Asbury Revival
Asbury University has been known through the years for its history of great revivals. There have been several occasions when significant moves of the Holy Spirit have swept the campus and reached across the nation.
In February 1905, during a blizzard, a prayer meeting in the men’s dormitory spilled out to the rest of campus and the town of Wilmore.
In February 1908, revival broke out while someone prayed in chapel; the revival lasted two weeks and was signified by prevailing prayer and intercession.
In February 1921 the last service of a planned revival lasted until 6 a.m., and services were extended for three days.
In February 1950 a student testimony led to confessions, victories, and more testimonies. This went on uninterrupted for 118 hours and became the second leading news story nationwide; it is estimated that 50,000 people found a new experience in Christ as a result of this revival and witness teams that went out from it.
In March 1958 revival began in a student fasting prayer meeting that spilled over into chapel and lasted for 63 hours.
On February 3, 1970 Dean Custer B. Reynolds, scheduled to speak in chapel, felt led to invite persons to give personal testimony instead. Many on campus had been praying for spiritual renewal and were now in an expectant mood. Soon there was a large group waiting in line to speak. A spirit of powerful revival came upon the congregation. The chapel was filled with rejoicing people. Classes were cancelled for a week during the 144 hours of unbroken revival, but even after classes resumed on February 10, Hughes Auditorium was left open for prayer and testimony. These sessions were presided over by Reynolds, Clarence Hunter and other faculty. Some 2,000 witness teams went out from Wilmore to churches and at least 130 college campuses around the nation.
In March 1992 a student confession during the closing chapel of the annual Holiness Conference turned into 127 consecutive hours of prayer and praise.
In February 2006 a student chapel led to four days of continuous worship, prayer and praise.
Archives Materials Related to Revivals:
- When God Comes (video)
- A Revival Account: Asbury 1970 (video)
- One Divine Moment, by Robert Coleman
- Asbury College: Vision and Miracle, by Joseph A. Thacker, Jr.
- God’s People Revived: An Account of the Spontaneous Revival at Asbury College in February 1950, by Henry C. James
- Memories of Asbury Revival of 1950, by Marion L. Walker (ed.)
- Revival Fire, by Wesley Duewel
- News accounts in Asbury’s student newspaper, The Collegian
Article written by Matt Kinnell
References:
- Revival Fire, by Wesley Duewel
- The Collegian Asbury College student newspaper
- Asbury College: Vision and Miracle, by Joseph A. Thacker, Jr.