FAIRFAX, Va. (October 23, 2007) – An Alpha International conference, focused on exploring the Christian faith and the meaning of life, is coming to Truro Church in Fairfax, Va., on October 26 and 27. The Rt. Rev’d Sandy Millar, Missionary Bishop of London, one of the key founders of the Alpha course and former Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London will be a featured speaker at the event. The present Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has described him as “someone whose skill in communicating the gospel is bound up with being supremely and happily himself. God be thanked for him.” Lord Carey, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, has described him as “one of the great Christian leaders of our time.”

According to the Rev’d Tory Baucum, Rector of Truro Church, “Nearly twelve years ago, Truro hosted the first North American Alpha conference. Since then, the Alpha course has expanded into tens of thousands of churches of all denominations around the world. Eight million people worldwide have attended an Alpha course. The upcoming conference is an opportunity for churches all along the eastern seaboard to learn more about the course. But the conference is about more than Alpha itself; it’s about how to fulfill the Great Commission.”

The two day conference at Truro will feature several tracks, ranging from overview classes for churches wanting to put on an Alpha program to more hands on training for churches that have been running Alpha programs for some time and want to take the course to the next level. Additional training will be offered for pastors, and a strategy track will be offered for those wanting to "supercharge" their Alpha program. At the conclusion of the training conference, Tory Baucum will be formally installed as rector of Truro Church. He is one of the many leaders of Alpha and is currently the Alpha International Associate Missioner.

According to Jim Oakes, who serves as the vice-chairman for the Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) and is a vestry member at Truro Church, “The Alpha conference at Truro promises to be a wonderful event that will bring ADV leaders and parishioners together with other brothers and sisters in Christ to focus on evangelism and the core tenets of the Christian faith. This is important event is not only for those who are being introduced to Alpha for the first time, but also for church leaders who have spent years in ministry and know they need refreshment, even renewal.”

Alpha Conference
Dates: Friday, October 26 from 8:30am – 8:30pm ET and Saturday, October 27 from 8:00am – 3:30pm ET. (A full schedule is available upon request.)
Featured Event: On Friday, October 26 at 6:30pm ET Bishop Sandy Millar of London will be speaking in Truro’s main sanctuary. This session is free and open to all.
Location: Truro Church, 10520 Main Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
RSVP: For members of the media who wish to attend, please contact Kelly Oliver (ext. 140) or Megan Franko (ext. 148) at 703-683-5004.
For more information on Alpha, visit http://alphana.org/.

Anglican District of Virginia (www.anglicandistrictofvirginia.org) members are in full communion with constituent members of the Anglican Communion through its affiliation with CANA, a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria. ADV members are a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a community of 77 million people. ADV is dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples while actively serving in three main capacities: International Ministries, Evangelism, and Strengthening Families and Community. ADV is currently comprised of 20 member congregations, 16 of which are under the ecclesiastical authority of the Bishop of CANA, The Rt. Rev'd Martyn Minns, and four of which are ecclesiastical members under direct authority of other Anglican Archbishops, strongly supported by ADV members.

For media inquires, to attend the event or for more information, contact Kelly Oliver (ext. 140) or Megan Franko (ext. 148) at (703) 683-5004.