‘Asbury revival’ grabs national attention

A campus worship service has continued into a 10th day at Asbury University, which is drawing national attention for what some observers are calling the beginning of a revival.

Thousands of people have visited the Wilmore, Kentucky, campus chapel to join the nearly round-the-clock gathering that began on Feb. 8.

“In the morning it grows [and] at night it’s absolutely packed—you can’t get in,” said Bill Elliff, an Arkansas pastor who spoke to Gainesville radio host Mike Gilland about what he saw at Asbury. “They’ve opened up an additional auditorium at a seminary right across the street… No one wants to leave.”

The final scheduled public evening service will take place 7:30 p.m. on Sunday after Asbury President Kevin Brown on Friday set a new schedule for the ongoing worship services.

Beginning Monday, evening services in the Hughes Auditorium will be reserved for high school students and young adults under age 25. The last afternoon public service on campus will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday and other, off-campus locations will host services beginning Friday, Feb. 24. 

Asbury faculty said they are working to increase security, prayer and ministry support, event management, and overall logistical planning.

Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief group, is providing the school with 10 additional officers to serve on campus this week, according to Kentucky Today. Members of the public have been asked to participate in chapel services by watching the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday live-streams. 

This story originally appeared in WORLD. © 2023, reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

—With reporting from Mainstreet Daily News