Grateful Living
A Move of God in Our Schools
Recently, Jenna Oatley, Russ Fuller and Mitch Cameron have been using their teaching gifts to introduce the Alpha course into Hervey Bay schools. What began as a small step of faith has grown into a powerful move of God—something only He could bring about.
Jenna shares about the journey so far:
Back in 2023, the dream began with a simple prayer: “Lord, move in our school in a way that can only be explained by You.” That year, 10–15 students gathered after school in the Chapel to explore life and faith through Alpha.
By 2024, the group had grown to 30 students, and Alpha shifted into lunchtimes to become more accessible. But 2025 has been beyond what anyone imagined. With the launch of new Alpha Youth resources, attendance has surged to an average of 60 students each week—supported by 20 student leaders. Young people from all kinds of backgrounds are turning up—some curious about Jesus, some just for the snacks—but each one is welcomed with open arms.
God has been at work in remarkable ways. At the Alpha Youth Day, students worshipped and prayed together, many receiving their first Bible. Other schools joined in for training and left inspired to begin Alpha themselves. Perhaps most moving of all, students who once called themselves atheists have encountered the Holy Spirit for the first time!
One story stands out: a student who wasn’t even attending Alpha recently gave her life to Jesus after realising that “everything happens for a reason.” She decided that reason was Christ, began reading the Bible on her own, and has now signed up for Alpha in Term 4.
This coming term, Alpha will focus on Life Revealed—a course on how to read the Bible—while training up two more leaders, Mary & Jai, to support the growing number of students.
The vision is big: to see Alpha running in every high school in our region. In faith, the team has already booked the Alpha Youth Day for 2026, praying the venue won’t be large enough to contain what God will do.
None of this is possible without God’s provision, His Spirit, and His Church. Every prayer, every snack, every Bible donated is part of this story. Please continue to pray for the youth of our schools—that the seeds planted through Alpha will bear fruit that lasts for eternity.
What has been happening is far beyond what we asked for or imagined. We believe that God has a much bigger plan than we initially thought. We’ve learned to respond simply in obedience to what we feel God is prompting us to do.
Back in 2023, the dream began with a simple prayer: “Lord, move in our school in a way that can only be explained by You.” That year, 10–15 students gathered after school in the Chapel to explore life and faith through Alpha.
By 2024, the group had grown to 30 students, and Alpha shifted into lunchtimes to become more accessible. But 2025 has been beyond what anyone imagined. With the launch of new Alpha Youth resources, attendance has surged to an average of 60 students each week—supported by 20 student leaders. Young people from all kinds of backgrounds are turning up—some curious about Jesus, some just for the snacks—but each one is welcomed with open arms.
God has been at work in remarkable ways. At the Alpha Youth Day, students worshipped and prayed together, many receiving their first Bible. Other schools joined in for training and left inspired to begin Alpha themselves. Perhaps most moving of all, students who once called themselves atheists have encountered the Holy Spirit for the first time!
One story stands out: a student who wasn’t even attending Alpha recently gave her life to Jesus after realising that “everything happens for a reason.” She decided that reason was Christ, began reading the Bible on her own, and has now signed up for Alpha in Term 4.
This coming term, Alpha will focus on Life Revealed—a course on how to read the Bible—while training up two more leaders, Mary & Jai, to support the growing number of students.
The vision is big: to see Alpha running in every high school in our region. In faith, the team has already booked the Alpha Youth Day for 2026, praying the venue won’t be large enough to contain what God will do.
None of this is possible without God’s provision, His Spirit, and His Church. Every prayer, every snack, every Bible donated is part of this story. Please continue to pray for the youth of our schools—that the seeds planted through Alpha will bear fruit that lasts for eternity.
What has been happening is far beyond what we asked for or imagined. We believe that God has a much bigger plan than we initially thought. We’ve learned to respond simply in obedience to what we feel God is prompting us to do.
Posted in Grateful Living