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Statement from Asbury President Dr. Kevin Brown

Tuesday, February 21, 10:20 p.m.

What is Happening?

On February 8, 2023, Asbury University’s regularly scheduled chapel service never ended. What we have experienced since that Wednesday morning has been a current of immeasurable goodness flooding our community and quickly moving into other regions of the world. Words fail any effort to communicate the abundance of experiences and stories that will leave us forever changed.

Thursday, February 23, will mark the end of this historic multi-week gathering at Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary with the National Collegiate Day of Prayer broadcast hosted on our campus.

I find it fitting that what started with college students on our campus is ending with college students joined in prayer and worship across the country.

“Stopping” Revival?

I have been asked if Asbury is “stopping” this outpouring of God’s Spirit and the stirring of human hearts. I have responded by pointing out that we cannot stop something we did not start. This was never planned. Over the last few weeks, we have been honored to steward and host services and the guests who have traveled far and wide to attend them. The trajectory of renewal meetings is always outward—and that is beginning to occur. We continue to hear inspiring stories of hungry hearts setting aside daily routines and seeking Christ at schools, churches, and communities in the US and abroad.

The effort by committed men and women on our campus to redirect energy, forsake other obligations, work tirelessly around the clock, and provide single-minded labor to accommodate our students and incoming visitors has been the high point in my career. In fact, it may be the most extraordinary act of collective Godliness and hospitable goodwill I have ever witnessed in my life. I am forever grateful. I am forever changed.

What’s Next?

Regardless of how we choose to describe what we have seen and experienced over the last several weeks (revival, renewal, awakening, outpouring)—this movement is not finished. Other colleges and churches are experiencing similar services. Rather, we are encouraging the continued movement of God through other people, places, and ministries. The first step in all the renewing work of God is prayer, which we want to encourage with this brief resource, “Sowing for a Great Awakening,” available below on this page.

At Asbury University, we are excited to think carefully about how we process and steward this experience with our students. We want to capture their voices. We want to walk with them in continual discipleship. We want to commission them to be “salt and light” to serve the world and glorify God.

Schedule Change

Updated Tuesday, February 21, 11 a.m.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, February 21-22, the Outpouring services in Hughes Auditorium are reserved for participants 16-25 years old. However, a public live stream remains available during these services. If necessary, there will be a live simulcast for the general public in Estes Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary during these service times. There will be no morning or afternoon services.

On Thursday, February 23, we welcome the previously-scheduled National Collegiate Day of Prayer to campus. See below for Thursday’s schedule; live stream will be available at this link: collegiatedayofprayer.org/live.

Beginning Friday, February 24, no further public Outpouring services will be held on Asbury’s campus. Regularly scheduled chapel services are live streamed on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays at 10 a.m. EST during the semester.

Asbury University is humbled by how God is working. Please continue to pray, worship, and share the Gospel in your communities around the world.

Live Stream

Watch National Collegiate Day of Prayer Live Stream

Click here to view live stream archive.

Discipleship Resources

As we move forward in discipling our students, this page will be updated with resources to support prayer, worship, and discipleship.

“Sowing for a Great Awakening”

Schedule

(Updated Tuesday, February 21, 11 a.m.)

Note: We recognize the need to adjust this plan at any time. Our intention is that any adjustment, should it be necessary, would be in our students’ favor. All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Thursday, February 23 (National Collegiate Day of Prayer)

Only high schoolers and young adults 16–25 will be allowed in Hughes Auditorium from 8–10 p.m. EST. A live stream will be available here: collegiatedayofprayer.org/live

There will be no public Outpouring services on Asbury’s campus on Thursday and following.

Beginning Friday, February 24

As part of Asbury’s intention of encouraging and commissioning others to “go out” and share what they have experienced, we encourage guests to utilize other facilities for worship and gathering.

Outpouring Information

Since February 8, 2023, Asbury University students along with faculty, staff, administrators, local community members, and visitors from out-of-town have been gathering in Hughes Auditorium for a time of spiritual renewal. The Lord is at work as radical compassion, confession, change and transformation are taking place.

• Guidelines: click here
• Prayer requests: email prayer@asbury.edu
• Questions on how to volunteer or logistics: email outpouring@asbury.edu
• Young adult prayer hub: click here
• Asbury University Chapel services are live-streamed each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10–10:50 a.m. EST. Watch here.
• Media requests: email press@asbury.edu

Guidelines

• Seating is limited in Hughes Auditorium, and there is a wait time to be seated. Be prepared to stand outside, potentially for a significant amount of time.
• We ask that you do not livestream or broadcast anything from indoors, out of respect for others and what God is doing here.
• The only guest bags allowed in Hughes Auditorium will be diaper bags, medical bags, or clutch wallet. All bags will be searched.
• No flash photography inside Hughes Auditorium.

Statement from Asbury University President, Dr. Kevin J. Brown

At the completion of a regularly scheduled chapel service on February 8, 2023, at Asbury University, students lingered to pray, worship, and share. They have not stopped and, moreover, have been joined far and wide by hungry men and women across the world who desire to seek the Lord in this space. Since the first day, there have been countless expressions and demonstrations of radical humility, compassion, confession, consecration, and surrender unto the Lord. We are witnessing the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We continue to seek to discern the right balance between orderliness for our university students, faculty, and staff and our campus visitors—and creating space for individuals to have a life-transforming, Christ-centered encounter.

We are also tremendously thankful for the men and women who have worked so hard and diligently to create space for this special move of God. Hosting such a significant moment comes with a cost—and the goodwill and humility of our community has been inspiring. Finally, we cannot fully express the profound gratitude we have for stewarding this outpouring in the life of our school and beyond. Ultimately, we pray that our efforts in these days point to our Savior.

— Kevin J. Brown, Ph.D.
President, Asbury University

The Abide Prayer Hub—For Young Adults

College-age students, there is a space reserved for you to take a deep breath and relax. A team will be available throughout the day/night for prayer, reflection, deeper conversation, inter-collegiate connection, and processing for any young adult. Snacks and coffee are available for you.

The location is the Luce Auditorium in the Shaw CLC Building at the center of campus. Ushers can direct you. The space closes at 1 a.m.