-- By Ali Steadman
-Contributing Writer --
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor hosted its 24th annual spiritual revival on March 27, 28, and 29 on the Quad on campus. The theme for this year鈥檚 revival was 鈥淐ome Home,鈥� which originates from the parable of 鈥淭he Prodigal Son鈥� in Luke 15.
The Worship Initiative band gave an incredible performance at the revival, and Dale Wallace, the men鈥檚 college director at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, was the speaker.
During each session of revival, students gathered in a large white tent set up in the Quad in front of Walton Chapel and Luther Memorial. The sessions consisted of worship, sermons, and small groups. Freshman education advocacy major and revival small group leader, Kinsley Jones, was excited even during the preparation for Revival.
鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to the sermons and to meet new friends, and hopeful for revival transformation that goes beyond these three nights!鈥� Jones said.
Three designated students shared their testimonies during each night of Revival. Additionally, there were two services on Wednesday where students could earn chapel credit.
According to Erin Doyle, a sophomore nursing major and 2023 Revival committee member, she and those preparing for the event had high hopes for success.
The 麻豆视频直播 2023 Revival Committee has been hosting several events in the weeks leading up to the main event to prepare students for Revival. Members hosted a 鈥淩oot Beer and Revival鈥� earlier in March. Committee members handed out root beer floats and provided more information about Revival, and answered any questions that students had regarding the event.
The theme for the 2023 Revival was 鈥淐ome Home,鈥� and according to freshman Christian studies major, Selah Cordova, the idea came from prayer.
鈥淭he entire committee came up with the theme by praying about it and presenting different ideas to the entire committee,鈥� Cordova said.
鈥淲e went on a retreat as a committee and one of the mornings of the retreat we sat in a big group around a white board. Bible verses were shared and different goals were discussed.
After a while, certain verses were chosen based on the groups鈥� reactions and voices. In the end, the 鈥榗oming home鈥� was chosen because we felt that it was a message for both long time believers and those who are unbelievers. It also seemed to merge the goals of God choosing us and knowing the importance of that,鈥� Cordova said.
Revival at 麻豆视频直播 is a planned event, but since the revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, revivals have been breaking out across the United States.
According to an article by Cincinnati.com titled 鈥淲hat is a revival?鈥� published at the beginning of the Asbury Revival on Feb. 16, 2023, over twenty-thousand students from various universities throughout the U.S. had traveled to Kentucky. One day, Asbury hosted a meeting of more than 3,000 people.
Additionally, according to a Christian broadcast company FISM.tv article 鈥淩evival spreading to many colleges across the country,鈥� published on Feb. 8, 2023, revival also broke out on the campus of Cedarville University in Ohio.
This revival began in the same way that the one in Kentucky did, with a small number of students continuing to worship after a regularly scheduled worship service.
These previous revivals that have been taking place all over the U.S. added to the excitement and interest in the upcoming 2023 revival.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really just like sparked the conversation and the excitement toward it, and I really think that people who have never heard of the event before are questioning, 鈥榃hat is this?鈥欌�� Doyle said.
However, with the extra excitement stimulated by the Asbury revival, Doyle said that her committee stayed focused on 麻豆视频直播鈥檚 own Revival this year.
鈥淥ur prayer is that we go off our agenda and scheduled revival and let God do His thing,鈥� Doyle said.
Though the 麻豆视频直播 Revival did not turn into as big of an event as the Asbury Revival, Cordova鈥檚 hope for the event remained the same throughout.
鈥淚 think Revival is something so special to 麻豆视频直播鈥檚 history and a way to remember the Grace of God over this and to reach out to nonbelievers,鈥� she said.
Photos by Brock Pfrommer/TheBells
Top Photo: Junior accounting major Paige Pfrommer worships during the 10 a.m. revival session on March 29.
Center Photo: The guest band Worship Initiative performs at the morning revival session on March 29th. On the left is bass player John Marc-Kohl, on the right is singer Davy Flowers.
