ALPHA IN SCHOOLS
Alpha in Schools is dedicated to serving the church and promoting evangelisation by connecting with stakeholders in schools stakeholders across Australia to introduce Alpha programs.
Our focus is on fostering student-led and student-assisted Alphas within schools.
This strategy has seen continuous growth and success through initiatives like Spheres, new Australian-made Alpha Youth content, and the development of the Catholic Education Coaching Suite. Coaching Suite - Resulting in an incredible 91% increase in student-led Alphas last year!
But here's the cool part: we're not doing it alone! Our ongoing partnerships with Mustard and Scripture Union mean we are one of many continuing to work towards the reality of every young person, regardless of their location or circumstances, having the chance to explore a relationship with Jesus freely.
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520
ALPHA YOUTH SERIES RUN IN SCHOOLS
69
STUDENT-LED ALPHAS
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
Alpha Youth’s engagement with Schools in 2022 has seen new ways to build into teachers, chaplains and student leaders. Our team has facilitated leadership development and Alpha Coaching in schools across all Australian States and Territories, including in-person coaching and training. In 2022, our Alpha Youth team presented at over 25 school events and we saw 520 Alphas delivered in Australian schools.
Alpha Youth’s Schools Specialist, Emily Higgins led PD sessions in different regions across the greater Brisbane area for Scripture Union school chaplains, coaching them in Alpha’s culture of invitation and evangelism, and equipping them with resources to help them release student leaders to lead.
These workshops aim to develop in students an understanding of servant leadership and being a light in this world by sharing their faith through Alpha. The partnership with Veta, an accredited Christian learning pathway for students from Years 7 -12, was strengthened, as Alpha is offered to their cohorts of students working towards a Cert III in Christian Ministry and Theology.
We also began a partnership with Mustard Schools, whereby the Alpha Youth Series is offered to students already engaged in running lunchtime programs in their schools.
IN MY ROLE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ASSOCIATED CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, I HAVE SEEN THE ROLE THAT THE ALPHA YOUTH SERIES CAN PLAY IN HELPING DEVELOP A CULTURE OF EVANGELISM AND LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOLS. I AM ANTICIPATING AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT AS MORE STUDENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO BE INVOLVED WITH RUNNING ALPHA YOUTH IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
LYNNE DONELEY
Executive Director & Principal Research Officer, Associated Christian Schools
ALPHA YOUTH POSSESSES A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS THAT FOSTER FAITH-FILLED CONVERSATIONS, EMPOWERING YOUTH TO EXPLORE AND SHARE THEIR FAITH WITH THEIR PEERS. IT EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES, KNOWLEDGE, AND COURAGE TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR FAITH AND CONFIDENTLY SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.
SAM COGGER
Youth Pastor, Abundant Life Church Tasmania
IN 2022 OVER 80% OF THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SPHERES PROGRAM WENT ON TO RUN ALPHA IN THEIR SCHOOL
SPHERES
Spheres by Alpha Youth is a cohort of student leaders from around the country, designed to be a shared learning community for year 10 - 11 students, alongside their key leader (chaplain or youth leader) and the Alpha Australia Youth team.
While the core purpose is to create a learning community that empowers students to share their faith with friends by running Alpha in their schools, it also gives regular opportunities for the Alpha Youth team to hear directly from students as they implement Alpha with their peers; problem-solving barriers and brain-storming new solutions together.
We recruited 29 student-leaders into Spheres (more than double our expectation for the pilot program), representing 13 different schools, 15 different churches and 6 different denominations. By the end of the year, 26 of the 29 student leaders were involved in running an Alpha in their school.
"IT WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE TO WITNESS THE PASSION AND DEVOTION OF OTHERS TOWARDS GOD! BEING SURROUNDED BY LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO SHARE THE LOVE FOR JESUS WAS A POWERFUL EXPERIENCE. LEARNING ABOUT THE JOURNEYS AND TESTIMONIES OF BOTH THE LEADERS AND FELLOW YOUNG PEOPLE, AND HOW THEY FOUND THEIR FAITH, WAS TRULY AMAZING!"
- Spheres 2022 Alumni
Imagine a space where young people can host OPEN & HONEST faith conversations without the pressure of having all the answers