Calvary Student Ministry

LOOK UP LODGE DAY 3: THE BREAKTHROUGH

Day 3 began with our four summer staffers sharing how God has worked in their lives. Their stories reminded us that God is still changing lives and writing stories of redemption.

During morning chapel, we learned about forgiveness and the freedom that comes from receiving and extending it.

After lunch came everyone’s favorite event: Mud Run! Students crawled, climbed, splashed, and slid their way through the course. By the end, everyone was covered in mud and smiling.

At evening chapel, we learned that trials can be viewed in one of two ways: as obstacles or as opportunities for God to grow our faith.

Then came the highlight of the day.

During a powerful time of worship and prayer after chapel, two of our students made the eternity-changing decision to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation!

We ended the night with Words of Affirmation, encouraging one another and celebrating what God is doing in our lives.

Please continue praying for our students as God continues to move in powerful ways. We are thankful for all He is doing this week!

LOOK UP LODGE DAY 2: THE MYSTERY DEEPENS

Day 2 began before the sun dared show its face.

A select group of brave young men slipped quietly into the morning darkness armed with fishing poles, bait, and confidence. By the end of the expedition, one fish had escaped capture, one fishing pole had mysteriously disappeared beneath the waters never to be seen again, and at least one tree now resembles a Christmas tree decorated entirely with fishing lures. Investigators are still gathering evidence.

Meanwhile, the rest of camp gathered for morning chapel where we were challenged to stop handing God our plans and asking Him to bless them, and instead seek His plans first.

Then came Group Rec.

After a difficult Day 1, Team Lime entered the arena with something to prove. What followed can only be described as a redemption story worthy of its own movie soundtrack. Against all odds, Lime dominated Day 2 and walked away with the victory.

Free time offered no shortage of adventure. Students flew through the air on the giant swing, raced across the zip line, cooled off in the pool, battled in Gaga Ball, and competed in a basketball tournament. Somehow everyone survived, although several egos may have sustained minor injuries.

During evening chapel, we continued learning not only how to pray, but about the God we pray to. We were reminded that prayer is not simply a religious activity. It is an invitation into a relationship with the Creator of the universe.

We closed the night with small group discussions, and one of the most encouraging parts of the week continues to be watching friendships deepen and walls come down. Students are opening up, encouraging one another, asking questions, and growing together.

The mystery of the missing fishing pole remains unsolved.

The work God is doing in the hearts of our students is becoming harder and harder to miss.

Please continue praying for us as the adventure continues.

What a great first full day at camp!

We started the morning in chapel, where we began our study on prayer. Our theme passage for the week is Matthew 6:9–15, and we spent time looking at how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. One of the most encouraging sights of the day was seeing students engaged in chapel with open Bibles, taking notes, and genuinely leaning into God’s Word.

The rest of the day was filled with group rec, free time, and plenty of opportunities to build relationships and make memories.

Tonight wrapped up with worship and small group discussions, and that may have been one of the most encouraging parts of the day. We saw our students continuing to open up and be vulnerable with one another. The guys showed more participation and engagement in discussion, while the girls naturally divided into “Bigs” and “Littles” so they could spend intentional time getting to know one another, praying for one another, and offering support and encouragement.

Several of the girls shared how meaningful it was to hear from students in different grades. They talked about how learning from one another made them feel more comfortable asking questions and sharing honestly.

Nothing about it was forced. It was simply a beautiful, natural unfolding of the kind of Christ-centered community we have been praying God would build this week.

We’re excited to see what God continues to do in the days ahead. Thank you for praying for our students and leaders!

🚐💙 CAMP BOUND! 💙🚐

We are officially on the road to Youth Camp at Look Up Lodge in Travelers Rest, South Carolina!

We have 51 students and 7 chaperones traveling together this week, and we are excited to see what God has in store. We would love for our church family and friends to be praying for us throughout the week.

Please pray for:
🙏 Safe travels
🙏 Hearts that are open to God's Word
🙏 Lives that are transformed by the power of Christ
🙏 Stronger relationships with one another
🙏 Deeper relationships with Jesus
🙏 Bold faith and lasting spiritual growth

We are expecting God to move in a mighty way this week, and we can't wait to see what He does through every worship service, Bible study, conversation, and moment together.

Thank you for covering The Movement Youth and Chaperones in prayer! We will keep you updated throughout the week!

Yesterday, a group of our students gathered to bless a widow in our community during our first Summer Serve Day.

The homeowner is a 79 year old widow who cares for her special needs relative. Several years ago, a tree fell on her home, leaving many of her belongings scattered across the property. What seemed overwhelming to one person became an opportunity for our students to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Over the course of the day, students cleared the yard of debris, helping her begin the process of reclaiming her property and moving one step closer to the possibility of a permanent home. There is still work to be done, but the debris pile is now ready to be hauled away at our next Serve Day.

I am incredibly thankful for students who understand that following Jesus means serving others. I am also grateful for one of our student ministry leaders, BradandKelley Westberry, who saw a need and believed our students could help meet it.

The Movement isn’t just a name. It’s students moving toward Jesus, moving with Jesus, and moving for Jesus.

Thank you to everyone who gave their time, energy, and sweat to make a difference in someone’s life. This is what ministry looks like.

A pastor friend of mine shared these words and I couldn’t agree more:

Nothing surprising at all about this! Parents - 🔒 in! God has gifted, equipped, & called us lead our kids/family to Him➕! PARENTS ARE CALLED TO BE THE PRIMARY SPIRITUAL LEADERS IN THE LIVES OF THEIR KIDS!
- Remember this: what you prioritize will be what they prioritize!
~ Where you spending your time? What do you celebrate in their lives? How are you training/leading them to Jesus? What are you counting as success?

~ Jared Case

NEW STUDY: Family home is the single most critical factor in whether children keep their faith into adulthood.

Parents who attend church weekly, pray daily, and talk openly about religion raise kids more than twice as likely to remain faithful in their 30s and 40s, according to research from the Institute for Family Studies and Communio.

Children who attended church with both parents had a 41% likelihood of weekly attendance as adults, compared to 29% for those who went with just one parent.

Congratulations Class of 2026! I’m so proud of each one of you. Missed pics with a few graduates, but I’m proud of y’all too!😂 And I have no idea where my pic with Brylie ended up, so I just stole one of her mommas pics… 🤷‍♂️ Love you guys more than you know.

Summer 2026 is gonna be one to remember! From camp and retreats to poolside studies, worship nights, and unforgettable adventures, there’s something for everyone this summer. Invite a friend and come be part of what God is doing through The Movement! A Movement to Jesus, A Movement with Jesus, A Movement for Jesus!!!

BombPops and Flipflops was a hit! Sawyer, Savannah, and Zoie definitely nailed the “dress in your beach/hawaiian gear!” 🌺🌊🦈