A revival update: ‘How Great is Our God’

I have never seen Hughes this packed. 

Very few seats remain empty, but people crowd the walls, the floor and the balcony. It’s been almost 60 hours since a pure Holy Spirit revival broke out. Testimonies are ongoing; spoken, typed out and declared out of the darkness and into the light. 

Asbury students Sarah Yost and Mary Hostetter have spent their afternoon compiling a list that keeps growing. 

One anonymous participant in the revival revealed that six months ago, they left an abusive relationship that left deep feelings of hurt. However, Thursday night, a pastor approached them with a word from the Lord. 

“Someone broke her heart,” God told the pastor. “Someone left her feeling broken and worthless. But I have a plan to repair her broken heart. I want to be like a father to her and have a deep relationship with her. I will heal her in unimaginable ways and use her in unimaginable ways.”

Freshman Matthew Dunham lives with ADHD and said he “has not had a clear mind” his entire life. Since stepping into Hughes around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, he said the only thoughts filling his head are about how good God is. 

“I never want to leave,” he said. 

Other students reported that they never thought they would experience anything like this. Junior Rachel Call, who has been a Christian her entire life, said she wanted to know God more. On Wednesday, He told her to stay and worship. 

“I didn’t know revival was possible for me,” she said. “God has overwhelmed me with His Spirit and shown me who He is and His love for me. God has revealed so much of Himself to me in such a short amount of time, and I am so grateful.” 

Tonight, with hundreds of people inside this chapel, Asbury President Dr. Kevin Brown reminded everyone of John 17, a passage that can act as a call for unity. 

“So when people see us, they see one accord,” Brown said. “For this generation, for the church, for the world, for the edification of our neighbor, and for the glory of God. This is not a Hughes Auditorium thing. This is not an Asbury thing. This is a kingdom thing.”

He recalled how he was baffled on Wednesday when he saw junior Jessie Thompson running toward Hughes. The image still hasn’t left him, and he made it a prayer for everyone attending the revival. 

“I pray we wouldn’t hesitate,” he said. “I pray that we would run.”

Run toward belief. Run towards Jesus, the One who saves. The One who acts as a friend when we experience loneliness. 

This was the case for Asbury freshman Bobilyn Carr, who felt like she “didn’t have a community.” When revival began, God stirred her heart. 

“God began a great work in me,” she said. “He has given me a peace I don’t understand, and He has shown me that I am loved, seen and known by Him.”

All in attendance are singing and testifying about how good God is, and the invitation is open to anyone and everyone who needs to experience it for themselves. 

A bunch of students on Wednesday afternoon burst into classrooms, excitement in their eyes and joy in their hearts for God. 

“Just come and see,” junior Zeke Atha said. “Even if it’s for five minutes. Come and see.”

  1. I was a student at Asbury Seminary in 1980-83. I always heard about the 1970 Revival at Asbury College.
    I’m so thrilled to see what God is doing in this moment!
    Praying revival spreads to places like Wichita KS where I serve as the Care Pastor at NewSpring Church, where God is transforming lives for Jesus in powerful ways.
    Let it spread and touch lives everywhere!!

  2. My wife and I was there on Thursday most of the day and night. Its been a really long time since I have been part of a Holy Spirit manifestation. Even after many hours of worshipping and just taking it all in…as my body became tired…I didn’t want to leave. God is raining his blessings upon the entire campus of Asbury and among many other campuses. I am so grateful that we got to experience this first hand. When I first heard about it on social media early Wednesday afternoon….all I could do was just cry for over an hour. I couldn’t stop crying. Then when I stepped foot in front of the altar on Thursday in Hughes Auditorium….I couldn’t stop laughing. The Spirit of God was so powerful, glorious and beyond words. There is no way to explain it…you just have to experience it for yourself in order to understand it. Praise God for this special revival taking place right now in the lives of so many!!

  3. Thank you for keeping us updated on this movement of God. I continue to pray for everyone there. Praise God for His moving. God bless you.

  4. What an amazing blessing to see God’s grace and love touching so many. May this revival continue to overflow in to the community and our entire country and beyond. This is what the world needs. God, I pray you continue to move amongst those that are present and give them the strength and courage to spread your love and grace to all they come in contact with .

  5. I was pastor in Knightstown, IN when the 1970s revivsl hit Asbury, a group of Asbury students entered our Sunday morning service testfying of God moving at ASBURY, WE LET THEM speak and testify, then tjey went on to Anderson, IN, where they told their story and God poured out His Spirit again and it started a several weeks revival that the Inpianapolis news paper covered in full page reports. We were part of the revived and God gave us many who came to be saved and Spirit filled. My prayer is Do it again Lord, we need a Holy Spirit revival now!!!

  6. PRAISE GOD!!!! Just recently I felt burdened to ask God to pour out His Spirit on His people in our nation. And also for Asbury University that He would protect and strengthen His kingdom there for His purposes now and for the future. He just laid that on my heart in the last week. I didn’t know what He’s doing until yesterday. WOW!!! THANK YOU, GOD!! That was a fast answer. Your will be done on earth in us as it is in heaven.

  7. I have really been praying for another mass revival to break out all across this land and ask God to heal us heal this land from all the wickedness that Satan has brought amongst us and seems so many people don’t know don’t care don’t want to know, and I want to see God move in the most glorious way possible or in the

  8. Please, pray for God to send revival to former students of Asbury University, that we would experience what the Lord is doing in your midst. Let revival break out in our churches, and we wouldn’t quench the Holy Spirit by putting Him in a one hour box on Sunday morning.

  9. I have prayed for a long time that God would raise up a generation of young people who would testify to His greatness and change the world Amen!! It’s happening right now

  10. Praise God. I am a 1981 graduate of Asbury Seminary. I have prayed for revival in one way or another for 40 years. The last 10 years with a more earnest heart. To hear these stories is a great encouragement.

  11. Thank you, Lexi. Your updates have meant the world to me and I look forward to them every day. I’m a graduate, class of 1977 and a trustee at the University. I’m currently on vacation in Costa Rica but I’m experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit as I keep up with your posts. Thank you for your generous gift of communication.

  12. My life was radically changed by a similar, profound move of the Holy Spirit in the mid 90s. Knowing that He is moving at Asbury once again makes me weep with joy! Praying that His magnificent Presence spreads from there across our entire nation, cleansing and purifying hearts and igniting a fire that cannot be quenched. Treasure this time of visitation. Soak in His Presence, be transformed and draw ever closer to Him! 🙏🙏🙏

  13. Love to hear how the Holy Spirit is working on our world. I am in awe over what is happening in Asbury and hoping it will spread far and wide.
    God has amazing things store for us. With all the evil happening in this world, it is good to hear events of His activities. He brings good out of all that is not right. Always put your hope and trust in our Triune God

  14. I’ve been praying for revival in this land for many years. This just makes me weep. The Lord even blessed me with a song about it. Amen , come Lord Jesus let your spirit fall afresh on us.

  15. I have been praying for our leaders and pastors and missionaries, I asked my bible study to join me several months ago, I believe God is beginning to open His peoples hearts, To God be the Glory.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Asbury Collegian is an Asbury University publication. The paper is staffed entirely by Asbury students who seek to write on topics of interest to the University and the surrounding community.