Southeastern University Cancels Classes as Multi-Day Worship and Repentance Service Breaks Out
by Emily Brown
February 12, 2026
Student-led worship and repentance has been ongoing at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, prompting the school to pause classes to adapt to a spiritual moment that’s drawing comparisons to the spiritual outpouring that happened at Asbury University in 2023.
“We have no idea what is happening,” said Jonathan Rivera, SEU’s campus pastor. “We just know that something is happening.”The service started as part of a student conference being held at a nearby church this week. When author Jennie Allen concluded her message Wednesday morning, she invited the approximately 2,300 students to publicly confess their sins. For 15 minutes, students loudly called out things like pornography, fear, insecurity, anger, adultery,
even abortion.
“It was probably one of the wildest things I’ve ever experienced in my entire life,” Rivera said. “What it created wasn’t shame. It created this sense of freedom. Something broke in the room immediately.”
What followed was extended worship and altar ministry that university officials initially tried to accommodate by pushing back breakout sessions. Within hours, they canceled conference sessions entirely, then all classes.The gathering continued at the church from approximately until 10:30 p.m., when the university had to return the rented space. Leaders faced a decision: let the moment end or continue back in the campus chapel.
When students returned to SEU’s chapel at midnight, 550 people were already waiting outside the chapel.
The worship service has continued without interruption since midnight Wednesday, with confession, Bible reading, prayer and testimonies.
“The students are leading all of this,” Rivera said. “Their energy, their hunger, they’re the ones leading the room.”
Students brought blankets, sleeping bags and pillows to remain in the chapel. Many chose not to return to dorm rooms less than 100 yards away. On Thursday morning, a woman drove six hours from Atlanta after watching the livestream because, according to Rivera, she felt she “needed to be present.”
The university canceled all classes Wednesday afternoon and again Thursday. Faculty, staff and administrators have joined students in the chapel, which holds 750-800 people.
It continues with Instragram vids.
I'm going to take a stab at this. Hopefully in a way that doesn't rely on theological doctrine.
Firstly, the school - the owners and custodians of the facility - cancelled classes and adjusted schedules to accommodate and support the revival, obviously because they recognized the value that the students were experiencing.
This is very different from a group - any group - gathering in a public arena without permission (or with?) and blocking other citizens or residents from going about their daily business.
So, the location is different: this is not a 'public' location, but a private institution. Then, the ones causing the 'disruption' are not the ones focused on prayer and revival, but the custodians of the 'space'.
These two points make the two examples you cite (this revival phenomenon and 'Muslims blocking the street to pray') very different.
In one case, the group is forcing an inconvenience and disruption on others by asserting that their beliefs, their objectives have unilateral priority. (Similar to how certain anti-ICE elements have been disrupting the proper duties of ICE in <ahem> certain now well-publicized locations.)
In the other case, a collective of free people are seeking to pursue their faith experience, and the institution whose schedule would normally mean that there was a downside (they would be absent, or miss out on classes) have adjusted things so that the downside is minimized.
Might this create an inconvenience for students NOT participating in the revival? I don't know. If the classes as suspended, then they aren't really missing out - except perhaps the inconvenience of having time off and needing to attend the classes at a later date.
But that's judgment call for the institution, and one that directly lays within their responsibility. Considering the benefits the students appear to be experiencing, sounds like a very good judgment call.
Even if one is non-religious, the benefits of this sort of faith experience (repentance, clearing of the heart, conscience, etc) are objectively provable.
Note: Freedom of religion and belief is critical and vital to human growth and development (imo), so what can regulate the dynamics between faiths and religions? Not pure theological argument. It's not acceptable to say "I believe this, and I am right, so you have to change and adjust - I have the right to force you...".
However, certain principles can be acknowledged and those principles should govern inter-religious dynamics. Principles that have, actually, emerged withing the Christian cultural sphere: common law. Don't violate the rights of others, and keep your promises. Execute your responsibilities faithfully, and don't violate the responsibility of others.
Ultimately truth is what brings benefit to all. It's no fluke that the Christian cultural sphere has given rise to massive benefit to ALL humanity. Example: The material well-being that much of the world experiences (i.e. health, lack of poverty, etc) is a direct result of sciences developed within the Christian cultural sphere.
Thanks for the in-depth reply. Let me chew this over a bit.