WILMORE, K.Y. (KT) – Asbury University has taken over social media by storm with reports of revival. As a former pastor, I was intrigued. As a research doctoral student I was fascinated. Revival is a rare occurrence. If this is indeed a revival, this presented the opportunity of a lifetime to conduct research — on the ground — during the infancy stage. I asked a professor for assistance in crafting a questionnaire, called some fellow students and we arranged a field trip to interview as many students as possible.

After interviewing more than 40 students on Feb. 16-17, the “revival research team” came away with four things that the students at Asbury want the outside world to know.

1. Students want to honor God and see Him glorified

As we spoke with various students, it was clear they genuinely want to honor God through worship, confession and prayer. The ongoing service has rotated between times of corporate singing, private and corporate prayer, the public reading of scripture and public testimony times. Anyone wishing to speak must first meet with a pastoral team composed of university staff to “confirm that your word is for this group at this time” (the university is a separate entity from the seminary, and both groups of students want you to understand that as well). In speaking with students, they are excited that people are showing up to their campus, expecting to meet with God.

When God is praised and adored and proclaimed, God is honored. The responsibility and privilege of serving as a host to others who come expecting to worship and adore God is not lost on them. The meetings are not marked by any sensationalism or overt emotionalism. There is contrite repentance and thanksgiving being offered up constantly across campus evident to witnesses.

The students reported praying for each other as normal, but noted that the current prayers are marked by a distinct difference in sincerity, transparency and gentleness than previous instances.

2.  Students are conflicted about the developments on campus

When the students were interviewed, they noted a real tension. They were vulnerable with the research team and confessed ambivalent feelings. The initial three days of the revival (Feb. 8-11) were by and large limited in participation to the university and seminary campuses. Those days are described as “intimate,” “pure” and “innocent.”

However, by that weekend, reports of the continuous worship and prayer had reached the general public. This caused multiple concerns, especially after a shooting at Michigan State University on Feb. 13. For those unfamiliar, Asbury is located in the quaint town of Wilmore with a population of just over 6,000 people, according to the 2021 census. The university has a total enrollment of 1,639 (online and commuters not differentiated on the website). Everyone knows everyone who is normally in Wilmore.

The campus has effectively doubled with visitors who fill multiple chapels on the two campuses and are regularly lined up around the corner of West College Street, waiting for entrance into Hughes Auditorium. There are no metal detectors, minimal police presence and there are strangers everywhere. With a recent school shooting in national headlines and memories of recent instances of violence towards Christian organizations, the young students were understandably afraid.

Though safety was a primary concern for the students in light of current national events, it was not the only concern. The students experienced no small amount of disruption to their normal lives as a result of the constant influx of visitors making their pilgrimage to Asbury. Asbury is home for these students: “People get to go home at night. This is our home.”

In the Kinlaw Library, one will find a corner with a fireplace, three shelves of C. S. Lewis books and multiple plush chairs. One student described that as her living room, noting how she would often lay down by the fireplace speaking with her friends. She no longer feels free to do that with the increased frequency of visitors. This student is mission minded, wants to serve people, views what is going happening at Asbury as an answer to prayer, but also misses the normalcy she once had.

These types of stories could be multiplied, but the theme remains the same. They are happy God is moving, but conflicted due to their disrupted lives. Some students seem slightly ashamed over these feelings of ambivalence and try to reinforce their belief in the greater mission. Other students are more frustrated by the imposition claiming that they are unable to process the events at Asbury due to the disruption.

Regardless of how one views the overnight doubling of Wilmore’s population, the fact that it has disrupted day-to-day living is indisputable.

3. Students are hurt by the skeptical responses that have questioned their motives

The third finding of the review team was disheartening. As a former pastor, I was heartbroken to find the students leery of outsiders. Some of the students refused to complete a questionnaire but were willing to describe their feelings. They were hurt by the negative attention that has been levied against Asbury, its faculty and its student bodies by others in social media.

Criticism by outsiders accused the phenomenon as manufactured emotionalism and sensationalism. The student body was hurt by these accusations as it seemed to impugn their motives and sincerity.

Though skepticism may be warranted, the criticism from those who have not witnessed the events or spoken with participants is unbiblical. Who are we to judge another man’s servant (Rom. 14:4)? I witnessed no sensationalism, no charismatic displays (regardless of how one views the sign gifts) and observed nothing different in format than another worship service.

What was different at Asbury was that its leadership was student-body led, with the older staff members playing a support role, and that it continued long past the short hour and half maximum attention span for typical Western worship. These students are just that — students. They are younger brothers and sisters in Christ, praying, worshiping, confessing their sins one to another and offering thanksgivings in the public assembly. Every single one of those things is not only encouraged in scripture, but commanded.

These young men and women feel that their sincere worship is being invalidated in the cruel court of public appeal without evidence. The weight of these concerns has added to the conflicted feelings mentioned above.

Though one may not be able to say if these outside criticisms are quenching the Holy Spirit, they do seem to be quenching the spirit of our younger brothers and sisters in Christ.

4. Students believe that this is not extraordinary, but view these events as a desired norm 

The most surprising thing that the research team found was the normality expressed by the student body. Multiple students stated that what is occurring at Asbury occurs regularly in other parts of the Christian church outside of the west.

Christians worshiping all night, praying for each other in sincerity and confessing to each other vulnerably is believed by the Asbury student body to be happening in the wider world. Given Asbury’s diverse student body, embracing students from 31 foreign countries, it stands in a unique position to offer an informed assessment of that idea.

The students also argue that this ideal should be normative for the entire church, not only those outside of the U.S. and Asbury. Indeed, there is biblical precedent for all-night prayer and worship services in both testaments. The events that led to the revival were described as “unspectacular” and “unsensational.” Multiple students described the sermon in chapel on Feb. 8 as unexceptional. No student mentioned the quality of that chapel service’s music.

The only mentioned anomaly of that chapel service was that no one wanted to leave that day. The students continued to pray, and they urged other students to return to the chapel from classes and dorms to join them in prayer.

Summary of findings

Asbury University and Seminary are experiencing something abnormal compared to other Christian universities and churches in the surrounding areas. The student-led services are attracting attention — positive and negative, warranted and unwarranted.

While some commentators seem prone to pass judgment, it would be wise to remember Paul’s warning to the Romans concerning judging another man’s servants. Instead of assertive pre-judgment from afar, perhaps those distanced from Asbury could devote themselves to praying for their brothers and sisters in Christ, asking that God would, or would continue, to lead these students into a greater love of Himself and His Son throughout this experience.

The students continue to pray that God will glorify Himself through these events, and they want us to join in that prayer. It is my sincere hope that these reflections on the interactions with the student body can aid by informing your prayers allowing these students to feel heard, validated and supported by their Christian family. May God continue to grant Asbury, and the rest of us, strength and power through His Spirit for the spread of the gospel, the growth of the kingdom and the glory of God.

*This article is provided by Kentucky Today.