5 Hours in Asbury

“Look at the nations and watch-and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”  Habakkuk 1:5

Wilmore, KY is about as “fly over” as it gets with a population of 6,067 as of 2021 according to the information I pulled up on the internet. Before the past 3 weeks, the only line I could draw to the Asbury University and town was that a classmate I went to high school with attended and graduated. No bright lights, no detectable social media influencers, no constant cameras, and runways. Then on February 8th, as one prominent national news caster would describe, “a young boy stood up during the Chapel service, started talking about his own flaws and something changed in the atmosphere, and it never ended.” If you’ve had any experience with how God does things, this makes perfect sense.

Most, if not all, now know where Asbury University is.

Cindi and I talked about going early on as we watched commentaries, live streams, analysis and of course, way too many opinions. A sign of the age I suppose. Then, last Monday, February 20th, I needed to drop off materials to a work client in Louisville, KY that put us an hour and 20mins from Lexington, 10 mins from Wilmore.

We were excited as we arrived at the main campus around roughly 9:30 am (for what would be a pm event) on Tuesday the 21st. What we found was a line small enough that we could walk right up to the fencing that had been erected. As we greeted and talked to those that were there with us, staff from inside the auditorium informed us that the public services planned for the day were cancelled and that the night service for students could only be observed at 7pm by way of a simulcast in one of the nearby buildings. Perhaps that should have disappointed us, and in the moment maybe it did, but we would find that didn’t matter.

After all, when God wants to move, nothing can stop him.

A pastor and his wife from India had approached us along with some staff. They had just arrived the night before from London, UK. As we talked to them about our trip there last summer it was declared that revival had started in the UK. The pastor fell to his knees, raised his arms, thanked God, and began to weep.

As we started to bless and pray for one another, more joined our circle, a young man of 19 from Florida, and his friend from Georgia. Cindi ministered with others to a young couple who had driven up the night before from New Jersey. The crowd outside the auditorium grew, ministry was happening suddenly everywhere outside. A youth pastor, 19 from Atlanta started to exhort a large circle of believers, declaring freedom to captives, healing, and prayers for infilling of the Holy Spirit. Another started to read scripture aloud. Others sat with Bibles open against trees, some just stood silently, worshipping. Spontaneous worship broke out all afternoon. Words and declarations came forth with authority, no searching for words or stammering.

There was no confusion, no egos, no agendas, no judgement, no resentment. As one pastor from Louisville, KY commented, it is the body of Christ, the love was overwhelming. There was Unity. All races, rich and poor, young, and old, professors, students, educated or not, different nationalities and backgrounds were together, it didn’t matter.

People had come to meet with and experience the living God. We felt we were attending the perfect wedding feast. One that affirms how He wants us to live.

Someone asked if I had gotten what I came for. For me, our experience at Asbury was a powerful reminder that our walk with God is a supernatural one where nothing is impossible, and I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

I’ve heard it asked when the Revival will start? It already has.

When we are humble and unite, something changes in the atmosphere.

The outpouring has already begun.

It will spread.