Revival and Renewal
“Revival is God’s arrival” said one student at Asbury University while explaining what it was like to be part of the revival/worship services that have been going on non-stop for over a week in their chapel in Wilmore, Kentucky.
“It was like Jesus just walked into our chapel,” said another. “We didn’t have a designated speaker, just a student worship team to lead us. People knelt in prayer at their seats or up front while others prayed in small groups.”
Worship. Singing. Prayer. Repentance. Testimonies. Renewal. A Holy Atmosphere. Awakening.
It began on a Wednesday in early February of this year when some university students stayed past chapel time to sing worship songs to God. And it continued night and day. People of all ages from various walks of life streamed into this small town. When the chapel overflowed, other campus sites were made available. Students from other Christian colleges arrived and some took the “fire of revival” back to their campuses.
This is the same college where another “Awakening” occurred in February1970, but this has continued longer. Kentucky has seen other Spirit-led meetings– each unique with different emphasis and results. One began in early 1800s in Bourbon County at Cane Ridge.
A few years ago I stood behind the pulpit in the Cane Ridge Meeting House there trying to imagine what it was like during those few days in August 1801 when an estimated 20,000 or more from varied cultures and economic standings showed up for what became known as the Western Great Revival. “A religious phenomena,” said one eyewitness. “Thousands were experiencing the new birth,” reported another.
Rev. Barton Stone, Presbyterian pastor of the Cane Ridge Church, had notified pastors in Kentucky to invite folks to come help celebrate a quarterly communion sacrament on the first Sabbath in August. Previous revival camp meetings elsewhere had prompted a spiritual hunger and some curiosity seekers.
So, news spread, drawing families even from neighboring states. They arrived by foot, horseback, carriages, and in wagons loaded with food, tents, camping supplies, lanterns and candles. Meetings lasted from Friday to Wednesday, but all had stopped on Sunday for communion.
People who could not get into the log meeting house listened to frontier preachers from different denominations who stood on tree stumps or speaking platforms erected in the clearings, expounding on Scripture day and night. Rev. Stone said of those preachers: “They were of one mind and soul; the salvation of sinners was the one object. We all engaged in singing the same songs, all united in prayer, all preached the same things.”
Some participants described the meetings: “No one seemed to want to go home. Hunger and sleep seemed to affect nobody. Eternal things were of the vast concern. Some being under great convictions. Persons being carried out to where prayer was made for them. Singing psalms or hymns, rejoicing and inviting sinners to come to Jesus and salvation. Men, women and children declaring the wonderful works of God, and the glorious mysteries of the Gospel.”
Membership in churches throughout Kentucky exploded afterwards. Many who experienced the Holy Spirit’s touch continued to share their testimonies publicly. The Second Great Awakening was gaining momentum.
Intercessors have prayed years for the Third Great Awakening to come to America. Now many point to the worship services at Asbury University, Lee University and other campuses where renewal is happening as proof that it is well underway. Intercessors continue to pray for revival, renewal, salvations and the “fire” to spread to other places where people truly need a touch of God. Sadly, we have heard nay-sayers criticize what’s been happening. Let’s be careful how we judge!
Prayer: Father, thank you for an outpouring of your Spirit among those students and all others who have been meeting to worship You. Thank You for the way Jesus is being acknowledged and adored. Let this revival spread to other colleges, churches, homes, businesses, government leaders—throughout our nation and beyond. Bring many to Christ. Empower us to be better witnesses for You. I ask In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: [Jesus speaking:] “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NASB)
Note: The log church at Cane Ridge, built in 1791, recognized as possibly the largest one-room log building in North America, is now enclosed by a limestone super-structure. Read more at www:caneridge.com.
See our e-book book, The Beginner’s Guide to Receiving the Holy Spirit by Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock
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