“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).
Greetings in the Name of the Lord!
The word “revival” is in the air thanks to God’s faithful movement on the campuses of Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. On February 8th, a chapel service—usually lasting an hour—continued beyond its regularly scheduled time. It kept on going past the hour, throughout the day, into the evening, into the next day, and the next. Remarkably, this worship service has continued ever since. I write this in its tenth day and the 2023 Asbury revival has spread to over 22 other college campuses. People are showing up from as far away as Singapore and New Zealand to fill Hughes Auditorium and overflow rooms. Videos from the revival are going viral on social media, and the story of what God is doing at Asbury is receiving coverage everywhere from Christianity Today to NBC and Fox News.
Before coming to Christian Union Nova last year, I served the Asbury community through the office of Community Formation. I’d like to share a behind-the-scenes look at what potentially catalyzed Asbury's revival. First, there were (and still are) the daily 5 a.m. student-led prayer services initiated by a student from Korea who believes God is honored by our giving Him the first hour(s) of our day. Secondly, there is a regular student-organized Friday afternoon prayer devoted to calling for revival. Thirdly, a devoted man of God named Hong walked the streets of Wilmore daily—rain or shine—wearing a sandwich board on which he’d written the words, “Pray for revival.”
The first steps of revival always involve fervent prayer. That’s why Christian Union Nova believes so strongly in the power of prayer. It’s the opening move for Christians when the Spirit prompts a deep longing in our hearts for repentance and for revival in the land.
The students at Nova have deep hunger in their hearts for God. Beginning at January’s Ski Safari, our Winter retreat in the Adirondacks of upstate New York, students organized a daily hour of prayer before scheduled events. Since returning to Princeton, students have continued to meet every morning for prayer before classes and on weekends. Students attend 12:1 Prayer, Nova’s daily noontime prayer we relaunched last Fall. Christian students are also participating in an inter-fellowship prayer that meets on Friday afternoons.
We need theological language to describe what’s stirring, or more to the point, Who’s stirring the hearts of young Christians so profoundly on college and university campuses. A rich, tangible movement of God is the very thing Christian Union—including partners like you—pray and labor for every day. Would you continue to pray for a mighty movement of God here at Princeton? As He has done in the past, may He do it again in our time.
In Christ,
Dr. Chris Coppernoll
Ministry Director
Christian Union Nova
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Princeton, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
