History of Houseparty
International Houseparty is an annual event that has been taking place for more than 40 years, most of those years at the same location in Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula. It's a unique time for people from all over the world to form life-long friendships as we laugh, play, and try new activities together...share meals and our unique perspectives on life...and explore the core themes of the Christian Bible.
During the 1970s, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship’s Cedar Campus retreat center in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan began hosting house parties (modeled after similar events that had taken place in other locations since at least 1953) every year over New Year's and sometimes hosted a second event over Christmas. When Intervarsity stepped away from facility ownership in 2019, a core group remained committed to continue this unique event.
After a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and holding the event at an alternate location in lower Michigan in 2021…for 2022 we returned the International Winter Houseparty to its home in the Upper Peninsula. The facility there had new management and a new name: Cedar Bay. Our team of long-time Houseparty organizers has partnered with the new Cedar Bay staff to continue this tradition in its historic location!
In 2024, the core team took steps to set up a more formal financial structure in the form of a non-profit 501(c)3 organization called International Fellowship Inc, which is all-volunteer (no paid staff). Donations to support Houseparty are tax-deductible, managed with transparency, and can be made online.
Directors
Daniel and Rachel Foster have co-directed the program since 2014. They have been bringing their 4 kids and between 1 and 40 friends to the event since 2008. Houseparty is always a highlight of the year for their family.
Core Team
Over the years, groups from all over the Great Lakes region and as far away as St. Loius, MO, have contributed to make Houseparty what it is. Our current core team that helps plan and pull off the event include:
Wisconsin
Sarah Boswell
Jesse and Kristen Kroll
Terrell Smith
Kyler and Irena Westerfeldt
Don Bader
Michigan
Pedro and Esther Nariyoshi
Bruce Jefferies
2024 Speaker
John Bell, a friend and pastor to the Fosters and a long-time supporter of Houseparty will attend for the first time and serve as speaker!
Bio
Pastor John has had the privilege to experience the adventures and learning of traveling many places in the world, including the times when their three kids were young and travel was even more adventurous! He has also experienced the joys and frustrations of running a small business, and he has been known to venture into the world of auto repair (sometimes the cars even run again!). He also loves the experience of being a private pilot. He deeply values diverse perspectives (whether because of different ethnicities, educational levels, life experiences, gifts and abilities, and so on) and how they enrich our understanding and experiences of life and God’s work in the world.
After receiving his doctorate in computer science at the University of California, Berkley, Professor John completed a fruitful career in the College of Education at Michigan State University. One of his favorite directions of research included having students come to class by robot! While working at MSU, his interest in helping people see and experience the world through new ideas and new perspectives, especially with the ideas of the Bible, led him to complete a master of divinity (MDiv) in pastoral ministries from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry (DMin) in preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. During this season, the seed was planted to start a multinational church in East Lansing. Pastor John pursued God’s call (or perhaps more accurately, was pursued by God’s call) and led the founding of Crossway Multinational Church in 2014.
Now retired from his career at MSU, Pastor John values the opportunity and privilege to shepherd the people of Crossway full time and to practice his gifts locally and internationally. He focuses on preaching and forming Crossway into a church that is for, of, and by the peoples of many nations. He and his wife, Karen, live in Haslett, Michigan; they have three grown children, also living in Michigan. While they each have their own adventures, they still love to hike and ski and travel together when they can.
Cedar Bay Team
The Cedar Bay team consists of full-time staff and volunteers, all of whom have a heart to serve and make Houseparty a memorable and meaningful time for all who attend.
