The Asbury University revival has caught my attention, just as it has caught the attention of newspaper writers nationwide. Over the past two weeks, an estimated 50,000 people have trekked to the tiny town of Wilmore, Kentucky, to experience what apparently TikTok and Instagram could not fully capture.

On Feb. 8, about 20 students lingered after a chapel service at Asbury that was part of the school’s weekly routine. They began to worship and pray for one another and, over time, more and more students joined them. At some point, the students felt “an unexplainable, surreal peace descend upon the room.” Since then, tens of thousands of people have traveled from all over the world to get a glimpse of what some are calling a revival and others are dubbing an awakening.

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My sister likes to call me the Paris Geller of The Daily Memphian, what with my own variation of a religion beat, so it’s probably not a shock that I would be naturally drawn to the Asbury activity. But what’s more surprising is how many major news outlets have tuned in.

I’ve been hesitant to mention the word Asbury in my column — it’s a touchy subject after all. Even some close friends who share my faith are slow to talk about it. First off, people around my age (Gen X) and younger have not really experienced anything quite like this before. We can’t help but be skeptical of something that may or may not hint at sensationalism when we first hear of it.

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More importantly for me, I have not been there. I don’t know much about Asbury University or the seminary affiliated with it. I’m reading about it and watching clips, but I’ve had no personal experience with those people or that gathering, and I don’t want to break trust with my readers by aligning with a religious movement for which I cannot personally vouch.

The president of Asbury University said, “Only if we see lasting transformation which shakes the comfortable foundations of the church and truly brings us all to a new and deeper place can we look back, in hindsight and say, ‘Yes, this has been a revival.’”

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That’s fair. There’s a part of me that wants to wait until we see the long-term fruit of what is happening in Kentucky before I sign on.

Except for one thing…

The Atlantic reported, “According to the students, as they stayed and prayed, an unexplainable, surreal peace descended upon the room.” The New York Times said about two students, “They both described having intense personal experiences that they attributed to the Holy Spirit’s presence.” The New York Post told about Ava Miller, a freshman at Asbury. Miller said, “I can see and feel the heaviness of the people around me…. As a believer, I’ve gotten to experience the freedom of getting to live in that hope, and I think hope is something that extinguishes that fire of darkness.”

…and the thing is I know what they’re talking about.

I’ve experienced all of that, and Scripture backs those descriptions as by-products of walking with Jesus. Once you’ve seen stuff like that, it’s hard to keep it to yourself. It’s kinda like this: When you have tasted Pancho’s cheese dip (not under that current owner, but the O.G. version), you can’t not tell other people about it when they come to our city. When you’ve tried the brisket taco at Elwood’s or the homemade chips at Central BBQ or one of those cakes from that lady in New Albany — when you’ve had those experiences — they mean something to you, and you want to share them so others can have what you’ve had.

The Bible says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him.” I’ve tasted what they’re experiencing at Asbury University over and over and over again. While it hasn’t been in the form of a Gen Z-led revival, it seems (from what I can tell at this point) that the Spirit behind my experience and theirs is the same.

I know that peace that they’re talking about. I’ve experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen the hope (I often call it light around here), and, what’s more, I’ve seen it all over Memphis.

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Right now, it seems there’s nothing good coming out of this city. But every single Sunday, I get a heavy helping of this peace the Asbury students are talking about when I join together with others to worship Jesus at church — and it doesn’t just happen at one church. There are many, many churches around town made up of every race and ethnicity (and lovely combinations of people from all sorts of backgrounds) that taste God’s goodness on the regular.*

It’s worth noting that a lot could be said about the Southern church culture that has existed most of my life. The pandemic did much to melt that old line of thinking. Donning your Sunday best just to tick a box with no real heart motivation behind it has gone the way of the dodo bird, and I think that’s not all bad.

However, if you find yourself curious about the Asbury revival or wondering about God in general, I’d like to offer you an invitation to come (back) to church here in Memphis. Perhaps the pandemic got you all comfy in your jammies with your coffee on your couch every Sunday. Putting on polyester and hard-soled shoes on a Sunday is just too much to ask.

But there’s good news: People don’t really do that anymore. Just throw on your jeans and come on. Because whether you’re at Asbury or in Memphis, the act of showing up to be with God’s people makes a difference. It’s there that you’ll get a taste of the peace God offers, and let me tell you something, folks: the peace of God is where it’s at.

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Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who trusts in him!
Psalm 34:8

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*Note: You can’t write a column about church and not acknowledge that some have been hurt by the church. I hate it so, so much. But it is a fact. Some of the ministry my parents are involved with has to do with helping those who still love Jesus, but have trouble with the church. I want to validate that as an experience some have had, and one I am deeply sorry has happened. However, I suspect there are a hearty number of folks who haven’t been hurt by the church; they just don’t come because nobody ever asks them. Consider this your ask. I hope to see you there!