In 1823, every major university in America agreed to set aside the last Thursday in February as a day of united prayer for colleges. They gathered to pray on February 27 for God to change the future of their generation. They saw college students as the future of society, and believed that their values would become the values of America.
So they prayed: First, for “a spontaneous move of the Holy Spirit throughout the student body of America.” Second, for “the triumph of the gospel throughout the unreached world.” What happened? In 1824 and 1825, revivals were experienced on five college campuses. The next year, revival came to six colleges; by 1831, 19 different colleges had experienced a great movement of God’s Spirit. This movement continued to transform the culture and moral climate of some of our largest universities. As a result, pastors encouraged parents to send their children to college so they could be “soundly converted.”
Would your pastor say the same thing today? Suicide is now the most common cause of death among college students according to the American College Health Association. Binge drinking is growing exponentially (one in four college students consume four or more alcoholic beverages in the span of a few hours). One in four young adults have no religious affiliation. Research indicates that 60-90% of evangelical teenagers drop out of church after high school. How times have changed since our founding fathers began public education, the original intent of which was to teach every child to read the Word of God (Connecticut’s “Old Deluder Satan Law”). The oldest and most respected universities in our time (Harvard, Yale and Princeton) were originally built as seminaries to instruct young pastors to preach the Christian faith to the masses. How times have changed.
Does our nation need a great spiritual awakening? I say, YES! Could it begin on college campuses? I pray so.
A few weeks ago, the Collegiate Day of Prayer was held at 873 churches and communities to pray for 1,062 campuses from 578 cities, 50 states, and five countries. Believers across America united to ask God to move. They prayed for God’s power to bring the light of Christ to every person on every campus. They sought God for this generation of college students.
I’m reminded that I don’t need a specific day to pray for a specific purpose. I can fall on my knees any day, any time as an intercessor for the lost. God promised us: “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). God is faithful to keep His promises. I believe Him. Do you?
Tagged: American history, prayer, revival
