Intro
Sometimes the most meaningful experiences happen when you least expect them. My trip to Washington, D.C. was one of those days, my first visit, my first revival walk, and my first time seeing faith move thousands of hearts in the nation’s capital.

Arriving in the Heart of the Nation

The day began early. We landed around 10 a.m., and even before setting down our bags, we made our way straight to the Lincoln Memorial. I had seen it in photos countless times, but standing there in person surrounded by history, sunlight, and the sound of footsteps echoing on marble felt completely different.

This wasn’t just a sightseeing trip. It was a spiritual gathering that promised to bring people together in prayer and worship. The United Revival Walk, also known as the Washington, D.C. Jesus March, gathered thousands from all over the country. Reports said there were about ten thousand people in attendance, and it showed. Everywhere I looked, there were faces filled with joy, voices lifted in song, and hands raised toward the sky.

When the Clouds Gave Way to Light

Photo taken with Samsung NX Mini, 9mm f/3.5, black and white JPEG mode

All morning, the forecast called for clouds and a chance of rain. I even expected to get caught in a drizzle at some point. But when the worship began, the sky told a different story.

The clouds slowly opened, and warm sunlight poured over the crowd. It felt like a moment that went beyond weather, as if something greater was reminding us that light always finds its way through.

In the photo above, you can almost feel that moment. Flags waving, people singing, a cross lifted high against the open sky. It was raw and real, and for a moment, all the noise of the world seemed to fade away.

Capturing the Day in Simplicity

This trip was also special for another reason. It was the first real outing for my Samsung NX Mini paired with the 9mm f/3.5 lens. For such a small and older camera, it proved itself more than capable.

It was a true testament that even a ten-year-old point and shoot camera can be more than enough to capture what matters most. I decided to keep things simple by using only the black and white setting built into the camera and shooting entirely in JPEG mode. I wanted to focus less on technical settings and more on what was happening around me.

And honestly, that simplicity made the experience even better. There was something peaceful about just lifting the camera, pressing the shutter, and moving on. No distractions or second guessing, just moments that felt genuine.

The surprising part was how long the little camera lasted. I started the day with only one bar of battery showing and wasn’t sure if it would make it through noon. But somehow, it held on the entire day. By the time worship started again around 3 p.m. and communion began closer to 5, I had taken fewer photos and spent more time simply being present. Still, the camera kept going until the very end. It was another quiet reminder that less can often be more.

What the Day Meant

Looking back, the experience was more than just attending an event. It was being part of something that felt alive. Thousands came together not for a show, but with a shared purpose — to pray, to worship, and to stand in faith for our nation.

Every photo from that day reminds me that revival doesn’t always begin with stages or crowds. Sometimes it starts quietly within, through moments of gratitude, through community, or even through the lens of a small camera catching sunlight breaking through clouds.

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
— 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)