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: 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 using your method of choice.
2026 Speaker
Core Team
Nick grew up in a small town in an Italian/Slovenian family. As a student at Purdue University, he became a follower of Jesus. After earning his BS in Mechanical engineering in 2006, he moved to Mongolia to teach English, where he met Lydia (who was teaching in China at the time). They married, and now have five children.
Returning to the USA in 2009, Nick and Lydia dedicated their careers to welcoming international students and scholars. He currently serves as Lead Pastor of Arise Christian Fellowship.
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
• Michigan
- Huan Qi and Zhen Li
- Daniel and Rachel Foster
- Pedro and Esther Nariyoshi