2023 Asbury revival

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2023 Asbury Revival
Part of Methodism
The interior of Hughes Auditorium
Duration459 days
Venue(Initially) Hughes Auditorium on the campus of Asbury University (Currently) Other buildings in Wilmore, McKenna and Estes Chapels on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary; Great Commission Church and Mt Freedom Baptist Church.
LocationAsbury University (primary) and other colleges and seminaries in the United States
Also known asAsbury Outpouring
CauseUndergraduate students remaining in Hughes Auditorium after weekly chapel services for spontaneous worship and prayer.

The 2023 Asbury Revival is an ongoing Christian revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky.[1] The event was prompted after students spontaneously stayed in Hughes Auditorium following weekly chapel services on 8 Feb. 2023. News of the phenomena was quickly spread on social media and in Christian online publications.[2] The revival has been compared to similar revivals at Asbury, notably one that occurred in 1970, which had far-reaching consequences in Methodism, US culture, and in the creation of the Jesus movement.[3] The revival is noted for its use of social media, as the participants are mainly members of Generation Z.[4]

Background

Asbury University is a private university affiliated with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. Chapel attendance is mandatory for students on certain weekdays.

On Wednesday, February 8th, 2023, a handful of students remained in the chapel following a regularly scheduled service. Student body president Alison Perfater was one of them, and told Tucker Carlson that after a fellow student decided to openly confess some of his sins to the small group, 'the atmosphere changed'.[5] According to Perfater:

"For seemingly no reason at first on Wednesday, February 8 it didn’t end. That’s kind of the logistical side of what’s been going on. On the deeper side of things, what’s been happening here since Wednesday is there’s a young army of believers who are rising to claim Christianity, the faith, as their own, as a young generation and as a free generation, and that’s why people cannot get enough."[5]
Statue of John Wesley that is located in Wesley Square at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. The revival spread to the seminary in its first week.

Initially only student publications and Methodist circles shared news of the event. Asbury has a history of revivals, the school claiming them in 1905, 1908, 1921, 1950, 1958, 1970, 1992, and 2006.[6] The 1970 revival at Asbury had far reaching cultural effects, and is central to the construction of Asbury's spiritual identity.[1] The revival has been described as calm, and some commentators have noted the absence of many of the features of contemporary worship. The revival is additionally significant because of its spread on social media, particularly among Generation Z, the most irreligious generation in US history.[4][7] On February 15, hashtag "asburyrevival" had over 24 million views on TikTok.[4] By February 18, views blossomed to 63 million.[8]

Responses to the revival have been reported at other university campuses and the revival notably has an ecumenical expression, with Methodist, Baptist, and Episcopal groups participating in its spread.[9]

The revival is occurring amid a split in the United Methodist Church over issues of Christianity and homosexuality. Despite Asbury's conservative stance on homosexuality, LGBTQ student activists have expressed support for the revival on social media.[10][11][12]

Timeline of Events

Date Event Notes
8 Feb. 2023 Undergraduates remain in the auditorium following the conclusion of a morning chapel service[13] for prayer. The first report of the revival is in the student newspaper, The Asbury Collegian.[3] News of the phenomena spread on social media via the personal accounts of students. Similarities are immediately noted with a similar religious revival at Asbury in 1970.[14]
9 Feb. 2023 Students remain in the auditorium throughout the night. The revival continues into its second day. It is estimated that the crowd drops to 50 at its lowest point in the night.
10 Feb. 2023 Students remain in the auditorium throughout the day. Students begin to set up coffee stations. While non-students are present, the participants appear to be largely made up of the student body.[15][16] The event receives local media coverage.[17] Pictures online of the auditorium show it at capacity.[18]
11 Feb. 2023 Revival continues through the fourth day. Crowds begin to swell Hughes Auditorium in as local media coverage continues. Pictures online of the auditorium show it beyond capacity.[18]
12 Feb. 2023 Revival continues into its fifth day. Busses and vans from churches and other religious institutions are observed arriving at Asbury for the revival.[19] Asbury Theological Seminary's Estes Chapel, as well as McKenna Chapel and other buildings on campus are opened for overflow crowds.
13 Feb. 2023 Revival continues into its sixth continuous day. Asbury Theological Seminary's Estes Chapel is continued to be opened for overflow crowds.[20][21][22]
13 Feb. 2023 Seminarians at Virginia Theological Seminary lead Wesley's Covenant Service in response to the revival. Students at Cedarville University hold a worship service in response to the revival.[23][9] The event was organized by the Methodist Society of the Episcopal Church according to an announcement on Twitter.[24]

Cedarville University is a Baptist-affiliated institution.

14 Feb. 2023 Revival Continues through the seventh continuous day.[18][25] [26]
14 Feb. 2023 At least 22 other institutions travel to Asbury for the revival.[23] Some of these institutions did so in official capacities, while others were unofficial appearances of students and faculty. Students at Campbellsville University and Lee University remain in worship in response to the revival.[23][9] Campbellsville is a Baptist-affiliated institution, while Lee is a Church of God-Cleveland affiliated university.
15 Feb. 2023 Revival continues into its eighth day. The revival receives coverage from The Washington Post.[1] Asbury Seminary's regularly scheduled chapel services overflow. Hughes Auditorium is closed by Asbury students to all people 26 and over, a decision made to prioritize the voices of Generation Z. A simulcast of Hughes Auditorium is set up in Estes and McKenna Chapels.
16 Feb. 2023 Revival continues into its ninth day. An announcement that Hughes Auditorium is closed from 1:00 AM to 12:00 PM and that livestreaming is banned in Hughes Auditorium and the chapels is made on Asbury University's official Instagram account.[27] Asbury University establishes a set schedule for the revival, published on their website. The University marks Feb. 24 as an end date for services held on Asbury's campus.[28][29] Asbury sends a letter to the parents of students addressing the revival.[30]
16 Feb. 2023 Students at Samford University remain in worship in response to the revival according to an announcement from the University's President on Twitter.[31] Samford is a Baptist-affiliated institution.[32]
17 Feb. 2023 Revival continues into its tenth day. Following the university's regularly scheduled chapel service, Hughes Auditorium is opened to the public, again giving seating preference to those in high school through age 25 (Generation Z).[33] At 5pm a fourth external venue, Mt. Freedom Baptist Church, was added to service the thousands lined up in the cold waiting for space in Hughes Auditorium. Drone footage captures lines several blocks long after Hughes Auditorium is full.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Why students at a Kentucky Christian school are praying and singing round the clock". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  2. ^ For example, B. J. Oropeza, "The Current Revival in Asbury: Sensing the Presence of God" Patheos/General Christian/In Christ (Feb 16, 2023).
  3. ^ a b Presta, Alexandra (February 8, 2023). "Revival strikes Asbury once again". The Asbury Collegian. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "A nonstop Kentucky prayer 'revival' is going viral on TikTok, and people are traveling thousands of miles to take part". NBC News. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b DeSoto, Randy. "Carlson: Asbury Revival 'Amazing,' People Turning to Spiritual Life to Counter Evil in the World". Independent Journal Review. Western Journal. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  6. ^ "Revivals". Asbury University. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "Generation Z and the Future of Faith in America". The Survey Center on American Life. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Asbury Revival on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Staff, RELEVANT (February 15, 2023). "The Asbury Revival Is Spreading to Other Universities". RELEVANT. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  10. ^ Presta, Alexandra (February 12, 2023). "Learning to Love: a Sunday night Revival update". The Asbury Collegian. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Levens, Laura (February 16, 2023). "What I witnessed this week at the Asbury revival". Baptist News Global. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  12. ^ Elijah Drake [@@Personhoodlives] (February 11, 2023). "A gay person asked me how to not hate the church today and wasn't sure how to answer, but I could point to this moment and say that through all the cracks God's light will shine through. Amen" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Love in Action Series: Rev. Zach Meerkreebs – 02/08/2023". Asbury University. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  14. ^ "Revivals". Asbury University. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  15. ^ Presta, Alexandra (February 10, 2023). "All because of Jesus: the third day of revival". The Asbury Collegian. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Presta, Alexandra (February 10, 2023). "A revival update: 'How Great is Our God'". The Asbury Collegian. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Asbury Revival 2023 Testimony". Kentucky Today. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  18. ^ a b c "Revival fires stir again at Asbury | Baptist Press". https://www.baptistpress.com/. Retrieved February 16, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  19. ^ WATCH | Asbury University's revival service continues, retrieved February 16, 2023
  20. ^ Pendleton, Phil. "Days-long 'spontaneous revival' continues at Asbury University". https://www.wymt.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  21. ^ "Revival Underway at Asbury University in Kentucky: 'The Holy Spirit Was Tangible in the Room'". CBN News. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  22. ^ "Revival service at Asbury University continues after 125 hours". FOX 56 News. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  23. ^ a b c Today, CHIP HUTCHESON, Kentucky. "Revival spreading to other colleges and universities". Kentucky Today. Retrieved February 16, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Methodist Society of the Episcopal Church [@@MethodistSoc] (February 13, 2023). "In response to those in the Methodist movement seeking, praying for, and participating in revival, join us at 8PM via live stream or in person at Virginia Theological Seminary's Octagon Room (in the chapel) for a Wesleyan Covenant Service. #asburyrevival" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Smietana, Bob (February 14, 2023). "Why students at a Kentucky Christian school are praying and singing round the clock". Religion News Service. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  26. ^ Staff, RELEVANT (February 15, 2023). "Christian Leaders Are Sharing Their Experiences at the Asbury Revival". RELEVANT. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  27. ^ "Outpouring". Asbury University. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  28. ^ "Outpouring". Asbury University. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  29. ^ "Asbury University releases schedule for revival, including final public service". LEX 18 News - Lexington, KY (WLEX). February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  30. ^ Today, MARK MAYNARD AND CHIP HUTCHESON, Kentucky. "Asbury University making tweaks to schedule next week". Kentucky Today. Retrieved February 19, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Beck A. Taylor [@@BeckTaylor] (February 16, 2023). "I just spent 90 minutes w/ students in Reid Chapel. Hundreds lined the pews & aisles singing, praying, giving witness to the Lord. It's real, genuine, vulnerable, passionate, biblical, and all about Jesus. I asked some students what they found encouraging. Here's their responses:" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. ^ "Samford's Mission, Vision and Values". www.samford.edu. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  33. ^ "Outpouring". Asbury University. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  34. ^ Asbury University "Revival" Day 10 by Drone, retrieved February 18, 2023
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