Is revival spreading among secular college campuses?

Is revival spreading among secular college campuses?

By John Stonestreet, Glenn Sunshine

March 24, 2025

Christian Post, 

Something remarkable is happening on college campuses around the country. This fall, reports emerged of players taking a strong stand for Christ on the Ohio State and Notre Dame football teams. As it turns out, that was only part of the story. About six months ago, a group of churches organized a worship service on Ohio State's campus with four football team players scheduled to preach. In a crowd ..., many responded to the Gospel, including most of the team. They were baptized immediately in tubs brought by the four players for that purpose.  

Last month, the team worked with an organization called Unite US to hold another evangelistic meeting on campus. This service attracted ... responding to the altar call, many of whom were baptized in tubs brought to campus in U-Hauls, despite the frigid weather. 

Reports are also emerging that this good news is spreading beyond Ohio State. Unite US, an organization of students committed to spreading the Gospel on college campuses has been holding evangelistic events across the country over the past couple of years. At Auburn University, ... were baptized. At Florida State, ... people were baptized, and ... responded to the altar call. At the University of Alabama, ... were baptized. At the University of Tennessee, ... people attended the rally, and ... were baptized. At the University of Georgia, about ... were baptized of the hundreds who responded to the invitation. Overall, the total number of students who responded to an invitation to accept Christ numbers in the thousands. 

Historically, a failure to properly follow up with those who respond has been the critical weakness of rally-type evangelism. Unite US carefully walks those who respond through the Gospel to make sure they understand what they are doing. They also work closely with local churches to connect converts with local believers and ministries for follow-up and discipling.  

In the parable of the sower, Jesus told of the seed sown in rocky soil. After quickly sprouting up, distractions and opposition cause it to wither. Church community and ongoing discipleship is essential for all believers, but especially for young, new ones. At the Florida State Unite US rally, for example, about 800 of the 1,000 students who came forward filled out a card. 

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Unite US gives credit not to their own work, but to the Holy Spirit and events that are "saturated in prayer" for the success they've had so far. They are also not the only organization reporting success in reaching Gen Z, including students on university campuses. 

Source:

(*) https://www.christianpost.com/voices/is-revival-spreading-among-secular-college-campuses.html