Revival

Asbury University is a Private Christian University in Wilmore Kentucky.

On 8th February 2023 after a regular Chapel Service some students stayed behind to worship and pray, this continued and drew more people in. News of the ongoing never ending service spread through social media and soon approximately 15,000 people were visiting daily and overall the revival drew in 50,000 – 70,000 visitors from across the world to Wilmore.

Nearby businesses felt the benefit of more customers in the area as well as fewer parking spaces to find as visitors to the University were taking up all the nearby car spaces. A Subway franchise shop owner said that he did in one week the amount of sales he usually did in a year and his biggest challenge was running out of food.

During the two weeks services were stopped at a certain hour then continued the next day to allow those involved in the worship groups time to rest. Even after they stopped two weeks later, people were still asking to attend even if it was just on the outside lawn, prayer teams were and are still available for those still wanting to visit.

A revival is described as an awakening and renewed interest. This recent flow of worship and visitors from across the world phenomenon has been described as ‘The Asbury Revival’ , people have been awakened to their thirst for God and have developed a renewed interest in spending time in praise and prayer.

As a result, lots of other universities have started having ongoing prayer and worship times and a thirst for learning more about God.

So what does this mean for us? Many people think you have to visit where God seems to be moving to ‘catch’ the revival. Yes it can be inspiring and ignite a fire in you to be in such a dynamic atmosphere but you don’t have to travel to where something is happening in order for a spark to start in you.

Ephesians chapter five verse 14 says :

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

I will leave you with the lyrics from a Christian band called Unspoken “start a fire” –

This world can be cold and bitter
Feels like we’re in the dead of winter
Waiting on something better
But am I really gonna hide forever?
Over and over again
I hear Your voice in my head
Let Your light shine, let Your light shine for all to see

Start a fire in my soul
Fan the flame and make it grow
So there’s no doubt or denying
Let it burn so brightly
That everyone around can see
That it’s You, that it’s You that we need
Start a fire in me

You only need a spark to start a whole blaze
It only takes a little faith
Let it start right here in this city
So these old walls will never be the same
Over and over again
I hear Your voice in my head
They need to know
I need to go
Spirit won’t You fall on my heart now

You are the fire, You are the flame
You are the light on the darkest day
We have the hope, we bear Your name
We carry the news that You have come to save
Only You can save