A Week of Remembering the Outpouring

It’s hard to imagine one year has passed since God poured out overwhelming love on Asbury’s campus during the Outpouring in Feb. 2023. The Asbury community gathered during multiple events in the week of Feb. 5, 2024, to remember and celebrate the work He did then and continues to do now.

Hughes Auditorium rang with worship during a special Chapel on Wednesday, Feb. 7, and a community service on Thursday night to honor those who have supported Asbury through prayer, volunteering, and discipling students during and since the Outpouring. The following evening, Worship Him at Midnight (WHAM)/Gen Z worship facilitated a space where students shared their personal testimonies and gathered in prayer for the next generation’s spiritual climate, while reminiscing on how the event influenced the faith journey of Asburians.

In the year since the miraculous 16-day move of God, Asbury has watched in awe how God has made himself known to the campus community and many others around the world. Many witnesses traveled to testify on the University’s spiritual transformation.

“A year ago, God generously poured out His power, presence, kindness, and gentleness, which captivated a generation and a lot of Christian leaders who needed hope,” said Asbury Pastor in Residence Zach Meerkreebs. “In Galatians 6:9, it says ‘Don’t grow weary for doing good, for in due time you will reap what you sow.’ I think the Outpouring was an encouragement for those who were weary, getting to experience the reaping for those 16 days and even now.”

In January, Meerkreebs spoke to 55,000 college students at Passion Conference in Atlanta, Ga., an annual conference with a purpose to unite college students from around the nation for a spiritual awakening. It was one of many trips made around the nation and the world by members of Asbury’s community in the last year.

“We were so humbled to be a part of Passion, and both share about the Outpouring and plead for these students to contend for more!” said Meerkreebs. “The team there was humble, hungry, and so moved by what they saw and learned from Asbury.”

Tens of thousands of people in audiences have heard the Gospel and stories of the Outpouring from Asbury witness teams. A recent group shared at Mission Connexion in Portland, Ore., addressing intercessory prayer and revival, while other students congregated at nationwide churches, conferences, and universities to tell their stories.

Elena Overman ’25, pictured above, second from right, served on church witness teams and discussed how the opportunity to testify a year later impacts her faith journey.
“Having the opportunity to speak about the impact of the Outpouring a year later was honestly extremely cathartic,” she said. “A lot can happen in a year, and I am endlessly grateful for the work that God has done in my life. Getting to share about His mercy and grace has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

Jeremy Simmons ’18, Asbury’s coordinator of academic marketing, shares how the Outpouring led him to create artwork out of experiencing the power of God’s presence.

“Jesus met me and so many other people in Hughes last February. On the second day of the Outpouring, I had a vision of multitudes gathering on the steps of Hughes with the ‘fire’ spreading out onto the sidewalks and around the globe,” said Simmons. “My mind was blown as I witnessed thousands coming here to experience God in a deeper way. I tried to capture what the Holy Spirit burned on my heart through painting.”

Throughout the remembrance week in February, Office of Spiritual Life also hosted a workshop “How to Share your Story,” which gave students pointers on how to break down the life-changing events of the Outpouring and communicate it with utmost care and authenticity, giving more Asburians confidence to go out and share the Good News.