In a time when countless young people are quietly battling anxiety, depression, isolation, bullying and hopelessness, something powerful is happening across our nation. Through prayer, partnership, and bold faith, lives are being reached and transformed. This was beautifully evident at the recent Stand Tall events in Coffs Harbour, where 1,500 students gathered for 2 event days that carried far more than just inspiring talks – it carried hope, purpose and the presence of God.
Stand Tall, known as Australia’s largest youth wellbeing event, exists with a clear and urgent mission: to change and save young lives by sharing hope with the next generation. As a suicide prevention accredited charity, their work is not just impactful -it is essential. And at the heart of it all is a message deeply aligned with the call to intercession: that God is moving in the lives of young people, even when the world feels overwhelming and lost.
To reach as many young people as possible, including students who are not hearing messages of faith, Stand Tall was created for the secular world. Many of the speakers included at these events share a faith – and most recently in Coffs Harbour, all five speakers were Christian. They shared raw and personal stories of overcoming adversity – stories once marked by pain, hardship and suffering, that shifted through redemption to become stories of resilience, strength and purpose. From battles with mental health to experiences of loss, rejection, identity struggles, sickness and injury recovery – each testimony pointed to the same truth: hope is real.
What stood out most was not just the courage of the speakers, but the response of the students. Many came in carrying unseen burdens, yet throughout the day there was a tangible shift. Walls came down. Hearts opened. Seeds were planted. For some, it was the first time they had ever heard that their life has purpose, that they are not alone, and that there is a beautiful and exciting future ahead of them. The students left the event having experienced love and joy.
A survey that was conducted at the event, showed:
• 95% of students felt more equipped to overcome challenges in life after listening to the speakers
• 94% of students felt more hopeful about the future after attending Stand Tall
• 91% of students would like to attend another Stand Tall event
Students and teachers shared through testimonials: “This was such an incredible experience. Every speaker was highly motivational and I believe now more than ever that my future is bright!”
Student “I have some things going on in my life, but after hearing the speakers I have hope that things will get better. Thank you so much for letting us attend Stand Tall.”
Student “Each speaker was so valuable, I now feel more confident to overcome adversity. Thanks heaps!”
Student “The line that ‘some people would give anything to have your bad day,’ was something which resonated strongly across all our students. Secondly, the need for forgiveness as delivered by Leila Abdallah was deemed a powerful challenge to many students.
Some students were wanting to know if “any of the speakers were Christian?” To which I was happy to let them know that they were. I think Chappo (James Chapman) provided a particularly powerful message which resonated strongly with the Christian ethos of our school: “You are not defined by the words of the world but you are defined by who you were created to be.”- James Chapman
Students loved the day and were asking if our school could attend next year!”
Teacher: Samual Wiggins, Nambucca Christian Community School “Our school Coffs Harbour Christian Community School absolutely loved it! Students were so engaged and have spoken of it many times since the event. The teachers including myself were so touched and filled with enthusiasm and a renewed heart and outlook to walk through life with a different lens of gratitude and faith. Honestly, the teachers wept many a tear as did the students. An absolute blessing to all who attended!! Thank you so much for the experience and memories, the day will certainly stay with us for some time to come🙂”
Teacher: Hannah Jones, Coffs Harbour Christian Community School Sponsors and community leaders shared in follow up comments that the presence of the Lord was tangible, and that they couldn’t believe the change that they observed take place in the students who attended.
This is where the power of prayer becomes more than a concept – it becomes a catalyst. We are so grateful for Pastor Abigail and her team who travelled to Coffs Harbour prior to the event to pray over the schools attending and other key locations that the Lord placed on their hearts. We know this was instrumental in the success of the events, especially as a spirit of witchcraft was very evident in that community.
We are also so thankful for our very own spiritual advisor and prayer partner, Nibu Mammoottil who travelled to Coffs Harbour and was with us both days of the event. We will never host a Stand Tall event without Nibu’s incredible, prayerful support!! Having him pray with us over our events is essential. The spiritual atmosphere at the start of the first day was heavy as some of the teachers of one school carried a demonic agenda. Members of our band felt a real spirit of heaviness and despair and sought prayer and a few of our media items (video, sounds, etc.) were not working even though they had been checked multiple times. Nibu could even hear in the spirit this particular school, seated at the back reciting incantations. So we all began to really pray fervently in tongues and Nibu contacted his network and before long he could see angels filling the room and the atmosphere changed.
Day 2 of the events was totally different – the Holy Spirit was so evident from the moment we entered and the schools did not want to leave at the end of the day!! Praise God!!
Movements like Prophetic Intercessors for Australia remind us that transformation at a national level begins in the place of intercession. Not only in the faith-filled, courageous declarations, but also in the quiet moments sitting with God, believing for prayers to be answered, believing for those not yet saved to experience God’s divine love and peace.
The mission to mobilise believers to pray for revival and awakening, aligns closely with what we are witnessing through Stand Tall. As intercessors stand in the gap for Australia’s youth, events like this become fertile ground for God to move.
We know from Scripture that when we ask, God listens and responds. And in Coffs Harbour, we saw many instances of that response. Students who had felt invisible began to feel seen. Those who had believed lies about their worth encountered truth.
And in quiet moments – whether during a testimony, a reflection, or a conversation with a friend – God was at work. The God moments and stories are far too numerous to list but each one made us increasingly grateful to our heavenly Father for His goodness to us.
Since the event, Stand Tall has become aware of 3 students who had previously planned to take their own lives in the following days – but after attending Stand Tall, they changed their mind. They felt hope for the first time, they sought help, and they now believe in brighter, better days ahead. We are sure there were others.
Stand Tall’s approach is both practical and deeply spiritual. By creating a safe and engaging environment, Stand Tall open the door for meaningful conversations about mental health and wellbeing. But beyond that, they point young people toward a deeper source of hope – one that does not fade with circumstances.
This is the bigger picture: a generation being invited into truth, resilience, purpose and identity that isn’t founded on fleeting things.To those who prayed for our team, and the impact of our events in Coffs Harbour, we are deeply grateful and honoured to have had your support. Each young life that attended these events is a child of God, and our greatest hope is that we are able to sow seeds that grow into fruition throughout their life.
As Stand Tall continues to reach schools and communities across the nation, we are reminded that this is not just an event – it is a movement that literally has to “fly under the radar” as a Christian organisation in the largely secular world of education. A movement fuelled by faith, carried by testimony, and sustained through prayer.
We continue to action our vision knowing, that it is only through Gods favour, presence and blessing on the words spoken at our events and the topics shared, that we are able to dispel lies and strongholds, and penetrate hearts with a heavenly love.
What we would ask, is that you continue praying for these students. In particular please pray for the students from Allegra School (who are all very confused) and Coffs Harbour High School where the 3 students who had identified as having suicidal ideation.
Praying for the young people who have attended, that the seeds planted would grow, as well as for those yet to be reached, for continued protection, provision, and open doors for the team.
Because when we pray, we know things shift.
And as we’ve seen in Coffs Harbour, when hope is shared boldly and we stand together in prayer, lives are not only impacted – they are transformed. Praise the Lord!
By Grace Rowe.
PR & Communications STAND TALL.