July 28th, 2026
by Alyssa Bailey
by Alyssa Bailey
This summer at House of Faith was more than a calendar full of events, but an invitation to “wake up!” Our memory verse was rooted in Romans 13:11b NIV: “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." We felt the Lord leading us to challenge our students to “wake up” and become more aware of God’s presence, His purpose, and His calling in our lives.
We kicked off the summer with Kid's Connection, where 157 children entering K-5th grade gathered for a few exciting days of worship, Bible teachings, games, and engaging activities. Throughout the week, the children explored what it means to "wake up" to God's love and truth as they learned and applied our summer theme. It was incredible to witness God move in mighty ways as the children eagerly engaged with Scripture, worshiped with joy, and took meaningful steps toward a deeper relationship with Jesus. We are thankful for the seeds that were planted and look forward to seeing how God continues to work in their lives!
Next, we took 87 students entering 7th–12th grade to Overnight Camp this summer, and it was a such a powerful weekend as revival began to ignite in the hearts of our youth. It was inspiring to see the next generation awaken to God’s truth and embrace His calling to be the change in their schools, families, and communities.
I had the privilege of leading a small group of high school girls, and witnessing God work in their hearts throughout the weekend was truly remarkable. Their openness to the Lord grew as they became more vulnerable and intentional in their faith. During our small group times, we created space for honest conversations where students could share what God was revealing and doing in their lives. I challenged each of the girls to be authentic, courageous, and willing to take steps deeper in their relationship with Christ.
By the end of camp, the transformation was all the Holy Spirit. What started as a group of students who were quiet and hesitant, became a community of young women building genuine friendships rooted in Christ. They left camp excited to stay connected, continue growing in their faith, and encourage one another in their walks with the Lord!
Each evening, Mike Schmitz brought the Word, challenging students to “wake up” to the truth of the Gospel and fully surrender their lives to Christ. His messages called students to move beyond a passive faith and boldly step into God’s purpose for their lives. Worship each night created a sacred atmosphere where students responded with open hearts. Many made first-time decisions to follow Jesus, while others recommitted their lives to Him and experienced a renewed passion for their faith. It was deeply moving to see so many students encounter the presence of God, be transformed by His love, and leave with a desire to be the change in their schools, families, and communities.
Lastly, our 4th–6th grade Day Camp welcomed 91 students for an immersive camp experience held at Lake View High School. Each day was filled with intimate worship, meaningful small-group conversation, and powerful teachings brought by C.J. Luckey. He encouraged our students to boldly proclaim their faith through a daily chant: “All my people wake up. It’s time to shape up. We’re getting our faith up. So we can be on our way up.”
Students were reminded to recognize that following Jesus is an everyday commitment.
Students also enjoyed a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, and competitive sports. It was an action-packed week of fun, connection, and spiritual growth as students experienced God’s love and were encouraged to continue walking boldly in their faith.
We are truly in awe of all that the Lord has done this summer—not only through our students, but also through our staff and volunteers. God has stirred something new within each of us, igniting a deeper hunger to know Jesus, follow His truth, and live boldly in the purpose He has placed before us. As we continue to wake up to what God is doing, we are excited to see how He will continue working in and through our community!
We kicked off the summer with Kid's Connection, where 157 children entering K-5th grade gathered for a few exciting days of worship, Bible teachings, games, and engaging activities. Throughout the week, the children explored what it means to "wake up" to God's love and truth as they learned and applied our summer theme. It was incredible to witness God move in mighty ways as the children eagerly engaged with Scripture, worshiped with joy, and took meaningful steps toward a deeper relationship with Jesus. We are thankful for the seeds that were planted and look forward to seeing how God continues to work in their lives!
Next, we took 87 students entering 7th–12th grade to Overnight Camp this summer, and it was a such a powerful weekend as revival began to ignite in the hearts of our youth. It was inspiring to see the next generation awaken to God’s truth and embrace His calling to be the change in their schools, families, and communities.
I had the privilege of leading a small group of high school girls, and witnessing God work in their hearts throughout the weekend was truly remarkable. Their openness to the Lord grew as they became more vulnerable and intentional in their faith. During our small group times, we created space for honest conversations where students could share what God was revealing and doing in their lives. I challenged each of the girls to be authentic, courageous, and willing to take steps deeper in their relationship with Christ.
By the end of camp, the transformation was all the Holy Spirit. What started as a group of students who were quiet and hesitant, became a community of young women building genuine friendships rooted in Christ. They left camp excited to stay connected, continue growing in their faith, and encourage one another in their walks with the Lord!
Each evening, Mike Schmitz brought the Word, challenging students to “wake up” to the truth of the Gospel and fully surrender their lives to Christ. His messages called students to move beyond a passive faith and boldly step into God’s purpose for their lives. Worship each night created a sacred atmosphere where students responded with open hearts. Many made first-time decisions to follow Jesus, while others recommitted their lives to Him and experienced a renewed passion for their faith. It was deeply moving to see so many students encounter the presence of God, be transformed by His love, and leave with a desire to be the change in their schools, families, and communities.
Lastly, our 4th–6th grade Day Camp welcomed 91 students for an immersive camp experience held at Lake View High School. Each day was filled with intimate worship, meaningful small-group conversation, and powerful teachings brought by C.J. Luckey. He encouraged our students to boldly proclaim their faith through a daily chant: “All my people wake up. It’s time to shape up. We’re getting our faith up. So we can be on our way up.”
Students were reminded to recognize that following Jesus is an everyday commitment.
Students also enjoyed a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, and competitive sports. It was an action-packed week of fun, connection, and spiritual growth as students experienced God’s love and were encouraged to continue walking boldly in their faith.
We are truly in awe of all that the Lord has done this summer—not only through our students, but also through our staff and volunteers. God has stirred something new within each of us, igniting a deeper hunger to know Jesus, follow His truth, and live boldly in the purpose He has placed before us. As we continue to wake up to what God is doing, we are excited to see how He will continue working in and through our community!
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