Alpha is a space where people outside the church can explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open, honest, and informal environment. Alpha is primarily run by churches and hosted in places like church halls, bars, coffee shops, prisons, schools, and homes. Typically, Alpha has ten sessions and includes food, a short talk about the basics of the Christian faith, and a discussion at the end of each session in which guests are encouraged to share their thoughts and perspectives without fear of judgement. Millions of people have tried Alpha in more than 100 countries. Alpha runs in every part of the global church, including the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and all mainline Protestant denominations.