Northland’s connection to Houma is a virtual one. The church is partnering with one of its online congregants, [...]]]> LONGWOOD, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — This weekend, Northland, A Church Distributed will host a backpack drive to collect school supplies for families in need in Central Florida, as well as those affected by the oil spill in Houma, La.

Northland’s connection to Houma is a virtual one. The church is partnering with one of its online congregants, Terri Goulette, who worships with 2,000 others from around the world each weekend via interactive webstream.

Goulette, who lives in an area that has been severely affected by the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, wanted to do something to help the families who lost their livelihood as a result of the spill. One morning she awoke with an idea: backpack drive. Remembering Northland’s annual school drive, she invited her church family in Florida to join her in gathering 1,000 backpacks and school supplies for the children of commercial fishermen, shrimpers, oystermen, truck drivers, ice factory workers and others.

“They were expecting a plentiful season this year, but just two weeks before the fishing season opened, the oil spill happened,” Goulette explains. “It has been very hard riding down the bayous and seeing all the shrimp boats and oyster boats just lined up when they should be harvesting seafood.”

While there is a great need for back-to-school supplies in Houma, there are thousands of homeless children in Central Florida who cannot afford back-to-school supplies. To help meet this need, Northland’s backpack drive will also benefit several local organizations:

– A Gift for Teaching, an organization that works within Seminole County
Public Schools to provide kids and teachers with supplies throughout
the entire year
– Christian HELP, which provides for the vocational, material and
spiritual needs of those who are unemployed
– Harvest Time, a hunger and disaster relief organization meeting the
needs of families

Backpacks are needed for grade school, middle school and high school students. Individuals may choose to fill a backpack with supplies, or just donate supplies or backpacks. Donations can be dropped off at Northland’s Welcome Center in Longwood through Aug. 2.

ABOUT NORTHLAND

Northland, A Church Distributed (http://www.northlandchurch.net/) is a pioneering congregation of 12,000 led by senior pastor Dr. Joel C. Hunter. Focused on building an international community of worshipers, the church connects thousands of believers worldwide, using live, interactive weekly worship streaming through the Web, Facebook, iPhone and other environments. Northland has several sites throughout Central Florida, as well many house churches and partner ministries around the globe.

Grylls will be a featured presenter at the conference, October [...]]]> BANNOCKBURN, Ill. /PRNewswire/ — Bear Grylls, international star of the Discovery Channel program “Man vs. Wild,” is going behind bars. No, Grylls hasn’t been arrested. Instead, he will bring a message of hope to inmates when he heads to Florida for the 2009 National Alpha Conference.

Grylls will be a featured presenter at the conference, October 20-21, at Northland, A Church Distributed, in Metro Orlando. This gathering will bring together individuals from churches of all denominations across America who share the vision to reach their communities with the good news of Jesus Christ via the Alpha course.

Grylls will also speak at “Bear Grylls LIVE!,” a citywide crusade on October 21 at Northland Church on faith and adventure. The following morning, he will travel to Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach to share his Christian testimony and encourage the inmates to explore the claims of Christ for themselves. Recording artist Benton Brown will also perform at this outreach event.

While Grylls has braved some of the world’s toughest terrains, including his famed climb of Mount Everest in 1998, his greatest adventure has been as a believer in Christ.

“I have learned over the years from numerous expeditions, close calls and hairy moments, that it takes a proud man to say that he never needs any help. And I have yet to meet an atheist in the Death Zone on Everest or in a lifeboat,” Grylls explains.

He adds, “Ultimately, you must decide for yourself whether you are going to include a spiritual dimension to your life. But for what it is worth, life becomes a lot wilder and a lot more fun if you do.”

In the weeks leading up to his visit, episodes of “Man vs. Wild” are being played in the prison chapel on DVD to help introduce inmates to Grylls who, in turn, will introduce them to Alpha, a 10-week course that explores the Christian faith and life’s most difficult questions.

More than 13 million people in 163 countries have attended an Alpha course, with more than 2 million people in the U.S. participating in churches, prisons, military bases, university campuses and other places.

According to Barna Research, more than half of all those who attend the course make decisions for Christ. Grylls cites Alpha’s pressure-free approach, where no question is out of bounds, as a key to its success.

“I have seen so many people find a personal relationship with God and a quiet strength in their lives after doing the course — myself included,” Grylls explains.

To learn more about Alpha, find an Alpha course near you, or for information on the 2009 National Alpha Conference, visit http://www.alphausa.org/.

To register for a free iPod touch, which will be given away to one attendee at “Bear Grylls LIVE!,” visit http://www.alphausa.org/bearlive. To register for an opportunity to get up on stage and personally ask Bear Grylls one question at the event, visit http://www.alphausa.org/askbear.

ORLANDO, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — In the last week, people throughout America have reported seeing signs. The signs are everywhere, and as a result, many are becoming curious about spirituality and wondering whether there’s more to life than this.

It’s all part of a national ad campaign supported by Alpha USA – using everything from [...]]]>

Bear Grylls

ORLANDO, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — In the last week, people throughout America have reported seeing signs. The signs are everywhere, and as a result, many are becoming curious about spirituality and wondering whether there’s more to life than this.

It’s all part of a national ad campaign supported by Alpha USA – using everything from bumper stickers and yard signs to billboards, buses and movie theaters. The ads ask, “Is There More to Life Than This?” and feature Bear Grylls, star of the Discovery Channel program “Man vs. Wild.”

People who respond to the ad are invited to a relaxed dinner at a church near them where they can learn more about Alpha, a 10-week course that explores the Christian faith and life’s most difficult questions … everything from “Why am I here?” to “Is God a delusion?”

More than 13 million people in 163 countries have attended an Alpha course, with more than 2 million people in the U.S. participating. A recent study showed that in New England alone, 28 percent of all new converts were reached through Alpha.

This year, local teams blanketed more than 30 metropolitan areas with ads – with more than 600 churches participating. The organization expects to double this effort next year and grow to 200 areas by 2012.

The national ad campaign and introductory dinners are helping churches, organizations and people of all denominations to engage non-believers with the Good News of Jesus Christ. The dinners attract people from many different backgrounds, including atheists, those revisiting their own faith, even  people from different religions.

“The yard signs, bumper stickers and posters have been generating all kinds of questions from people,” says Eddie Bogart, from Christ Church, Lake Forest, Ill. “It has given us a great opportunity to invite people we may not otherwise even converse with.”

According to Barna Research, more than half of all those who attend the course make decisions for Christ. Bear Grylls cites Alpha’s pressure-free approach, where no question is out of bounds, as a key to its success.

“I have seen so many people find a personal relationship with God and a quiet strength in their lives after doing the course – myself included,” Grylls explains. “Alpha is such a non-pressured and fun course, and it shows us how Christianity can be relevant and empowering to our lives.”

Grylls will be a featured presenter at The 2009 National Alpha Conference, October 20-21, at Northland, A Church Distributed in Longwood, Fla., which will bring together 3,000 individuals from churches across America. Grylls will speak both at the conference and during a citywide evangelistic crusade the evening of October 21.

A new, three-minute commercial starring Grylls was recently released to help promote the Alpha course and can be viewed at http://www.alphausapress.org.

To find an introductory dinner near you, or for information on The 2009 National Alpha Conference, visit http://www.alphausa.org or call 1-800-DO-ALPHA (362-5742).