Join other students in grades 9–12 to learn about worship, develop your gifts in the arts and lead worship at the end of the week in the Festival of Worship.

Where God’s Spirit meets with a group of people in such a profound way that it opens their eyes to God’s activity in the world, renews and gives vision to their sense of purpose and calling, and marks their lives forever.

Awakening IX in 60 Seconds

Awakening IX (2024)

Awakening VIII in 60 seconds

Awakening VIII Story

Awakening VIII (2023)

The story of Awakening VII (2022)

Awakening VII (2022) in 60 seconds

Awakening VI: Student Perspectives

Awakening VI Trailer

Awakening VI Festival of Worship 2021

Awakening IV (2019) 3 minutes

Awakening IV (2019) 1 minute

Awakening IV (2019) 5 minutes

Awakening III (2018) 1 minute

Awakening III (2018) 4 minutes

Awakening II

The Story of Awakening

Awakening Preview 2017

Jim De Boer, director of Awakening

Hope College Intern Aaron 

Hope College Intern Jordan

Meet our worship leader Bruce Benedict

Hope College Intern Jack

Hope College Intern Jake

Artist in Residence Joel

Meet Awakening's discipleship leader Josh Banner

Come to Awakening!

Why Attend Awakening?

If you’re a high school student going into grades 9–12 seeking to grow your skills and passions about worship and the arts, this is the week for you.

Are you a musician, an actor, an artist, a dancer, a sound technician or a philosopher? Take this opportunity to develop your gifts — and perhaps discover gifts you never realized.

Join us on the beautiful campus of Hope College in Holland, Michigan, to work with nationally known pastors, ministry leaders, professors, church musicians, artists, dancers and technical arts specialists.

This will be a time to grow and learn more about yourself and your God. To see God for who he is. To build relationships. To change the lives of others and, in turn, your own.

Develop your gifts in the Worship Arts

• Vocal
• Acoustic guitar
• Lead guitar
• Bass guitar
• Percussion/Drum set
• Keyboard/Piano
• Organ
• Strings
• Woodwinds
• Brass
• Painting
• Liturgical dance
• Songwriting
• Technology (sound)
• Preaching/Theology
• Worship planning

Individual students entering grades 9–12 are encouraged to attend, but you are also welcome to come with friends if you choose. Together or individually, you will return to your church, youth ministry and school prepared to make a difference for God in the lives of others.

The sense of Christian community will be rich and God-inspired!

• Awakening IX (2024)  —50 high school students from seven states and Costa Rica attended this summer’s Awakening!
• Awakening VIII (2023) — We were blessed with 48 students from four states, including California, who developed their gifts in the worship arts and bonded deeply together through worship and small groups.
• Awakening VII (2022) — We hosted 47 high school students from seven different states for an amazing experience of witnessing God’s presence in our midst.
• Awakening VI (2021) — We were able to be in-person this year with 35 high school students from three different states. Zero cases of Covid! Praise God!
• Awakening V (2020) – Due to COVID, students met online each Sunday in June and met online throughout the year on the first Sunday of each month
• Awakening IV (2019) – 55 students from five states
• Awakening III (2018) – 54 students from five states
• Awakening II (2017) – 40 high school students from five states
• Awakening I (2016) – 20 students from four states

Awakening Podcast

 
The Invitation, Episode 1

The Awakening has collaborated with The Invitation to begin a new podcast. In the first episode Josh engages a group of the Awakening students to consider the unique gift of a teenager’s spiritual journey.

Already attended?

Come back for a second, third or fourth year. Most students do! If you've graduated from high school and are coming to Hope, be an apprentice! Graduating high-school seniors who have been a part of Awakening in the past and are headed to Hope in the fall can become paid student interns after their freshman year at Hope.