Alpha in Schools

Since September Step has run four Alpha courses in secondary schools. Alpha is a space where you can ask questions about the Christian faith. It’s a good place to share doubt, question preconceptions and discover what Christianity is really about. Each course is populated by students who have attended a taster session in school. All four have looked distinctly different; some have run within the school day, some after school. Some have been single year groups, while others have had a cross section of the whole school. The consistency in the courses is that there are plenty of snacks, a video and questions.

Here are a few snippets from the conversations:

‘Why didn't Jesus just save himself from the cross if he was God?'

 'How can we trust the Bible is not made up?'

‘Why doesn't God just reveal himself to us in an obvious way?’

‘When you pray for Ukraine, do you pray specific prayers, or general prayers? I don’t want to limit God.’

‘How do you know Jesus was even real?’
‘I’ve been to his grave!’
‘Really?’
‘Yes! I visited it on my VR headset!’

‘Is there any evidence for the Holy Spirit?’
‘Why don’t you go and find out.’
‘How?’
‘Well, if you wanted a burger where would you go?’
‘McDonalds’
‘So, if you wanted to see the Holy Spirit where would you go?’
‘Church?’

In several schools we are now discussing what we should do to follow up the course. Next academic year we are planning to run six Alpha courses, so do join us in praying for these.