The revival that started at Asbury University last year and spread to other campuses has now reached Auburn University in Alabama.
Thousands of students recently packed the school’s Neville Arena for worship and praise, with an impromptu baptism that started with one student growing to roughly 200 people who decided to give their lives to Christ. More than 5,000 people showed up for the event featuring guest speakers Jennie Allen and Jonathan Pokluda, with music led by Passion Music.
“I finished a message at Auburn and was off stage and a student texted the pastor beside me they wanted to be baptized tonight,” Allen said. “So I went back on stage and asked if anyone else wanted to trust Christ and be baptized. Dozens raised their hands.”
Thousands went to nearby Red Barn Lake for an impromptu baptisms service. Even Auburn’s head football coach Hugh Freeze got in the water to help. “People surrounded the lake until almost midnight hearing the stories of life change and shouting and cheering and praying together,” she said. “God is moving, and he isn’t stopping.”
Those who attended the event describe it as incredible.
Still in awe about all that happened yesterday! God is moving on Auburn’s campus, over 100 college students felt CALLED to get baptized after last nights @UniteAuburn service! Wow wow wow, thank you God for REVIVAL🙏 pic.twitter.com/tzSCbhR0rd
— Dylan Cardwell (@Dylanupnext__) September 13, 2023
“I’ve been a part of just planning this event and man, the Lord just took it from there and we ended up at the Red Barn,” said Jeremy Napier, chaplain for the Auburn men’s basketball team. “It was not planned at all. I think this was a spontaneous decision at the very end where we just said, ‘Let’s go for it.’”
Napier said the event serves as an example that nothing is impossible with God.
“We serve an awesome God who can do amazing things,” he said. “My prayer obviously is that all these decisions were genuine decisions and heart change. It’s awesome to do it in this environment, but now is where things get tough.”
Allen shared that this is the start of something bigger. “God is doing something on Auburn’s campus,” she said. “This was a part of a bigger story that’s happening here.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice