My time at Asbury Revival 2023
I just returned from one of my favorite towns, Wilmore, Kentucky, after spending the day at what people are calling a revival.
If you haven’t heard about it- on Wednesday, February 8th, at the Asbury University chapel, Zach Meerkreebs spoke and offered an extended time to pray after service. Around 15 students stayed to pray, which led to 50… and now thousands of people are gathering each day to praise and worship God.
If you watch Zach’s message, it isn’t anything super out of the ordinary. Don’t get me wrong, Zach is an amazing speaker, but if you watch the message it isn’t showy, heightened, or pushy. It was meaningful, sincere, and convicting. Zach simply called people to experience God’s love. As chapel ended, it seemed to be an average Wednesday. But God was up to something.
The 15 students worshiping for a prolonged period has led to over 4 days of worship and prayer by thousands of people. This includes Asbury University and Asbury Seminary students, local KY residents, and hundreds of people from different college campuses and states across the US. There have even been breakouts of revival at colleges in Ohio and other states. At this moment, we are still in the middle of it! I don’t know if anyone is sure where it is going to go, but I think that is kinda the nature of revival. It’s led by the Holy Spirit, and really only the Holy Spirit knows where it is going.
MY EXPERIENCE:
On Thursday, as I was scrolling through Facebook, I saw that “revival has broken out at Asbury”. I am one who is generally pretty skeptical of large movements. But David and I know Zach personally, and when we heard that he was the one who spoke on Wednesday we were like - “yeah, that tracks”. If you don’t know Zach, he is a humble leader who gives ministry away and truly equips others to experience Christ and step into their God given gifts. We were part of a church plant with him, and he is legit.
All that to say, on Thursday we felt nudged to go. I am always up for some extra worship time, so when a friend offered to drive a van down there- we jumped on board.
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When we got to Asbury, dozens of people were walking up to Hughes and you could kind of gather that there was something cool going on. Even a guy in a car we passed was like, dancing and waving. It felt like there was a weird, excited, unspoken unity. We all knew why we were here. Everyone was gathering together, excited to worship.
So when I walked in the building I thought I might feel a hit of a wall, or see a cloud - but I didn’t. I walked in, and there was a warm familial feeling, but nothing overwhelming. We walked in, found some seats, and just jumped in. Praying and singing. Throughout the day there was worship pretty consistently going on, and loads of prayer. Everywhere. The daytime hours held times of testimony and scripture readings. Other than those couple of times, it really was just worship and prayer. People were spread out, and there wasn’t a focus on any particular individual. Worship continued into the evening, where we did hear a message from several leaders, but non of which really introduced themselves or made it about them at all. Instead almost every speaker clarified that this wasn’t magic. It wasn’t about a specific person. It was God that was leading it. We had intentional prayer time for the local church and pastors. We took communion together. We had more time for worship and for prayer. For salvation, for deepening of faith, and for healing.
As the evening started, the room filled. There was standing room only. People literally lined every wall. The lobby was packed. They ended up opening the doors to the sound booth so people could see, and then put speakers in the lobby so people could hear. I said it felt like what I imagine the sermon on the mount might have felt like. People sat on the stage, they knelt by the altar, they stood in the wings - anything they could do to be part of it and worship. It was literally busting at the seams.
So we stayed and participated - until late into the evening. Even as we left, our whole van agreed that there was this feeling that we didn’t want to leave. But we packed back in the van (because David had to preach the next morning) and headed back to Indiana. I’ve now had a little time to reflect and wanted to share some of the things I experienced:
WHAT I SAW:
With everyone talking about is it revival - I wanted to just share things that I noticed and stood out:
Unity
I think a distinct element of the evening was the feeling of unity between baby boomers, millennials, gen z, and the like. Everyone was together, and rather than small comments or grumpy looks that I think we often experience in church together - everyone just was on the same team. Overall, everyone just seemed in one accord. In a season where it feels like no one can agree on anything - there was a supernatural unity in the body of Christ. We all had grace, we all were rooting for each other, and we were all pursuing Christ.
Simplicity
Something that struck me is that we didn’t have any slides, fancy lights, or really any performance elements. In church contexts, it seems like we are always trying to be “relevant”. Trying to find a room design that is trendy, finding the perfect lighting and right songs. But throughout my 12 hours at Asbury- there were no fancy lights. There was no fog machine. There were literally no lyrics or screens. There were actually a number of technology glitches in microphones. In the absence of technology and performance, there was Holy Spirit led simplicity and humility. It was some of the most passionate, and I would say authentic, worship I have experienced in over 5 years. This is something I hope to continue to chew on. What does spirt-led worship require? The right lyrics? The perfect AV? I think it simply needs a willing heart and a powerful God.
Leadership
An interesting note was that there wasn’t a super clear and defined leader. Most of the people that came up to speak didn’t even really say who they were. They just would give “housekeeping notes”, or give a word. It wasn’t about titles. I find this to be something pretty rare. Especially in the higher education realm that Asbury University and Seminary exist in. Even Zach’s role was significantly different than normal leadership I’ve seen. No one is really talking about him, and I think that is kind of the coolest part. That it isn’t about a certain individual, or leader. It is solely led by the Holy Spirit.
A side note - I think it is interesting that the revival stemmed out of the University. Sometimes I feel like, at the seminary, there can be a lot of language surrounding titles and knowledge. Higher education, overall can be a bit more of a whos-who culture, where the acronym before or after your name matters. I think it is God’s sense of humor that revival started out of the place of simplicity. Don’t get me wrong- the seminary is amazing. I would recommend going there in a heartbeat. But, it just has been interesting to note that a reoccuring theme is an absence of a focus on your resume or credentials but instead who God says you are.
Focus
Throughout the hours there, especially during preaching times, there were several moments where the room was silent. Attentively listening and in the moment. Of course there were children who might say something, but overall - in a culture where attention is so difficult to keep - I was kind of awestruck at how a group of 2,500 people could sit almost silently, completely focused on a message or testimony. For hours. At most any time throughout the day, and especially the evening, there were maybe 10 people filming on their phones, and maybe 4 that I could see using their phones. But if you think out of 2,500… that is a pretty amazing ratio. That was something that I don’t experience a lot, and I would say is supernatural. A raw and earnest desire to worship and focus on Christ.
A movement
I described the experience like the feeling a train. That the Holy Spirit was there and moving, but it didn’t need me to keep going. I think sometimes in charismatic movements, it can be tempting to feel like you have to force tongues. To force passion. To force the spirit. But this felt like it didn’t need people to elevate it. It was happening and you were just invited to join. It felt like it would continue on. Like a train that is moving along. It may not always be here in the same way like this, but that’s the beauty of it. We don’t change God. We don’t change His spirit. He doesn’t need us, but he wants us.
LOGISTICAL OBSERVATIONS:
Because I’m in ministry and a nerd, I just wanted to make a note of some ways that leadership fostered the time. I think these are great notes for movements of the spirit in your church!
Open Mic Night
They had several times of testimony and scripture reading, where anyone could come up and share. I always get pretty nervous for these kinds of things because it can go rogue so easily, but I thought they did it really well. They talked about it ahead of time and explained some of the expectations - that two people would hold a mic and that if you felt led to come up you should try to keep it relevant, short, and about God. They clarified that the leader holding the mic would put their hand on you if you needed cut off, or redirected. They then held the mics and people shared.
Meals
During meal times, someone would come up and say “Hey, go eat, we will reconvene at 7:00pm (or a certain time)”. Of course some people stayed in praying, but I just really liked that it pointed to the reality that you don’t have to be in the room. That you can experience revival in community at dinner as well, and come back together for awesome worship.
Housekeeping
Every now and then someone would come up and just clarify housekeeping - like fire codes, making room for others, and reminding everyone that this is about God, not our emotions. It was generally before someone spoke and would be pretty simple and to the point. I just think those moments really helped bring order in facilitating this powerful move of God.
Fostering the holy spirit
I think many of us have experienced charismatic movements which can sometimes lean into chaos and can frankly be almost scary. Don’t get me wrong, I personally strongly believe in spiritual gifts, but there can be a feeling of an “emotional high”. As we were coming in, I was very wary of this. But I think the simplicity of the worship, and the clarification over and over that this wasn’t a “magical place” really set the tone.
There was only one moment where things seemed to just get more chaotic spiritually (like more noise) was towards the end when everyone was praying. David and I described it as just a weird increase of unsettled-ness. and one of the speakers got up and asked everyone to be silent except those actively praying over another person. I could feel a stillness and peace brought back in this silence. I think this kind of reminder and pause was super intentional and spirit led. It helped bring peace to any kind of unsettling or movement that wasn’t of God.
SO, WHAT IS REVIVAL:
After returning, I have reflected a lot on what I think revival is. What made this different than worship nights I have attended? Now, I know I am not a theologian… so don’t come at me. These are just some of my thoughts about distinct elements of what is going on in Wilmore and why I think we can call it revival:
Awakening - I believe a key element to call something a revival is something is being revived. Yes, it was always there, but it is an awakening and a reminder. I think these college students have awakened and reminded us of something that has grown cold and distant. The living Spirit of God that is in each of us. I believe revivals awaken and revives something in us that points us back to the created order in which God created us and how we were meant to glorify Him.
Spirit Led - The reality is that in Wilmore, there isn’t really one leader (speaker or student) leading it. There are people involved and getting up to speak - but everyone keeps pointing out that it is God who is directing it. Which is kind of a beautiful rhythm we aren’t used to! I think revival is those moments where we are able to fully give God the steering wheel. It isn’t one speaker or student that leads a revival, but it is truly a movement led by the Holy Spirit.
Disruption - One of the things that kept being brought up was the idea that if you were there- it probably disrupted your schedule to some extent. I think the nature of revival is that it is a normal praise time, but it is out of normal schedule. It is disruptive. It uproots your normal schedule or expectations and reminds you of authentic worship.
Tangible unity - This is difficult to quantify, but what both David and I said is that it just was a group of people who loved to worship. Like, seriously love it. We haven’t seen this many young people and old people in a single room together worshiping in… well, years. I think the unique context felt like a taste of what heaven would look like. I think this passion and unified eagerness is a defining factor.
Numbers - I don’t think this is needed for revival, but I think this was a notable factor of this one. There was just something to the sheer bursting at the seams that made this feel so cool. I believe revival can be a small group, but I think there was something significant to the number of people who felt called to worship.
SHOULD I GO?
This is going to be a hot take, but I don’t know that there was anything necessarily special to Hughes auditorium this weekend. Don’t get me wrong - there is incredible and meaningful worship going on. But I think, the way others were speaking of it, that there was some level of expecting a one of a kind, supernatural, crazy encounter that you could only have in Wilmore, Kentucky- this weekend. I say this, because prior to going I was having a bit of FOMO myself. I was worried if I didn’t go, I would miss it.
What is going on in Wilmore is amazing. God is moving in the student body at Asbury University, and the community there. Thousands are gathering to praise God. It is an incredibly unique experience. It is moving, but I would challenge that it shouldn’t be out of the normal.
What is happening in Wilmore is something something that we can experience in our own lives, not just once every 50 years at a specific location. Authentic worship, filled with unity and one accord is how we were designed to worship. Revival like this can happen in your life and in your local community. Yes, you can go to Wilmore (and it is awesome), but I think revival is something more common than we actually discuss. I believe revival is a powerful out of the ordinary move of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of God’s people. Disrupting our normal routine, or expectations of weekly worship, and realigning our hearts to how worship was meant to be done. In a sincere and pure way, not led by a specific leader, but soley by the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Sure, these can be hard to come by- but I believe they are all around.
I have encountered worship that is just as sincere and Holy Spirit driven at my college worship nights, in small groups, and in friends homes. God is moving in Wilmore, but it isn’t something you have to go to right now or you will miss it. God is accessible everywhere. There isn’t anything specifically special about Hughes Auditorium, Wilmore, or even the University. God just is moving in a really large scale, and in a really specific way. And praise God that we have college students passionately pursuing you in that context!
FINAL THOUGHTS
The revival at Asbury is powerful. I think we tend to pray for third world countries, but the reality is that other countries are praying for this revival here in the United States. The US needs a revival. We need the next generation to help lead the way. And man, is it powerful when the Lord moves among them!
I’m praying that God will bring revival to my contexts. I’m praying he will revive your life. I pray he breaths a renewing life into our colleges, our churches, and our community.
If you get the chance to go to Wilmore- do it. I mean it it. The ‘23 Asbury Revival is a beautiful, huge, heaven-like worship time. Go, get prayed over, and encounter Christ. But be reassured, God isn’t done at Asbury. This is just the beginning of a cool new movement.
I pray that revival will continue to come.
For us and our contexts… it may not be this week. Which, may not be what you want to hear. However, I hope that you can rest in knowing that Asbury demonstrates that God is living and the Holy Spirit is on the move. Praise God for the work He is doing in Wilmore, and I’m excited what he continues to do in my life, and in yours!
