Asbury Revival

Unless you've been living in a cave the past week you are aware that an amazing revival is taking place on the campus of Asbury University in Kentucky. The school had their regular chapel service on February 8, and the service still has not ended a week later. 24 hours a day every day people have filled the chapel, and overflow spaces, worshiping God and seeking a renewed relationship with Him. The last word I had the school was now using four buildings on campus and asking local churches to open their doors for the overflow crowds. Students from at least 22 schools have descended on the campus to share in this outpouring of the Spirit of God. A number of other schools are reporting similar revivals are breaking out on their campuses as well.

Interestingly enough, the school has not suspended its regular schedule of classes. While many professors are being lenient on class attendance, the classes are still meeting. I'm sure students will be expected to make up any work they have missed. I appreciated what the school president, Timothy Tennent, wrote about this in his blog. He writes

"This is the reason why both the University and the Seminary have not cancelled classes.  It is not because we are in a “business as usual” mode.  Far from it.   There is talk of little else in every chapel, in every classroom, in every hallway conversation, and, I suspect, in every home and apartment in the community.  The desire is to “mainstream” renewal into the very fabric of our lives so that we are transformed right where we live, and work and study.  We all love mountaintop experiences, but we also know that it must be lived out in all the normal rhythms of life.   We have to live into this desperation for God to do what we cannot do   We have to live into transformed relationships.  We have to live into new patterns of life and worship.  In short, we must embrace what it means to really live as Christians in the midst of a church culture which has largely domesticated the gospel beyond recognition.  We will know that revival has truly come to us when we are truly changed to live more like him at work, at study, at worship, and at witness."

I could not agree more. Who doesn't want to live on the mountaintop all the time, but that is not where much of life is lived. Life is lived in the relationships we have, the responsibilities that is ours, the communities in which we live. Genuine revival will cause us to live transformed lives in each of these areas of life, and more besides those listed. 

My daughter attended one evening earlier this week and told me that this revival is strictly organic. God is moving among the students at Asbury. While staff are helping lead, this is primarily a student-led movement. The church today sometimes complains about the spirituality of today's youth, but perhaps we should temper our criticisms. As I told our Bible study group tonight, these young people are doing something that our preachers, including me, haven't been able to do in decades, and that is to humble themselves and seek God in such a way that He is bringing revival to that campus and many other campuses and communities as well.

My prayer is that me and the church I presently serve might experience this outpouring of God's Spirit as well. I want to see the power of the Holy Spirit move throughout our congregation in such a way that we will never be the same again. I want to see us so energized by His power that our community will be amazed and drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said if He is lifted up He will draw all people to Him. Oh God, let us be a church that draws people to you! Send revival, Lord! Pour out your Spirit upon all flesh!