Discussing the “big questions of life” through an Alpha course at Syndal Baptist Church led Kyle to make the life-changing decision to follow Christ.

“What I found really good was that there was a range of ages – you could see their personal stories and how they dealt with things and see a whole range of different views on certain topics. It was really well thought out to cater for everyone regardless of where they are in terms of their faith. You could be a churchgoer for 20 years and you would still get something out of it.”

Kyle had only been attending Syndal for six months when he was invited by a friend to join Alpha. The group met over a meal, watched video clips that raised topics of life and faith from a Christian biblical perspective, and discussed them. “You can ask any questions, and you can give your own personal stories and experiences.”

“It was at the retreat for Alpha that I was given an opportunity of taking that leap of faith and one of the leaders guided me through how to do that. It was a great feeling – it was awesome! Since I made that decision, I’ve been trying to stay in the Word and better myself to be more like Jesus. It’s not all smooth sailing, but as long as you put your faith in Jesus it’ll be alright.”

In 2025, Alpha Australia is encouraging churches nationwide to run Alpha courses in Term 2 to give people an opportunity to meet Jesus and grow in their understanding of the Christian faith. Details: https://www.alpha.org.au/mission-25

Mitch, a long-time Christian who attended the Syndal course, said: “If I had an opportunity to bring a friend that didn’t know Jesus I would a hundred percent invite   along. It’s done in a way that’s really respectful and helps you to develop relationships with people that will be able to support you in your doubts and in your seasons.”

Mitch said he “didn’t expect to get a whole lot out of Alpha” but he attended to support a mate, and learned a lot. “Some people were  about the whole faith thing, and they were everything that I had probably taken for granted because I had grown up in the faith. I’d never really thought about why I believed these things, and I didn’t really have the facts behind why we can believe the Bible and why we can trust the history of Jesus’ existence. It definitely gave me a renewed sense of understanding.”

Mitch was encouraged to see his friend Kyle’s outlook change during the course. “When he said, ‘I’ve made a decision to follow Jesus,’ that was a really special moment. It was really cool to see someone go in really unsure of faith and then see their journey come to a point where they say, ‘This is for me, this is real.’ That was just awesome.”

Paul, another Syndal attendee, found that what he learned during Alpha “took away a lot of my fear that I was alone” by introducing him to the heavenly Father. “I found a place for my spirit and my heart, and it was quite overwhelming. It’s an open door, and once you open it you really don’t want to close it again.”

He would “wholeheartedly” encourage others to join an Alpha course. “I think if everyone did that course we’d live in a much happier, more peaceful, joyful and purposeful world.”