Ashbury University has garnered numerous headlines over the past few weeks due to the thousands flocking to it to pray and worship the Lord in its chapel during the prayer revival that has been going on continuously for nearly two weeks now.
In fact, students from at least 22 colleges and universities have come to visit the university along with thousands of Christians from elsewhere around the country. Not only that, but the events have garnered so much attention that even former Vice President Mike Pence took note of the revival, saying “Deeply moved to see the revival taking place at [Ashbury University]! The Lord is at work at Asbury and Lives will be Changed Forever. To the young and old #AsburyRevival, God Bless You All & Praise the Lord!”
However, the university is now having to shut down the event. The small school only has 1,700 students and so doesn’t have the space or facilities to handle thousands upon thousands of people coming to pray at the chapel. University President Dr. Kevin Brown announced that, writing that a schedule will be drawn up for the coming week and that the revival will then have to come to an end. In his words:
At the completion of a regularly scheduled chapel service on February 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.
That echoed the university, which said:
The concluding public worship service of this recent outpouring on the Asbury University campus will be Monday, February 20, at 2 p.m. Beginning Tuesday, February 21, services available to the public will be held at another location in the central Kentucky area. Asbury will host evening services for college-age and high school students (16–25) through Thursday, February 23.
Earlier this afternoon, the university in consultation with local law enforcement and city administration notified incoming visitors that parking and seating had exceeded capacity. Asbury will live stream limited portions of services at asbury.edu/outpouring through Thursday, February 23. Live streaming from cell phones is still prohibited in Hughes Auditorium.
On the same page of Asbury’s website, the college noted that a space is still available for young adults, saying: “College-age students, there is a space reserved for you to take a deep breath and relax. A team will be available throughout the day/night for prayer, reflection, deeper conversation, inter-collegiate connection, and processing for any young adult. Snacks and coffee are available for you.”
Watch the revival here:
The revival at Asbury University is coming up on 250 straight hours. pic.twitter.com/Nx1CTaKSOa
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 18, 2023
By: Will Tanner. Follow me on Twitter @Will_Tanner_1
Featured image credit: screenshot from embedded video
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