EVANGELICAL Asbury Revival Spreads Among Gen Z ‘Hungry for It’ Jeffrey Walton on February 24, 2023 Jeff Walton https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/02/24/2023-revival/ As public worship at Asbury University concludes following two weeks of unplanned, student-led worship, other colleges and universities report that the phenomenon has reached their campuses, including at least three secular schools.

Student-led chapel services described as “unscripted” have been underway at Lee University and Belmont University in Tennessee, Samford University in Alabama, Cedarville University in Ohio, Regent University in Virginia and Baylor University in Texas. Kentucky schools Campbellsville University and University of the Cumberlands also report continuous prayer and worship gatherings. Lee and Regent are Pentecostal institutions, while Cedarville, Cumberlands, and Samford have Baptist roots. Belmont is non denominational. Some Roman Catholic student ministries now share about “a wellspring.”

‘Not Sure What To Call It’

“The stories of sharing are immense,” Asbury University Christian Studies and Philosophy Chair W. Brian Shelton told me in a telephone interview of those in three-hour lines to join in worship at the Wilmore, KY school. This past weekend, state police restricted public access to the main road leading into the 6,000 resident community, stating that it was already over capacity with between 20-25,000 visitors on Saturday alone. Read my coverage here.

Following this past Wednesday, public worship is held at off-campus locations. Only students and visitors aged 25 and younger are permitted into the Hughes Auditorium, which has a seating capacity of just under 1,500. Lee University officials also suspended the prayer services that began on February 13, as they reflect on next steps.

“The concern is that the students translate these experiences into long term spiritual growth,” relayed Dr. Dale M. Coulter of Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS), located on the Lee University campus. Coulter shared that Lee held a chapel service on Monday in which the campus pastor talked of spiritual disciplines and theologian Ignatius of Loyola.

“As with Asbury, people are not sure what to call it,” Coulter said in an email interview, characterizing PTS as being supportive but not involved in leadership decisions. Coulter notes reports of people rededicating their lives to Christ, deliverance from habits, and some healings. “University officials keep saying that it’s a student led prayer service but, at times, it has clearly become more than that.”

Students at Texas A&M University have seen gatherings unfold for the past three nights outside of Kyle Field in the College Station, Texas campus. In addition to the recurring themes of worship, repentance and prayer, there are reports of physical healing. Students at Northern Kentucky University have also reported at least 15 baptisms at a campus revival.

Generational Hunger

At Baylor, existing ministry services both off and on campus sparked student-led worship, according to Raylee Foster, a staff reporter with the Baylor Lariat enrolled as a Freshman at the Waco, Texas school. Foster, whose coverage brought my attention to the Baylor story, identified now-familiar practices: late night prayer time, confession, group gathering, and praise extending into the early hours of the morning.

“People say they have been praying for this for years,” Foster shared in a telephone interview. “Everyone on staff who has been praying for this is excited but, for students, a lot saw what was happening at Asbury and that something like this was possible in our generation – and hungry for it.”

Foster pointed to Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

“I think that stirred into hearts,” Foster said of the local gatherings. An annual event, FM72, convenes students to pray at Baylor for 72 hours and is planned for late March. The timing of what is now occurring at Baylor may increase the reach of that event, Foster predicts. “It’s interesting that this is lining up with that.”

The prospect of movements born out of this moment has precedent in past revivals. Baylor itself has a history of revival: a prayer gathering in the spring of 1945 continued across 90 days and began ministries that continue today.

“Mission flows from moments of encounter,” Coulter of PTS reflects. “To put it in medieval terms, we move out into the world after we have been caught up in the arms of the bridegroom. Ecstatic embrace with God fuels embrace of the other. I thank God today for that embrace.”

“Will this continue? I hope so. For how long? Who knows?”

“God is making known His claim on GenZ,” Regent University Director of Campus Ministries Dr. Jeff Gossmann wrote in an e-mail interview on Thursday. “This generation has suffered so much loss due to the pandemic. This current outpouring is like a Bar/Bat-Mitzvah for GenZ. It is their coming-of-age party, where Jesus says to them, ‘I see you. Welcome to the table.’ It is like the party that the prodigal son’s father threw for him upon his return.”

Gossmann, a Pentecostal Christian, was part of a group from Regent sent to visit Asbury University on February 15, describing it as both subdued and characterized by humility and “lack of hype.”

“They spoke without charisma, showmanship, dynamism, or attempt to stir emotions.”

While Gossmann and others from Regent University were at Asbury, students, faculty, and staff at the Virginia Beach school began gathering for unscripted prayer and worship. In response, a series of services has progressively grown in the number of participants. Those services, some extending for five hours, include Regent students sharing “brief exhortations from Scripture that the Holy Spirit highlighted during worship.”

“Many students have reported feeling renewed and encouraged by the presence of the Lord,” Gossman tells me. “The Lord is leading us to create space for repentance and renewal.”

People of varying ages, religious backgrounds and geographic origin continue to be drawn to several of these campuses. Asbury’s Shelton sees at least one commonality.

“They are looking for a greater source of hope.”