Spiritual Emphasis Days Inspire Students to Take the Next Step in Their Faith

At Cypress Christian School, Christian education extends far beyond the classroom. During Spiritual Emphasis Days in January 2026, nearly 200 elementary and middle school students stepped away from their daily routines to focus on what matters most—growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Hosted at Champion Forest Baptist Church, the two-day event gave students opportunities for worship, biblical teaching, small-group discussions and hands-on activities designed to encourage spiritual growth and strengthen their faith.

Middle School Students Challenged to Follow Jesus

Students in grades 6–8 gathered on January 14 and 15 for two days of worship and biblical teaching led by Matt Kelso, Family Minister at Second Baptist Cypress.

Using the life of the Apostle Peter, Kelso encouraged students to consider what it truly means to follow Christ. Through passages of Scripture, students learned how Peter left behind his former way of life to become a disciple of Jesus and how keeping his eyes fixed on Christ allowed him to walk on water despite the storm surrounding him.

Kelso reminded students that, much like Peter, believers will experience moments of failure. Reflecting on Peter’s denial of Jesus, he challenged students to keep themselves firmly anchored to Christ, trusting in His grace even when they stumble. Throughout the event, students were encouraged to make following Jesus the foundation of their daily lives.

An important part of the experience was the involvement of 45 Cypress Christian School juniors and seniors, who served as small-group leaders. Their leadership, encouragement and example helped create meaningful conversations and relationships with the middle school students.

The final session concluded with an opportunity for students to respond to the Gospel. Three students made first-time decisions to follow Christ, while many others committed to deepening their walk with Him.

“One of the greatest privileges we have at Cypress Christian School is creating intentional opportunities for students to encounter God’s truth in meaningful ways,” said Middle School Principal Mrs. Rhea. “Watching students worship together, ask thoughtful questions and make decisions to follow Christ reminds us that our mission extends far beyond academics. Our prayer is that every student continues to grow in faith and become more like Christ each day.”

Elementary Students Learn to Love God and Love Others

Elementary students focused on the school’s annual theme verse, Matthew 22:37–39, which calls believers to love God wholeheartedly and to love others as themselves.

The first day centered on loving God through every thought, action and decision. On the second day, students explored how a growing love for Christ naturally leads to loving and serving others.

Each day included energetic worship, engaging Bible lessons and interactive breakout sessions where students learned biblical truths through science experiments, cooking activities, music and arts and crafts. These hands-on experiences helped reinforce God’s love while allowing students to experience biblical principles in memorable ways.

A Community United in Discipleship

Cypress Christian School extends its sincere appreciation to the staff and volunteers of Champion Forest Baptist Church for graciously hosting Spiritual Emphasis Days and caring for students throughout the event. Special thanks also go to the Student Ministry Praise and Worship Team, whose leadership helped prepare hearts for worship during each large-group gathering.

Spiritual Emphasis Days reflect Cypress Christian School’s commitment to providing a Christ-centered education that develops students academically, spiritually and socially. Through experiences like these, students are encouraged to deepen their faith, build meaningful relationships and continue taking the next step in becoming more like Christ.