In 1970, a revival began in a chapel service at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. That worship service unexpectedly lasted for ten days, and its effects didn’t end with the conclusion of worship. It spread from campus to campus and was part of a revival that ran through the nation. The Jesus movement and other powerful evangelical movements were either the fruit of what happened then or were energized. The Holy Spirit moved within His people.
At morning chapel on Wednesday of last week, a movement of the Spirit was present. That chapel service has continued not for an hour, nor a day but as of now for almost a full week. Over that week, eyes have been on this spontaneous movement in the heart and lives of these young people. Already, there have been students from other schools make the trek to Wilmore as have others of all ages.
I wanted to share the eyewitness account of Amanda Allen. I was blessed to have Amanda serve as my youth director in Albuquerque. She left my staff to pursue her Ph.D. and is now completing her dissertation at nearby Asbury Seminary. I asked her permission to share her unfiltered reflection of what she has seen for herself this week.
I haven’t had a lot of opportunity to be present on campus much last week or over the weekend, but this afternoon/evening I had a chance to “come and see.” For all my out of towner friends seeing this on the news…
My short reflection of that short time:
Went to AU and the revival. It was really interesting.
Take aways:
-very clearly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit
-very calming
-got chills a lot
-had a good convo with God
-felt free to stay or leave and no pressure either way
-had a good ‘rest’ and lost track of time
-never been to a ‘service’ or anything like this
-didn’t talk to anyone else and didn’t want to (but in a good introvert way of being content to be my own company)
It was not
-emotional manipulation
-programmed
-loud or busy or boisterous
-people falling over or ‘crazy stuff’
-the kind of worship service you’re just waiting to end so you can get somewhere else (like, we’ve all been there right? Just waiting for the music to end so we could get on with it?) This wasn’t that. I could have stayed way longer—and the hour I was there felt like 5 minutes.
It was very restful and peaceful and cool.
True revival cannot be manufactured. It is not the product of emotionalism, programming, or hype. It is God’s work initiated by the Holy Spirit. But the promise made to Solomon holds true, “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV84) Therefore, let us humble ourselves, pray, seek God, and repent. And we shall see revival. Our nation yearns for it.
