Opening up conversations about Jesus in schools across the UK

Speaker and Tutor, Cristo Rodriguez, shares an update on OCCA’s work in schools so far in 2026, and looks ahead to opportunities this autumn.

We have seen a great diversity of opportunity up and down the country in schools. From Manchester to Dorset, the OCCA team have been invited by chaplains, RE teachers and parachurch ministries to speak about Jesus and Christianity in schools.

What has been exciting is to see the welcome and favour given to us and the synergy we have experienced. As well as return visits to schools we have worked with several new schools.

In Altrincham we gave talks in two schools on GCSE exam questions and the person of Jesus. Teachers and students were amazed at how much more significant the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection really are when taken together rather than asking the question ‘Which one is the most important?’ The school immediately booked us in for next year as the talks helped the students to think outside the normal exam questions, understand who Jesus is more clearly and get more marks on their tests!

Working with Youth for Christ Camberley we spoke to over 100 students in a lecture-style hall on the problem of evil with lots of interest and Q&A from students. We had excellent feedback from a senior staff member who sat in for the whole talk and expressed his thanks and positive feedback at the end.

More opportunities this autumn

• This month, I will be speaking at the Association of Christian Teachers Annual Conference. Please pray that the teachers are encouraged and empowered to enable fruitful conversations and rigorous thinking about worldview, faith and truth in challenging times.
• I’ll also be speaking to a local group of teachers in Oxford on ‘His Voice in Our Vocation’: hearing and being the voice of God in education. These events give us an opportunity to be a light in schools and with teachers so we can multiply our reach in spreading the good news of who Jesus is and what he has done.
• In October I’m a keynote speaker at an A-level Conference in Bristol speaking on the evidence for Jesus in extra-biblical accounts and evidence for eyewitness testimony as well as the problem of evil.
• Finally in December, I’ll be speaking in Surrey on the evidence for Christmas.

Thank you for your support. There is so much to be grateful for and much to pray for!

– Cristo

Cristo Rodriguez
Speaker & Tutor