Between Feb. 8 and Feb. 23, the town of Wilmore, Kentucky, hosted an estimated 50,000 people from all over the nation who were attracted to spontaneous, ongoing worship (revival) led by young adults at Asbury University. Many Holston Conference members celebrated the gathering on social media, and media including the New York Times and Washington Post reported on it. This is the Rev. Drew McCallie’s response, appearing Feb. 19 on Facebook.
HIXSON, Tenn. -- The Asbury revival has garnered the attention of many. Though I think these kinds of experiences are important and powerful (I discerned my own call to ministry in a revival setting after all), I’m personally just more excited about what’s happening in my local church and other local churches.
I’m excited to witness the Spirit moving at Hixson United Methodist Church. I’ve administered the Sacrament of Holy Baptism almost every week in 2023. Adults and students have been professing their faith in Christ for the first time. Others have made significant decisions to recommit their lives.
Worship has been robust and lively. Saints who have passed away have been celebrated and honored. The church has served hundreds of children each week whose families struggle with food insecurity.
Homeless persons have come by the church because they know food, hygiene products, and a kind staff member will assist. Sunday School classes are meeting and living faith together. Soon, tens of thousands of meals will be packaged and distributed by the church and the community through Rise Against Hunger. And there’s a lot more to say!
I write this to say: Maybe this revival at Asbury University is a reminder to see with new eyes. Maybe revival isn’t isolated to a college campus auditorium. Maybe revival is happening in our local churches right now … if we only have the eyes to see and ears to hear.
HIXSON, Tenn. -- The Asbury revival has garnered the attention of many. Though I think these kinds of experiences are important and powerful (I discerned my own call to ministry in a revival setting after all), I’m personally just more excited about what’s happening in my local church and other local churches.
I’m excited to witness the Spirit moving at Hixson United Methodist Church. I’ve administered the Sacrament of Holy Baptism almost every week in 2023. Adults and students have been professing their faith in Christ for the first time. Others have made significant decisions to recommit their lives.
Worship has been robust and lively. Saints who have passed away have been celebrated and honored. The church has served hundreds of children each week whose families struggle with food insecurity.
Homeless persons have come by the church because they know food, hygiene products, and a kind staff member will assist. Sunday School classes are meeting and living faith together. Soon, tens of thousands of meals will be packaged and distributed by the church and the community through Rise Against Hunger. And there’s a lot more to say!
I write this to say: Maybe this revival at Asbury University is a reminder to see with new eyes. Maybe revival isn’t isolated to a college campus auditorium. Maybe revival is happening in our local churches right now … if we only have the eyes to see and ears to hear.
Author
Drew McCallie
The Rev. Drew McCallie is associate pastor at Hixson United Methodist Church in Hixson, Tennessee.