February 14, 2023
By: Dutch Sheets
The Asbury Revival
Many have contacted DSM asking if I’ve heard about the Asbury Revival and, if so, do I think it is the beginning of what I saw in a vision the week of 9/11/01. (I shared the vision on Flashpoint a couple of weeks ago.) I started hearing about this outpouring almost immediately, and I do believe it could be the beginning of what I saw.
I have been very excited about what I’m seeing and hearing in this revival: ongoing worship and passion for Christ led by the students; heartfelt contrition and repentance of sin; the obvious lingering presence of Holy Spirit; grassroots-led versus initiated and controlled by individuals; such hunger for His presence that classes are canceled - these characteristics all describe what I saw in the vision.
Many videos and first-hand reports are circulating online. People are beginning to travel from elsewhere to experience what is occurring at Asbury. As of yesterday, 22 colleges had sent groups of their students to the Asbury campus, believing for an impartation. The following report is from a seminary professor who visited the meeting:
“…two things stood out to me. First, there was a noticeable lack of tension in my body. I was completely relaxed. There was also a complete lack of mental tension or distraction. My mind was at utter peace. And I had only been there for ten minutes.
“The second thing I recall thinking is that I could sit here in this chair forever. The desire to linger indefinitely was quite unexpected. I had planned to pop in for a few minutes before returning to work. Suddenly, work was the farthest thing from my mind.
“I wound up staying for well over an hour. In the time that I was there, I could not get over certain distinctive qualities about the atmosphere. The words that came to mind were: gentle, sweet, peaceful, serene, tender, still. Some people were singing. Others were talking. Many were praying. But there was something like a blessed stillness permeating the place. No one was swinging from the chandeliers. [Extreme emotional manifestations] In fact, it was right the opposite. What made this so wild was just how un-wild the whole thing was ... is.
“…the peacefulness in that place is so palpable that [the first] ten minutes had made an impression that will last the remainder of my lifetime. (1)
This and other reports are incredibly encouraging. Jim Garlow shared these exciting first-hand reports from others:
"I'm in Hughes now. It's getting deeper and wider!’
“Another report: ‘More are arriving. WORSHIP!!’
“A third person: ‘There's an uproar coming from Hughes tonight. A TANGIBLE thickness is present, and there is a weight in the air. People keep pouring in.’
“Also, I was just told a busload of students from Indiana Wesleyan University is on the way. And was just told that the Asbury revival has now impacted campus number 2: Ohio Christian University.”(2)
There can be no doubt that this is a move of Holy Spirit. It seems there is a well of revival at Asbury which Holy Spirit keeps reopening. The following article shares some of Asbury’s revival history:
“Asbury University has been known through the years for its history of great revivals. There have been several occasions when significant moves of the Holy Spirit have swept the campus and reached across the nation.
“In February 1905, during a blizzard, a prayer meeting in the men’s dormitory spilled out to the rest of campus and the town of Wilmore.
“In February 1908, revival broke out while someone prayed in chapel; the revival lasted two weeks and was signified by prevailing prayer and intercession.
“In February 1921, the last service of a planned revival lasted until 6 a.m., and services were extended for three days.
“In February 1950, a student testimony led to confessions, victories, and more testimonies. This went on uninterrupted for 118 hours and became the second leading news story nationwide; it is estimated that 50,000 people found a new experience in Christ as a result of this revival and witness teams that went out from it.
“In March 1958, revival began in a student fasting prayer meeting that spilled over into chapel and lasted for 63 hours.
“On February 3, 1970, Dean Custer B. Reynolds, scheduled to speak in chapel, felt led to invite persons to give personal testimony instead. Many on campus had been praying for spiritual renewal and were now in an expectant mood. Soon there was a large group waiting in line to speak. A spirit of powerful revival came upon the congregation. The chapel was filled with rejoicing people. Classes were canceled for a week during the 144 hours of unbroken revival, but even after classes resumed on February 10, Hughes Auditorium was left open for prayer and testimony. These sessions were presided over by Reynolds, Clarence Hunter, and other faculty. Some 2,000 witness teams went out from Wilmore to churches and at least 130 college campuses around the nation.
“In March 1992, a student confession during the closing chapel of the annual Holiness Conference turned into 127 consecutive hours of prayer and praise.
“In February 2006, a student chapel led to four days of continuous worship, prayer, and praise.”(3)
Messiah Missions shares more details of the 1970 revival, which spread from there to the nation and nations:
“Intermittently, it continued for weeks. Ultimately, it spread across the United States and into foreign countries. Some say it is being felt even today…
“A bigger outbreak – a global revival, in fact – will begin soon, says David McKenna, president of adjacent Asbury Theological Seminary, in his new book, The Coming Great Awakening.
“The revival might not start at Asbury, but it probably will begin on campuses, says McKenna, a noted author. He travels to many colleges and says, ‘I see the signs wherever I go.’
“Those signs include a generation of students wounded by family breakdowns and searching for spiritual fulfillment.”(4)
And from my friend, Rick Curry, who carries a great passion and anointing for revival. He sent this during his visit to the Asbury campus.
“This revival is as a deep flowing river of humility, repentance, and brokenness. The services are filled with student-led worship and powerful testimony of God’s power at work in the lives of a young generation. Now, people are flooding into this quiet and otherwise sleepy little town. The students have led revival now nonstop since chapel last Wednesday (2/8/2023).
“I am listening now to testimonies of the fire of God transforming lives. A young female student who was full of fear and suicidal just had a radical encounter of the love of God setting her free. A young lady who came to the revival from Indiana testified she was standing on the outside wall of Hughes Auditorium, when a lady with a young girl ran towards her from the other side of the room. The young girl had a rare disease and her mom felt this lady was to pray for her. Turns out the lady is a doctor who specializes in that specific disease - and the daughter was completely healed.
“So much more, Dutch. It’s a very different atmosphere. Amazing.”(5)
Pray with me:
Father, we know You are planning big things. The Kingdom of Christ is ever-increasing (Isaiah 9:7), going from glory to glory and strength to strength. A part of these extraordinary efforts will involve young people around the world. You have no intention of leaving them without a true witness of who You really are. Since You work through our prayers, we ask for this.
Thank You for the outpouring at Asbury College, which is now bleeding into other colleges. God of revival, do it again! Open this well wider than it has ever been opened. Dig it deeper and connect it to the river that flows from You and Your throne (Revelation 22:1-2). This is a thirst-quenching river, a life-changing river, a nation-healing river.
And Father, cause this and other outpourings to expand to those who don’t yet know You. They’re thirsty for You, they just don’t know it. Rescue them from the demonic movements attempting to steal their futures, their destinies, their posterities. Deliver them with the greatest outpouring of Holy Spirit ever experienced on Earth. In the vision You gave me in 2001, the revival couldn’t be stopped. We agree with that now: it won’t be stopped!
Our decree:
We decree that God is coming to young people around the world with a SWEEPING revival that cannot be stopped.
Click on the link below to watch the full video.