Hillam Happenings by Sharon on Feb. 18, 2023
Update on my recent health situation and thoughts about the Asbury Awakening
Hello everyone,
In my previous newsletter (Hillam Happenings on Feb 3 - I Speak Jesus), I told you about my recent bout with vertigo. Now here it is two weeks later, and while I’m much improved, I’m still dealing with a few annoying symptoms (but not to the point that they keep me from walking!).
Yes, I’m serious about taking my daily walks — even when it’s 40° with a wind chill in the 30s.
The Asbury Awakening
Have you heard about the Asbury Awakening? Some call it a revival; others aren't so quick to call it that — at least not yet. And that's fair in this age of social media and how things can go viral quickly without accurately communicating the facts.
But from what David and I have seen via YouTube videos, including the live feed to the chapel where all of this is taking place, it's real.
Perhaps the best resource we've found to help us understand what happened (and is still happening!) is a blog post written by Timothy Tennent, the President of Asbury Theological Seminary, located across the street from the Asbury University campus. I encourage you to read it by clicking here.
Why am I calling this the Asbury Awakening rather than a revival, as most are referring to it? Because of this from Dr. Tennent:
Despite the endless coverage in social media and the regular media which is calling this a revival, I think it is wise to see this, at the current phase, as an awakening. Only if we see lasting transformation which shakes the comfortable foundations of the church and truly brings us all to a new and deeper place can we look back, in hindsight and say “yes, this has been a revival.” An awakening is where God begins to stir and awaken people up from their spiritual slumber. This is definitely happening not only in Wilmore, but as this move of God spreads to other schools and communities across the nation and even the world. There are many reports that this is what is happening. But, we must keep our hearts and eyes fixed on Jesus and ask for him to complete the work he has begun so that, over time, there is a lasting transformation in the lives of those who are being touched by God.
He goes on to talk about how the desire of leadership at Asbury is that all who are being awakened will go on to "live into transformed relationships" and "new patterns of life and worship."
In short, we must embrace what it means to really live as Christians in the midst of a church culture which has largely domesticated the gospel beyond recognition.
Oh, my! Did he ever nail it? I've become more and more aware of this very thing, that our current church culture — the old wineskin — is worn out and failing miserably in so many ways. Are we making disciples who are making disciples? In my whole-hearted opinion, NO! WE ARE NOT!
My prayer for these young people who are being touched by God in such a special way is: Father, please protect them from the wolves and those who, even in their sincerity, would take them away from the simplicity of the faith and love they have found in You. And may You send forth Your Spirit into more and more campuses all across our nation and the world. Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Holy Spirit! Do what ONLY YOU can do!
Let’s Start a Conversation
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. What do you think about what is happening at Asbury? Do you know anyone who has been there and experienced it for themselves? Have YOU ever been a part of a revival or something similar?
Do you have questions about what this all means? What do you think about what I said about our current church culture being an old wineskin that is worn out and failing miserably? Speak up! I'm listening.
You can leave a comment, which will be public on our Substack website. Or, if you've received this as an email, you can also simply reply, which will then be private — just between you and me (and David).
Thanks for reading — and have a great Saturday!
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My thoughts on the Asbury “Revival”. When I saw videos and heard about it, something did not sit right within me. I was very skeptical but hopeful. I asked God to reveal the truth and I knew the truth would come out eventually. I think probably some young people may have been transformed but its very difficult to determine what fruit came from it since it did come out that there were LGBTQ+ students leading praise and worship and an interview with one had stated that they are praying that they would be accepted. And when I hear that I hear, theyre praying that their sins would be accepted. Im not even sure if the true gospel was even preached there, that we are all sinners that have fallen short of the glory of God and Yeshua, came and died a criminals death and rose 3 days later proving He is the Son of God.
Another thing I noticed about revival, as far as I understand revival per scripture, it is a reviving of the church or God people. Church and christian are so overused and has lost its meaning so Im so careful about using those terms now days but you guys get what Im saying. We are living in a time of apostasy and so I dont see anything getting better but according to scripture I do see the false teachers and false prophets increasing.
Oh and from what I understand Rick Warren was one if the pastors who orchestrated this “revival” and he is a member of the WEF .. so that right there is a big red flag for me.
Just my thoughts.