Alpha has helped develop a resource for teachers to use during school RE lessons. The new ‘Explore’ resource for schools was released last month in a partnership between Youth Alpha and Youth for Christ.

It is designed to be used with 11-14 year olds in their school RE lessons.
The course is arranged in a series of 12 lessons with titles similar to the sessions on Alpha.

The course allows students to explore the Christian faith and ask questions such as, ‘Is there a God?’, ‘Who was Jesus?’, and ‘What about suffering?’

Sessions include ‘Faith and Guidance’, ‘Temptation’, ‘Prayer’, ‘The Bible’, and ‘What makes someone a Christian?’

The resource was created to appeal to the younger generation with games, drama, art and interactive illustrations.

There are also multimedia extras such as an accompanying DVD of original films, updated versions of famous gospel stories, vox pop perspectives on big questions, and testimonies from Christians.

Among those who have endorsed the course is Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, who said, ‘People will find Explore to be a fantastic tool for bringing Religious Education alive in our secondary schools.

‘It will connect with students at a range of levels. I would recommend it unreservedly to every teacher, church leader, and youth worker.’

The new resource is already proving popular with teachers. Hazel Parker, Head of Religious Education at St Peters Church of England Aided School, Exeter, said, ‘This is a “must have” for any Religious Studies’ department that wishes truly and accurately to deliver Christianity.’