Good morning. It is not difficult to find bad news. It seems that everywhere we turn the news is bad. It can be discouraging, even depressing to have our spirits lowered every time we read, or watch something that tells us more about what is happening in our community, country, or the world. I can’t fix that, I can’t even suggest that I could provide sufficient balance to offset the weight of despair rained down on us in every form of media.
However, I found some news that can only be considered “good”. The story is about an event that was never supposed to become what it turned into. But I think that the story tells us something about the heart and interests of many people in our country today, and it is good news.
It all started about two weeks ago at a small, Christian school, Asbury University, in Wilmore, Kentucky. Leaders at the school decided that the predominance of bad news was crippling the hearts and minds of people, including their own faculty and student body. Their remedy was to hold a weeklong emphasis on prayer, and focus on God’s power at their school chapel. At the Wednesday chapel service two weeks ago, the students were so wrapped up in the power of prayer and the words of hope and encouragement that were being shared that they didn’t want the service to end, so they were given permission to keep it going. It went on into the next day, and then the word got out.
The next thing they knew, people were talking about “the revival happening” at Asbury college. People from outside the faculty and student body began to show up, and they too joined in the prayer and praise service. The word spread. People from farther away began to show up to join the revival, and the word spread.
The worship service that wouldn’t end is now being drawn to a close. Not because they have run out of interested people, the exact opposite is true. The community of Wilmore, KY is less than 6,000, and before anyone knew what was happening the number of visitors grew to over 50,000. There aren’t enough beds. There isn’t enough food. There aren’t enough toilets!
The following is a scripture that was read during the revival. It is from Isaiah 57:14-16
And it shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
and the breath of life that I made.
It was stirring tosee and hear some of the interviews of people who had come from a distance to join in the worship. Their stories were quite similar, that the presence and power of the Holy Spirit was undeniable, and quite wonderful.
What might we learn from this? Yes, we are up to our necks in bad news. BUT…many people in this country are ready for a revival!
May we all consider whether this is the time for revival in our churches, in our communities, in our own hearts!
Vern