August 11–14 | 6:30–8 PM | Rocky Branch Marina & Campground (Rt. 208)
Hosted by Good Hope Baptist Church

This August, an old-fashioned tent revival is making its way back to where it all began—on the water, under the open sky, and in the heart of a community hungry for hope, healing, and truth.

From August 11–14, Raised to Life: The Revival will take place at Rocky Branch Marina & Campground, just off Rt. 208. Hosted by Good Hope Baptist Church, the event promises four evenings of powerful preaching, live worship music, and heartfelt community connection. The revival is open to everyone—no church affiliation required.

“This is an opportunity to hear the simple message of God’s goodness and truth,” said Senior Pastor Ryan Perry, who began serving at Good Hope in June after being called to Virginia from Purcell, Oklahoma. “There’s so much negativity and deception in the world today. This is a chance to be part of something real. Something positive.”

A Legacy Rekindled

The revival is more than just an event—it’s a return to Good Hope’s origins. The church itself was born out of a revival between 1812 and 1819, when a group of new believers gathered to form a lasting faith community. Their original meeting house still stands today, used during the Civil War as both a house of worship and a place of healing for Confederate soldiers.

“This is in our DNA,” said Pastor Perry. “Good Hope was founded through a tent revival, and now, more than 200 years later, we’re going back to our roots.”

A Nightly Awakening

Each night of the revival will focus on a specific theme:

• Monday: Awakening to the Goodness of God through Jesus Christ
• Tuesday: Focus on Global Missions – with stories from Israel and Haiti, featuring guest speaker Dr. Jim Melnick. Offerings will be accepted for both global mission areas.
• Wednesday: Youth Night – including a local mission initiative supporting food needs at Livingston Elementary and Post Oak Middle School
• Thursday: Mass Baptism Night – with baptisms taking place at the beach or in a baptismal pool for those who prefer not to enter the lake

Revival services will be led by Pastor Perry, who is currently working on his PhD in Bible Exposition from Liberty University. This will be his first time leading a full revival—an experience he calls “God-led from the start.”

Credit for the idea also goes to church members Becky and Ryan Murphy, along with Rebecca’s mother, who helped make the revival a reality by offering the scenic Rocky Branch Marina as a venue.

Music, Missions, and More

Live music will be led each night by worship leader Davy Thompson, a lifelong friend of Pastor Perry and a seasoned musician whose daughter, Skylie, recently appeared on American Idol.

In addition to messages of faith and hope, the revival will spotlight global missions, with an emphasis on supporting children in Haiti—a nation facing extreme poverty and hardship—and children in Spotsylvania County, through a food service program tied to local schools.

“We want to awaken people not just spiritually, but also to the needs around them,” said Pastor Perry. “This is about caring for our neighbors—across the street and across the world.”

All Are Welcome

You don’t have to be part of Good Hope Baptist—or any church at all—to attend. The tent is open to believers, seekers, skeptics, and the simply curious.

“We just want people to feel free to come however they are,” Perry said. “Some people won’t walk into a church building—but they’ll walk into a tent.”

Practical Details

• Location: Rocky Branch Marina & Campground, Rt. 208
• Dates: August 11–14
• Time: 6:30–8:00 PM
• What to Expect: Fans in the tent, plenty of shade, parking assistance, golf cart rides for accessibility, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere

Organizers expect around 200+ attendees each night, but as Pastor Perry says, “We can always find more seats.”

For more information, go to https://goodhopelive.com/.

Jen Bailey

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