A 24-hour worship service that has been held at Asbury University since the beginning of February is coming to a close after thousands of attendees flocked to the small town of Wilmore, Kentucky.
Asbury University student and Turning Point USA hub president Hayley Anderson spoke with Fox News about the reasons that students have been gathering to worship together at the little school in the small town. “We’re desperate for truth,” she said, noting that Gen Zers are “desperate to find meaning and find purpose.”
According to Fox News, school officials have stated that the rapid influx of tens of thousands of participants from across the country has caused logistical issues for the town of nearly 6,000 people.
“We had authorities that had to redirect traffic away from Wilmore. Our town’s institutions and our town’s infrastructure is just not in a place to absorb the influx of the blessed guests that we have had,” said Asbury University President Kevin Brown, according to Religion News Service.
“Wilmore is a small city for sure,” she said. “So it’s been, I think, a little bit of a challenge trying to figure out how to manage the immense amount of crowds here. But it’s honestly a beautiful picture of I think, what God has been doing just bringing thousands and thousands of people from all across the nation and all over the world here. So it’s been very cool to see,” said Anderson.
“You know, I think the reason that I stayed is because I could just tell there was something bigger going on than just a worship service or an emotional high,” said Anderson, addressing the the hashtag “Asbury revival” which has received 77.9 million views.
“You look around and you just see all of these different students together from different backgrounds, different political backgrounds, and from different countries and they’re all together worshiping God. And I think what’s so special about this is it’s the story about how God has met students where they’re at and, you know, thousands of people are coming from everywhere, and I think it’s because we are so desperate for God’s presence.
“And I think it’s because especially as Gen Zers, we’re desperate for truth. We’re desperate to find meaning and find purpose and when society’s telling us that we can just follow our own truth or follow my truth and your truth, it’s just not doing it, and I think that’s why so many people are coming because this has just shown that Jesus is the truth and he’s the only truth.”
Anderson said that she grew up in a Christian household, but has “never experienced anything like this.”
“It’s an immense amount of peace, and it’s refreshing. And I also think that it just shows God’s power and His glory.”
The ongoing service began on February 8, after a group of students stayed to continue praying. Throughout the day, word spread across campus that there were still students in Hughes Auditorium. Word continued to spread on social media, prompting thousands from across the country to travel to the small private Christian university.
According to Religion News Service, Monday was the last day of the revival services being open to the public. On Tuesday and Wednesday, only those 25 and younger would be allowed inside for 7:30 pm services. Those who aren’t allowed to attend can watch the services through a livestream.
The services in Hughes will come to an end on Thursday, National Collegiate Day of Prayer, with an 8 pm service for those 25 and younger.
“This is unprecedented for our university,” said Mark Whitworth, Asbury’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics and university communications. “It is obvious that God’s hand is on this; we’ve seen that in just how he’s met our needs spiritually and even logistically” he added, pointing to the state police and deputies from sheriff’s departments from neighboring counties who came to assist the overwhelmed Wilmore police force.
Brown said that out of respect for those still traveling to Kentucky, continued services would be held at other venues across Central Kentucky, though dates have not been announced.
The revival seen at Asbury has spread to other collages, including Samford University in Alabama, Lee University in Tennessee, and Ohio’s Cedarville University.