“The Greatest Injustice is Never to Have Heard About Jesus” A conversation with Nicky Gumbel

Crossing continents, cultures and even political regimes, for more than 35 years, the Alpha Course has reached tens of millions of people all over the world. It has changed the lives of many who encounter Jesus and come to faith. Nicky Gumbel, the developer and leader of Alpha, shares the roots of this extraordinary success and grace. What are modern people most desperate for today, and what can Alpha offer to the modern world? 

You have previously shared in one interview that while the message of the Gospel remains timeless, the “cultural packaging” must evolve to reach today’s world – particularly younger generations. Could you elaborate on that? In your view, what are the essential elements of effective cultural packaging these days?

St. Paul writes, “The Gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who has faith” (Romans 1:16). The message is here, and we can’t change it. Otherwise, it loses power. Some people try to change the message. They say: “young people today can’t accept the message of the cross and resurrection of Jesus”. 

There are also a lot of people who change the message, but they leave the packaging the same. That’s a double blow. If you don’t change the package, then people aren’t going to hear anything anyway. Every generation has changed the packaging – the music, the way that we present the Gospel.