This is from Religious Liberty TV. It is reprinted with permission.
February 15—As the world faces uncertainty, with toxic train derailments, multiple shootdowns of “UFOs” over North America, economic instability, and war drums beating in Europe and Asia and moral decay on display throughout popular media, Asbury University, a small non-denominational Christian school in Wilmore, Kentucky has completed a full week of unplanned non-stop student-led worship and prayer. Last Wednesday at 10:50 a.m., the “mandatory chapel” was scheduled to end but the choir decided to sing just one more song. Around 28 students stuck around and over the course of the next few hours more began to join.
It’s been called a “revival” or an “awakening” and it is truly inspiring to see young people humbly seek God. See it for yourself at live at or if that livestream ends, here’s another clip.
Australia 1939
Similar spiritual awakenings are rare but not unheard of. In 1939, a Seventh-day Adventist University in Australia had a similar thing happen. From David Trim and Marye Trim’s article in Ministry Magazine:
Without any planning or rehearsal, the meeting then changed as a line of students formed, all desiring to stand near the platform, compelled to speak. As their testimonies and confessions continued, well past the chapel hour, Minchin noticed the chapel clock. He said, “Pastor Piper, it is now time for classes to resume. What shall we do?”
The prompt reply came in a resolute voice. “Brother Minchin, we shall extend the chapel time. We cannot program the Holy Spirit.”
So the Wednesday morning meeting continued, well into the lunch hour. Occasionally, a student left the chapel to go to find a friend who had stayed away. They would return together, swept into the electric atmosphere in which the Holy Spirit worked upon hearts. The week continued with the same spirit, intensifying as young people gave their hearts to the Lord Jesus, confessed their sins, and resolved to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives so that they would know what it meant to be a real Christian.
That was the beginning of the Avondale revival of 1939 that spread out into the wider community of the church in the Southern Hemisphere. Walter Scragg, later a distinguished theologian, General Conference (GC) communication director, pioneer of Adventist World Radio, and president of the South Pacific Division, recalled its impact on his own life and others in his home youth group. He wrote: “The great revival that swept through Adventism in 1939 . . . found me as a lad in the Tasmanian camp meeting of that year. In the fall-out of that remarkable Spirit-inspired event, I gave my heart to the Lord and was baptized. A whole generation of young people . . . felt the influence of the revival.”
Andrews University 1970
In 1970, a similar thing happened at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan that later spread to Columbia Union College which is also documented in Ministry Magazine . Here is an excerpt:
On Tuesday, Elder Pierson, who had made the solemn call to revival and reformation back in 1966, received a call from Andrews University from the clean of students, Dr. M. O. Manley, who reported that a "routine" 9:00 A.M. assembly had just ended at 12:20 P.M. The retreaters had merely reported on their new love and then had invited others to come forward and indicate their desire to participate in a revival and reformation of life. Some say that three fourths of those present went forward. The revival continued to blossom. Students called their parents both to share the good news and to confess their sins.
“One student declared, “I’m going to my church this Sabbath to preach. I want to help make up for all the times I led others astray.” He did go. There was a revival.”
Later on Tuesday two freshmen insisted on sharing their new faith with friends at nearby Battle Creek Academy, whose students were in retreat at Camp Au Sable. A great awe came to the group as they recognized the tremendous change in the two young men. Many accepted Christ anew.
Meanwhile prayer groups were springing up all over the residence halls at Andrews University. Thursday night I returned to the campus. In the men's hall I chanced upon a prayer group and listened to the stirring testimonies of Tuesday's victorious ones. One student declared, "I'm going to my church this Sabbath to preach. I want to help make up for all the times I led others astray." He did go. There was a revival. Friday night in a faculty member's home the assembled Berrien Springs Academy students heard the good news. They were astonished; they responded; and the revival expanded!
That Sabbath, the seventeenth of October, at Andrews University will never be forgotten by those who attended the services. Throughout the week hundreds of revived students and faculty members had been praying that this revival would touch those who had heretofore not submitted their lives in complete surrender to Christ. The air was heavy with anticipation as I stood in the pulpit, for we knew the Lord's Spirit was working mightily among us. I closed my message with a simple appeal to surrender, to repent, and to separate from the world. Pastor John Kroncke and I had hoped for perhaps four hundred to respond to the call. Almost the entire congregation stood and moved forward, filling the aisles. What a lesson in faith! I suggested they turn to their nearest fellow-Christian, present their testimony, then fellowship in prayer. Like the sound of mighty waters the voices of the group ascended. For fifteen minutes this continued. We closed our service singing songs of hope.
In a subsequent Sabbath service the faculty were specifically invited and they responded to the call to renewed dedication, pledging themselves by God's grace to be revived and to lead out in reformation.
While revivals can start sincerely, there are always things to keep in mind, from that same article in Ministry:
Don't despise the revival if all the church does not receive it, for the whole church will never be revived." True conversion is a change from selfishness to sanctified affection for God and for one another."
These revivals and reformations should: (1) Elevate the Word of God as the source of truth, (2) direct the minds to the Word rather than themselves, (3) teach obedience to the truth by which they are sanctified, (4) turn the mind to the solid evidences of the truth, and (5) create a sincere desire to do good for others.
The burden now rests on those walking in the light to instruct those young in experience to walk in the light after they have received light. Insofar as you have been ordained as God's spokesman, "the Holy Spirit is not for the human agent to work; it is to work and use the human agent."
Tragically, "we have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church itself than from the world." 13 You can do much to change this picture. The church depends on your response.
In this burning new day among our reviving youth we need an enriched flaming experience that will ignite lost lives and bring Christ's warmth to a chilled church as the shades of this night fall fast.
Dr. Timothy Tennent who is the president of Asbury Theological Seminary wrote the following thoughts on his blog yesterday (2/14/2023):
”Personally, I believe this is legitimate. It has been reverent and orderly. If you were to watch a few minutes, you’d probably think it is very similar to any chapel service that you’ve seen at any Christian college. It is not contrived, it is student-led, the kids are singing. There’s a purity to the event and a longevity and calm sincerity as students continue to cycle in and out of the chapel.
There’s always a danger that people who want to capitalize on this may sweep in and try to drive it off-course or take advantage of what is happening for their personal gain, so vigilance and discernment is needed more than ever as this continues to gain international attention.”
But for the many watching and worshipping with them around the world, these students are providing a counterbalance to the winds of trouble that we’re seeing elsewhere, and for that we can praise God together.
Until next time,
Michael D. Peabody, Esq.
President,
Founders’ First Freedom
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Our Commentary
May genuine revival occur at our Adventist Universities, Hospitals and churches. False revival sometimes drifts into glossalalia and inner emotional experience. We do not support glossalalia experiences but we support true revival. True revival is a beautiful thing. It is marked with,
Humility (pride is a big problem in our lives)
Renewed interest in the Word of God
A focus on God, not self
Repentance and confession of sin
Forgiveness of others (this completely undercuts Critical Race Theory and social justice activism)
Honesty
God’s holiness
A sense that the Second Coming is near
Learning that we will face opposition from the world
The need to overcome sin in our life – perfection of character.
Some testimonies from the Asbury revival,
“He is breaking chains here. He is restoring love, relationships and making His presence known to the lost," one student shared on stage.
One woman said, "To say I'm filled is an understatement. What I experienced is out of this world. Hundreds of youth coming out to worship God. That room gave me a glimpse of heaven."
A professor of theology said “I decided to go see what was happening. When I arrived, I saw hundreds of students singing quietly. They were praising and praying earnestly for themselves and their neighbors and our world—expressing repentance and contrition for sin, forgiving others, and interceding for healing, wholeness, and peace.
Many were reading and reciting Scripture. Others were standing with arms raised. Several were clustered in small groups praying together. A few were kneeling at the altar rail in the front of the auditorium. Some were lying prostrate, while others were talking to one another, their faces bright with joy.
Asbury Statement on Biblical Sexuality
“We believe that the sin of sexual immorality (e.g., pre-marital sexual behavior, adultery for the heterosexually married person, polygamy, polyandry, pornography, incest, and all forms of same-sex practice) is about the behavior. As sinful fallen creatures, we are all tempted to sin, however, we do not claim those areas of temptation as right and good – and worthy of embrace and celebration. Rather, we unashamedly insist that by the grace of God we are called to live within the biblical boundaries of our sexuality, and are empowered to live in obedience with God’s will and alignment with His purposes as revealed in Scripture. We do not surrender the biblical standard of sexual purity to the prevailing secular culture, nor the definition of “male” and “female” to mean something more or different than a individual’s sex at birth. At the same time, we do pledge to extend compassion and care, providing accountability and assistance as we support all members of our community— students, staff and faculty—in their desire to live consistently with the Christian teaching on human sexuality as described above. Accordingly, Asbury University will not recognize or support campus groups whose aim by statement, practice, or intimation is to promote a vision of human sexuality that is contrary to this understanding of biblical teaching. Further, we believe the above affirmations to be consistent with the ancient and historic teaching of Christian scriptures around the world and remains the guiding light for our practice.”