Revival in the chapel at Asbury University in Kentucky began on February 8th. Many are calling the rally a “revival” that has been compared to the famous Asbury revival of 1970. The 1970 revival has spread  to other college campuses across the country, including Andrews University and many other Adventist institutions. 

A few days after the current Asbury revival began, a similar prayer meeting began on February 13 at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Social media reports of these events were both positive and negative. From a Christian point of view, some speak of a “long-awaited awakening”, others simply assume that sensationalism leads to a “false awakening”. From a secular perspective, many are suspicious and even hostile to anything with a Christian label.

The programming is very simple at Lee University: no microphones, no worship, just a keyboard. The leaders explicitly cited these aspects as proof that no one was trying to make the event sensational. They said they just wanted to do what God told them to do.

The music being played is soft but energetic. Songs included “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus”, “I Surrender Everything”, “Amazing Grace” and several  new and old worship songs. 

Throughout Scripture, especially in Acts (see Acts 2), we find large gatherings of people inspired by the Holy Spirit. Stories from the history of the Protestant Church echo through revivals, from the two great revivals at Fulton Street prayer meetings in 1857, from Evan Roberts in Wales,  to  camp meetings in the early United States—and at Asbury College, in 1970 and 2023 of Lee University and outside.

Would love to hear our readers thoughts on this and if you know of revival hotspots please let us know by posting your comments! 

– Revival Fire