“We see the faces of young people crying as they’re getting the word of God and [their] great excitement,” shares Dave Edgar, Director of youth Alive Victoria. “We see them in droves lining up to get their hands on the Bible so they can read it.”

Between May-June 2025, thousands of young people responded to the message of Jesus through Youth Alive regional events across Victoria. As part of their outreach and follow-up process, Youth Alive Victoria partnered with Bible Society Australia to provide Read This Bibles to new believers.

The Read This Bible is a resource created specifically with young people in mind. Designed to be clear, relevant and inviting, it supports ministries like Youth Alive and many other small, medium and large youth ministries in helping young people engage with Scripture as they take their first steps in faith.

Dave Edgar, Director of Youth Alive Victoria, shares how this tool has become part of a broader strategy to connect young people with God’s word.

“We found if we can put a physical Bible in their hands, the likelihood of them engaging with Scripture is going to be higher long term,” Dave says. In previous years, they tried sharing QR codes with next steps and a digital Bible download with new believers, but they weren’t taken up very often. Having an engaging Youth and Young Adult Bible to give to students, free of charge, has made all the difference in helping to disciple young new believers.

Bible Society Australia produced the Read This Bible after more than two years of collaboration with ministers and educators. It includes a devotional guide, key Scriptures, and content addressing topics that young people might face. Even the title “Read This” is invitational, something that a young person may be prompted to open and read.

Regional events with lasting impact 

This year, Youth Alive Victoria ran 20 regional events over five weeks, with more than 2,243 young people making decisions to follow Christ. Nationally, Youth Alive Australia ran 80 regional events, with over 7,000 responses. 
 
This level of outreach is only possible through the collaboration of hundreds of youth ministries in regional networks throughout the nation, from country towns to metropolitan areas. These Youth Alive events are coordinated by local youth ministries, with youth pastors, youth leaders and volunteers giving their time and care reach the young people in their broader communities. 
 
“These events are really geared toward outreach. We encourage young Christians to bring their friends. We preach the gospel clearly … and when young people respond, we want to help them grow as new believers,” Dave says. 
 
Part of that support includes gifting them a Read This Bible at the event, following up with them directly and finally working with youth ministries to connect them with a local faith community. 
 
“It’s important to remember every number is a name. Every name is a story. Every story matters to God. And so that’s why we’re passionate about this.” he says. 

Real lives changed

One young man who received a Read This Bible was visibly emotional. Dave remembers the moment: “This young guy, he’s in tears. He stands up after he gets the Bible and gives it to his friend.” When one of the leaders asked him why he said, “‘He’s going to give it to me when I’m at school and I’m going to keep it in my locker. There’s no way I’d be allowed to keep this Bible at home with the family that I come from. I’m a Christian now, but I can only read this book at school. My friend’s going to bring it to school, and I’ll keep it in my locker. That’s where I can read it.’”

Another time, a young woman approached Dave at a local church to share her story. She first encountered Jesus at a Youth Alive event as a teenager but later fell into addiction and homelessness. At her lowest point, someone approached her in the public park where she lived at the time and shared the love of Jesus with her. That moment sparked a return to faith.

“Everything came flooding back,” she told Dave. She recommitted her life to Christ, found stability, regained custody of her daughter, and is now part of a church community.

Another young man received a Bible at a Youth Alive even, began reading, enrolled in Bible college when he finished school, and three years later became a youth pastor.

“This generation is hungry for the Word of God,” Dave says.

“I’ve never seen this level of openness in my 17 years of ministry.”

A tool that supports discipleship 
 
Dave emphasises the importance of Scripture in helping young people grow in their faith. “We all know that after you respond to the gospel, you enter a journey of discipleship and transformation. And that comes through healthy connection to a church, through community, and through God’s Word. When we give them this Bible, it gives them something to turn to in the middle of what they’re going through.” 
 
Youth Alive has thoughtfully designed a robust follow-up process that has been with shared regional event teams. Within 30 minutes of a young person’s decision, they receive a contact message with next steps. Local youth pastors from various denominations receive details of young people connected to their ministries within a few hours, and follow-up continues for weeks after. 
 
“We want to help connect them into churches and communities,” Dave says. “We don’t want to just high-five each other when someone responds. We want it to be lasting fruit.”

For all churches and ministries 
 
Bible Society Australia is committed to making Read This Bibles accessible for young people through local churches and ministries. Dave encourages churches to see it as a practical and thoughtful tool. 
 
“I think we owe it to our young people to give them something of quality. I love this Bible because it’s aesthetically pleasing. It’s something that’s going to remove the barrier of entry for a young person to read and Bible Society’s made it accessible from a financial point of view. It’s not expensive for churches to get this Bible, it’s very affordable.” 
 
Dave shares that he gets “calls from churches all the time asking how they can get more. When the next batch lands, it’s going to go fast.” With Read This Bibles now back in stock and available at 2025 pricing for a limited time, we encourage churches and youth ministries to prepare early.

A word of thanks to Bible Society donors 
 
“We’ve been the direct recipients of your generosity,” Dave says. He describes the joy and urgency the youth express as they receive Bibles provided through the partnership with Bible Society Australia. “[It’s] not possible without your giving,” Dave says to Bible Society Australia supporters.

“And the reality is it’s an ongoing need.” 

“Young people are still coming through and they’re still getting saved, and we’re seeing it increase. If it’s an area of passion, keep giving, because we have got the need for more copies of this to get out there, and it’s not possible without your giving.” 
 
“I want to say, thank you. And I’d also ask if you would continue to pray for that harvest, you know, the harvest is plentiful, and we are seeing it. In greater measure than I’ve ever seen before.”

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