Asbury University has announced new plans for the upcoming week, in a letter from its President Kevin J. Brown. The letter addresses the tension Brown feels as a leader in the face of the university’s historic spiritual moment. In it, Brown acknowledges the inspiring moments of humility, consecration, love, and commitment he has witnessed on the campus.
However, the letter also acknowledges the disruption that the spiritual renewal has caused for the university’s academic continuity. Brown states that the disruption has created a sense of being unsettled and alienated for some students.
To address this, Brown has worked with the university’s leadership to establish a new schedule for the coming week. The schedule aims to recognize and steward the historic moment of spiritual renewal while fostering predictability, well-being and continuity for the students. The new schedule will also provide increased security, prayer and ministry support, event management and overall logistical planning.
The final public evening service will be held on Sunday, February 19, at 7:30 p.m. Public worship will continue in the afternoons through Wednesday, February 22, at 2:00 p.m. each day. Evening services at Hughes Auditorium will be reserved only for high schoolers and young adults 25 and under. The final public service will be held on Wednesday, February 22, at 2:00 p.m.
The new schedule recognizes the need to adjust plans at any time to serve the students better. Brown expressed his profound gratitude to the staff, faculty and students for their inspiring commitment to God’s work on the campus.
The new schedule reflects a balance between honoring the historic moment of spiritual renewal and prioritizing the academic and campus experiences of the students. Brown’s letter is a reminder of the importance of stewarding resources and prioritizing the student-centric mission of the university.
Final Thoughts As I Close My Coverage Of This Historical Event
The Asbury University community has been commended for their exemplary stewardship of the recent spiritual outpouring on their campus. Instead of turning their campus into a prolonged revival hub, the University has opted for a more pragmatic approach of commissioning students, faculty, and staff to go out and spread the love they have experienced in their daily lives.
The President, faculty, and student body of Asbury have been praised for their wise and hospitable stewardship of spiritual renewal. Many have expressed a desire to learn from their example of humility, hunger, and stewardship. They have chosen to honor the daily rhythms of life, prioritize their student-centric mission, and focus on the individual lives lived out rather than holding endless prolonged meetings.
The University’s plan to conclude the gatherings and commission their community members to go out with the Holy Spirit’s gifts is seen as a wise and refreshing approach to stewardship. The Asbury community has not marketed, taken up offerings, or attempted to build something bigger out of the outpouring for personal gain. They have freely received and are now freely commissioning others to go out and do the same.
Overall, the Asbury University community has set a beautiful example of pastoral stewardship that many can learn from. They have shown the importance of living out the outpouring of the Spirit in daily life and not just in special meetings or events. While the meetings may be ending, the outpouring is not, and the University has chosen to steward it wisely and with great care.
