May 3, 2024
WILMORE, Ky. (KT) – As the Asbury University revival moves into its 10th day on Friday, school officials have announced a more structured schedule beginning Monday. Services will move to an off-campus location starting with the Feb. 24 evening services.
Thousands of visitors, including students from nearly two dozen universities and colleges, have come to the tiny Christian campus, many driving hundreds of miles to experience the revival that is spreading throughout the country through social media. Students have kept it going nonstop since the morning chapel service on Feb. 8.
Even during downpours of rain on Thursday, they stood in line and waited to get a seat in Hughes Auditorium.
In a letter to parents, Asbury University President Kevin Brown said campus leadership has put together a schedule with “an attempt to recognize and steward this beautiful, historic moment of spiritual renewal while quickly moving toward a more sustainable campus experience for our students that fosters predictability, well-being, and continuity.”
He wrote the university is also working with groups to increase security, prayer and ministry support, event management and overall logistical planning. Samaritan’s Purse, for example, is providing Asbury with 10 additional officers to serve on campus for staggered eight-hour shifts over the next week.
Services through Sunday will continue with afternoon and evening services. This includes prioritization for high school-age and young adults 25 and under.
Beginning Monday, Feb. 20, evening services at Hughes Auditorium will be reserved for high school-age and young adults 25 and under.
The doors will be closed in the morning with the afternoon service open to the public.
The 7:30 p.m. service will have seating reserved for the main floor for high school age, young adults 25 and under and their leaders. Guests are allowed in the balcony spaces (if young adults have not already occupied those seats).
All other guests will be welcomed in other designated simulcast venues.
The National Collegiate Day of Prayer service will be Thursday, Feb. 23. Only high schoolers and young adults 25 and under will be allowed in Hughes Auditorium for the national simulcast. Other guests will be able to watch the simulcast in other designated locations.
Remote guests can participate in the simulcast by visiting collegiatedayofprayer.org/live.
Beginning Friday, Feb. 24, evening services will be hosted at other locations to be announced and no longer at Asbury University.
One Kentucky Christian school plans to have students in Hughes Auditorium Friday for chapel services. Jim Hill, principal of Cornerstone Christian Academy in Shelbyville, said 22-23 students are planning to attend the revival. Hill said the Admissions office was called and agreed to save seats for the students. Hill said an Asbury representative told him that Hughes Auditorium would be closed to those over 25 years of age on Friday.
“We heard about the revival and thought it would be good for our students to experience that,” Hill said, adding that “several of our students have not been on a college campus.” Students will also take a campus tour during their visit.
James Wedgewort, pastor of Pisgah Baptist Church in Casar, N.C., contacted the Kentucky Baptist Convention about the revival, saying he and other pastors in that area want to visit the revival.
“No person who loves the Lord and looks for His movement wants to be cynical,” he said. He said that, while last week may have been a time for caution, “that time has come and gone.” He expressed a desire to see what God is doing and that believers should be “sensitive to His movement.”
Brown, Asbury’s president, wrote on the school’s website:
“At the completion of a regularly scheduled chapel service on Feb. 8, 2023, at Asbury University, students lingered to pray, worship and share. They have not stopped and, moreover, have been joined far and wide by hungry men and women across the world who desire to seek the Lord in this space.
“Since the first day, there have been countless expressions and demonstrations of radical humility, compassion, confession, consecration and surrender unto the Lord. We are witnessing the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
“We continue to seek to discern the right balance between orderliness for our university students, faculty, and staff and our campus visitors — and creating space for individuals to have a life-transforming, Christ-centered encounter.
“We are also tremendously thankful for the men and women who have worked so hard and diligently to create space for this special move of God. Hosting such a significant moment comes with a cost — and the goodwill and humility of our community has been inspiring.
“Finally, we cannot fully express the profound gratitude we have for stewarding this outpouring in the life of our school and beyond. Ultimately, we pray that our efforts in these days point to our Savior.”
