Over the last ten days, reports of spiritual awakening on the Asbury University campus, a small Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky, have made their way around the world.  Asbury University held a regularly scheduled chapel service on Wednesday, February 8 which has continued to the writing of this post. Reports have also been given about similar events on other college campuses. 

During a call to a confession of sins in the February 8^th chapel service, at least one hundred people fell to their knees and bowed at the altar. Students, professors, and many who have traveled to Asbury give testimony that the gathering is marked by worship, confession of sins, repentance, and many turning to faith in Jesus Christ. To this, I say, “Amen!” Is this not what many pastors and Christians pray for?

Yes, we are called to be discerning and biblical. Yes, there is always danger for bizarre and distracting behavior in events like Asbury. Noted. However, with few exceptions (e.g., someone threw money on the stage to help a poor student) the reports are encouraging and do not seem to be aberrant or weird behavior (e.g., barking like dogs and uncontrollable laughter). We should pray for those who lead this movement that the Holy Spirit would guide them with wisdom and the truth of God’s word. We should also pray that genuine revival would sweep this land bearing fruit of the gospel, the fruit of lives changed by Christ and submitted to His word, the fruit that remains (John 15:1-16).

My friend, David Cranford, wrote this week, “Shootings on one college campus but revival on another campus. Oh God, may the latter overtake the former! Revive us O Lord!”  

I don’t think there is a week that passes in the gathering of FBCG that we don’t pray for a spiritual awakening where eyes and hearts are opened to the wonder of the gospel.  My prayer for revival in my life and in my church, as well as through this nation and to the nations, was captured in the Epilogue of my recent book, Life on the Altar. I post it here and trust it will encourage us to seek the Lord with all our hearts.

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