Asbury revival sparks movement in other Christian colleges: ‘Holy Spirit at work’

Asbury’s Kentucky revival inspired similar movements on other Christian college campuses after the 24-hour prayer service went viral on social media.

Similar revivals have occurred at schools such as Cedarville University in Ohio; Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama; Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee; and Belmont University in Nashville, according to The Washington Post.

The movement began after thousands of people from all over the world gathered at Asbury in Wilmore to take part in worship services that have continued in the school chapel almost non-stop since students first refused to leave worship on February 8. TikTok videos under the hashtag #AsburyRevival had nearly 70 million views as of Sunday.

The University of Cedarville, a school founded in 1887 in southwest Ohio and affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, has seen ceaseless prayer and worship spontaneously spring up among its students, reports The Christian Post.

KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY GIVES PILGRIMS ALL OVER THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE: “GIVES ME SO GREAT HOPE”

University of Cedarville President Thomas White told the publication that “a special outpouring and sense of the Lord’s presence” began last Monday as students studied Psalm 86.

“So we took a moment to pray and sing a song,” White said. “And during the song, without an altar call or any invitation, we had a few disciples who began to come forward and pray.

“So when I got back on stage—the sermon ended there—we just started praying and singing,” White continued. “And before the chapel was even over, the altar was full of students just praying, and some were crying, others were hugging each other.”

I WAS ON #ASBURYREVIVAL. THIS IS REAL AND IS SPREADING. THIS IS WHAT I SAW

Cedarville University in Southwest Ohio was founded in 1887 and is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Google Maps)

According to White, students continued to return to the chapel and stay late into the night, with some students choosing to go to other schools in the area to share their faith.

In an email sent to students on Friday, Samford University President Beck A. Taylor noted that “spontaneous, organic, student-led worship” continued for 48 hours in the chapel of a Birmingham-based school founded by Baptists in 1841.

“Having spent some time yesterday with those [worshiping] at Reid Chapel, I can testify that the Holy Spirit is at work within and among our students,” Taylor wrote. – What is happening is not invented, not programmed and not planned. It’s also not performance or hypocrisy.”

“I can testify that the Holy Spirit is at work…”

– Samford University President Beck A. Taylor.

Warning against “the temptation to label things or put them in some neat box,” Taylor added that he was “convinced that God is doing something new here, and all we’re being asked is to stay true to God’s calling.”

I WAS ON #ASBURYREVIVAL. THIS IS REAL AND IS SPREADING. THIS IS WHAT I SAW

“Our theme this year is HOPE. Our hope can be found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As we worship Jesus today, let’s allow hope to abound in us so that we can spread God’s hope on this campus and throughout the world.” Taylor said.

Believers participate in a revival service at Asbury University Chapel in Wilmore, Kentucky, which has reportedly spread to other Christian college campuses. (Asbury University)

“What happens in Asbury is not limited and will not remain limited,” tweeted Rob Fultz, campus pastor of Lee University, a private university founded in 1918 and affiliated with the Church of God.

“It will, and is already awakening deep revival wells on campuses across the country. They’ve been churning, pressing down on the seals that hid them, and they’re about to burst into new life.”

ASBURY REVIVAL: PROFESSOR CALLS FOR END OF ‘PUBLIC PHASE’ AS SCHOOL TRYING TO SOLVE OVERFLOW

Fultz tweeted photos of his school’s services, which he noted, like Asbury, were also several days late. A he posted a video shows students screaming “in prayer, worship and repentance”.

Worshipers raise their hands during a service at Asbury University Chapel in Wilmore, Kentucky. (Asbury University)

Abby Laub, director of communications at Asbury University, recently told Fox News Digital that she believes Gen Zers are spiritually hungry.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“If you look at the world and look at what’s going on and what Generation Z is facing, I just think they’re absolutely desperate for something other than what the world is giving them right now,” Laub said, adding, that Gen Z has been hit hard over the past few years.