In a remarkable display of faith and unity, the University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena became the epicenter of a spiritual revival on February 12, 2025. The event, organized by Unite US, drew an astounding 8,000 students, with over 2,000 making professions of faith and participating in spontaneous baptisms.
Jennie Allen, a speaker for Unite US and founder of IF: Gathering, expressed her amazement: “It’s hard to believe. This keeps happening. It is insane.” She described the scene as students openly confessed their sins and responded to the gospel in large numbers. “We are baptizing kids for an hour and a half. [They are] giving their lives to Jesus,” Allen added.
The revival featured worship, fellowship, and a compelling message from Unite US founder, Tonya Prewett. Reflecting on the journey leading up to the event, Prewett shared, “Our local student team organized weekly prayer gatherings and walked up to 42 miles one Saturday as they prayed over their campus.” These “Jericho Marches,” as they were called, symbolized the students’ dedication to seeing spiritual walls come down on their campus.
Unite US, established with the mission to “lift the name of Jesus,” has been instrumental in sparking spiritual awakenings across college campuses. Their inaugural event at Auburn University in September 2023 saw 5,000 students gather, resulting in 200 spontaneous baptisms in a nearby lake. The recent gathering at the University of Kentucky, located just 30 minutes from Asbury University—site of a significant revival in February 2023—marks another milestone in this growing movement.
These events highlight a burgeoning desire among students for authentic spiritual experiences, challenging the notion that Generation Z is spiritually apathetic. As Allen observed, “There is a movement amongst students that you can’t believe. And even when you see it, you can’t believe it!”
The impact of these revivals extends beyond the immediate gatherings, fostering a renewed sense of community and purpose among young believers nationwide.
