Our P–3 students were absolutely thrilled to welcome Dan Warlow to Heathdale this week! Many students already knew and loved Dan’s songs from morning devotions and assemblies, so the excitement was evident from the moment they arrived. In fact, we even overheard some students asking, “Is Dan really real?” – a sweet reminder of how meaningful (and sometimes mysterious!) it is to see someone in person whom they’ve only experienced on screen.
Throughout the session, Dan engaged students with energetic music, humour, and rich biblical teaching. Students enthusiastically joined in singing favourites such as 'Grow', 'That’s How We Know God Loves Us', 'No Turning Back' and 'God is Good', complete with actions and plenty of joy.
A highlight of the afternoon was a powerful demonstration of trust. Brave student volunteers helped illustrate how easy it can feel to trust when things are comfortable, and how much harder it becomes when things feel uncertain or even a little scary. One student chose to step back, while another courageously stepped forward, visibly wrestling with both fear and trust. Dan used this moment to explain that following Jesus often requires this kind of trust – choosing to rely on God even when it feels difficult – and reminded students that God is always with us.
Dan also shared the story behind his new song, Strong and Courageous, inspired by a friend who would walk his farm at night, trusting God for protection as he checked the fences. This led to a reflection on Philippians 4:6–7, encouraging students to bring their worries to God in prayer and experience His peace.
Adding to the fun was the introduction of Dan’s puppet friend, Jed, who, for some reason, had his head stuck in a bucket! This brought plenty of laughter, but also an important lesson. Jed didn’t realise he could ask for help and thought he simply had to put up with his problem. Dan used this to show that when we hold onto our worries, they can grow bigger, but when we ask God and others for help, we are supported and relieved.
As a generous gift, each student received a copy of 'The Story of Jesus According to Mark', created in partnership with Bible Society Australia and featuring a special appearance by Jed. Dan shared that his hope is for every child to explore who they believe Jesus is and to grow in their understanding of God’s love.
It was a wonderful afternoon filled with laughter, learning and encouragement. We are so thankful for Dan’s heart to bless schools and share the good news of Jesus in such an engaging and memorable way.
Here’s what some of our students had to say about the performance!
Preps:
Andrea – I loved the puppet, Jed. He was so funny, especially when he said, ‘I need to go to sleep.’
Elijah – I liked doing all the dance moves to the songs.
Jessie – I loved the magic trick with the water. They were tipping it on their heads, but no water came out.
Year 1s:
Gabriella – The concert was very fun. I really liked it when they tipped the water.
Leo – The concert was a lot of fun. We sang songs, and Jed the puppet came out to talk to the children.
Piper – Jed was really funny. When Dan kept saying ‘dark’, he kept screaming and hiding in Dan’s shirt.
Year 2s:
Ariana – I like how Dan Warlow comes to our school and sings for us – I love seeing him in person and having a real concert!
Caleb – I really liked the book he gave us with the bible in it, and I like the message he wrote to us at the start of the book!
Eli – Dan Warlow’s new song is so good, it makes me think of Jesus!
Magdalena – His new song ‘Strong and Courageous’ makes me think that Jesus is with me wherever I go.
Year 3s:
Iyman - Dan Warlow is so good at tricks, and it is great that he spreads the word of the gospel.
Rionna - The concert was so much fun, and the songs were amazing.
Stella - The experiment that Dan did to test bravery was really cool. He was very engaging and encouraging. It was a great fun concert.
Zachary - The concert was so interesting because he encouraged us to join in and participate.