Going into my local public high school, I didn’t know any other Christians. There were more than 200 students in my Year 7 cohort, and only a handful of people from my primary school. I thought, “Who am I going to connect with?”

I grew up going to church and learning the Bible at home. Someone from my church got me connected with the Christian lunchtime group at my school. That really helped me to get to know others who also wanted to know more about Jesus. I clicked with these people. It helped me to find my place at high school. I had all these people I could always chat to if I needed to ask a question. I wasn’t alone. 

Right before lockdown in 2020, when I was in Year 8, I thought I really should look into Jesus for myself. Being in a public school, we didn’t have everything centred around God like my friends at Christian schools did. It was like I was living two lives, where I wasn’t putting my whole faith in Jesus while I’m at school, only putting it on when I’m at home or church. 

I started to live one life and show my faith at school. I was trying to bring up Jesus more in conversations, and not saying, “I’m going to talk to a teacher” when I was really going to the lunchtime Christian group.

I didn’t want to pretend to follow this faith. 

Lunchtime group helped my confidence. When I first got to high school, I thought I wouldn’t say anything about my faith unless people asked. Having the support of Christian leaders and friends meant that I was confident sharing it more. Knowing there were other Christians in my school encouraged me. 

My friend, who was a few grades below me, would always invite her friends to the lunchtime group and that encouraged me to try and invite mine as well. Also, the fact that I met this friend at lunchtime group created a deeper connection. We were both going through similar experiences by being at a public school and trying to live out our faith. 

One memory verse that stuck with me through high school is Romans 10:10. Paul talks about how it’s not just believing in your heart that God is king, but professing and saying that God is King and Lord of all. Sharing it, not just believing it in your heart and keeping it to yourself. 

Youth group was also key in my growth as a Christian. I could always come and remember that this is what being a Christian is – being in fellowship with each other. I appreciated my youth leaders; they would always help me in my faith. My parents have also always encouraged me. If I was questioning something, they would help me come back to the Bible, see what God says, and hand it over to God. 

I’m definitely very thankful for my lunchtime group. If I didn’t have that, I would’ve slipped in my faith a little bit. Even though I had a youth group, having a lunchtime group was a chance for me to connect with Christians at my school. I’m very thankful for the community I had. 

I would encourage any Christian at a public school to stay strong in their faith. If you know someone else who is a Christian in your school, connect with them. Encourage one another, rely on each other, catch up. If there’s a group of you, dig into God’s word together. Being able to connect with one another is pretty good. It was for me. 

Laura Kipps attends St Michael’s Cathedral, Wollongong, and graduated high school in 2024.