This prevents all-night discussions and allows people to get home on time. There is one weekend or day away. This helps people to grow together as community, and allows a number of talks, particularly on the Holy Spirit to be covered. While Alpha is not aimed at churchgoers, when Alpha is first run it the regular churchgoers who make up the numbers. But as they are renewed in their faith they will then invite their friends and relatives.
Alpha is an excellent means of renewal and re-evangelizing the church members.
Alpha builds and works through relationships, giving ordinary parishioners a chance to tell those around them about their faith in a way that they may not have previously felt able to. Alpha is a very practical way of the laity's becoming involved in the task of evangelization. The talks present an appeal to the mind as well as the heart. The early talks especially represent a return to apologetics, showing that it is reasonable to believe. But this is done in a respectful way.