The Asbury Effect: revival reaching secular campuses

Asbury University in Kentucky is considered the epicenter of this revival, which is spreading to churches, schools and colleges across the country. Even at some secular institutions, a growing number of students are meeting for worship gatherings.

The pastor of the Baptist campus ministry at Western Kentucky University said that these gatherings are connected to the Asbury revival. A worship gathering also took place recently at Ohio State University, drawing around 200 people. Although that event wasn’t directly connected to the Asbury revival, students from both universities were inspired to worship and pray by attending the services at Asbury.

This wave of revival is leading to a renewal of worship on secular campuses, where students are hungry for a move of God.

Pete Greig, the founder of the prayer movement 24-7 Prayer, commented on these events in an Instagram post and describes them as “The Asbury Effect.” He compares the rise in spiritual awakenings in the wake of the “Asbury Revival” to making popcorn. A temperature difference of 10°, he says, decides whether 34% or 96% of the kernels “pop.”

The spiritual temperature seems to be rising and things are starting to explode, because people everywhere, especially students, are hearing about Asbury and seeking God’s face in prayer with new expectation. (Pete Greig, paraphrased)

Students in Orlando and in Manchester, England, confessed their sins one after another, and there are reports of many people in Europe and North America throwing themselves into prayer with a new hunger. Pete Greig has been watching what happens in the 24-7 prayer rooms for almost a quarter of a century, and he observes that the search for God is growing in intensity. This could be the beginning of something new.