Is the Asbury Revival real? Absolutely, and it’s spreading to hundreds of other colleges, says former university president

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – More than a month after a dramatic and exciting revival broke out on the campus of a small Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky, severe criticism is widespread.

Across the internet, I’m seeing articles and videos by people who haven’t traveled to Asbury University, haven’t seen what’s happening there for themselves, yet are fully of cynicism and snarky attacks.

So, is what’s been called the “Asbury Revival” real?

Are students truly humbling themselves before God, repenting of their sins, pleading with the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive and heal them, and pleading with the Lord to purify and revive their spiritual lives and use them to glorify Him, both on their own campus and across the country and the world?

Or is the whole thing “fake news,” an artificial creation of a Christian institution most people have never heard of, and the product of media spin, Christian or otherwise?

ALL ISRAEL NEWS has been covering the events at Asbury University from the beginning.

• Our first report was published on Feb. 15.

• Our first eyewitness report was published on Feb. 16.

• We published another report on Feb. 20.

• On Feb. 19, we published an interview with the pastor of one of the largest church congregations in Israel who happened to be on the campus and could give us an eyewitness report. As you can see in our full interview – posted on YouTube – Pastor Wayne Hilsden told us he believes the revival is genuine and truly the work of God.

• On Feb. 23, we published yet another report, putting the revival in the context of the JESUS REVOLUTION movie that was just released nationwide, and has currently sold more than $30 million worth of tickets.

Now that a few more weeks have gone by – and word of the impact of the revival is spreading, as is the criticism – I wanted to talk to another credible eyewitness.

Dr. Sandra Gray is the former president of Asbury University.

She lives in Wilmore.

She has seen with her own eyes what has been happening in the Hughes Auditorium – and across the Asbury undergraduate campus – and on the campus of Asbury Seminary, located across the street.

What’s more, Dr. Gray is well versed in the history of other revivals that have broken out on the Asbury campus.

The most famous one occurred in 1970, at the dawn of what became known as the “Jesus Revolution.”

Others have occurred in 1950 and at the dawn of the 20th century.

I first met Dr. Gray when she invited me to speak at the Hughes chapel, meet with students and faculty, and tour the Asbury campus several years ago, before the COVID pandemic.

Yesterday, from my home in Jerusalem, I spoke with Dr. Gray by Zoom to ask her what she is seeing and how she is responding to the widespread criticism.

It was a wonderful conversation and I hope that you find it helpful and encouraging.

Most striking to me: Dr. Gray says the revival is spreading and that she’s hearing about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on hundreds of college campuses across the United States.

Could it spread even farther?

What are the implications for the United States?

And could God be preparing for something even greater, something that would have worldwide impact, including here in Israel?

Please watch the full conversation – share it with others – and pray for the Lord to keep moving more powerfully than ever.