These students were among those who stayed after a chapel service in Pioneer Memorial Church to give their testimonies and tell of their new enthusiasm for Christ. The chapel was a follow-up on the Campus Concern Retreat held October 8 -11. Photo by Horace Shaw. DATE: October 15, 1970. [Adventist Digital Library]
“A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. …Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.” 1SM 121.1
I remember very well my arrival to begin my studies at Andrews. I arrived at Andrews in 1971 with some uncertainty because it was my first time leaving New York to live my life in an environment very different from where I had grown up. All my previous studies had taken place in secular schools. I imagined that my new environment would be very different, but what I did not imagine was the sense of love and prayer that I saw when I arrived.
!["What Now?" asks J. Gordon Paxton, campus youth pastor at the close of a recent four-day Campus Concern Retreat where students sought better acquaintance with God and with each other. DATE: October 5-7, 1973. [Adventist Digital Library]](/build/image/11868.jpg?or=360&crop=%2C%2C%2C&w=480&h=480&s=b7868cf870e4ec2f91aecd125d9e76ea)
It so happens that in the previous year, a great revival arose among the youth at the university. The Holy Spirit touched hearts in an impressive way, starting in the church with young people coming up to the front confessing their sins, singing praises to the Lord, and praying a lot. Young people were also going out, sharing literature, and giving their testimonies of what God was doing in their lives. That spirit of revival continued the year I entered, albeit with less intensity. I entered Andrews intending to spend most of my time studying biology and chemistry but almost immediately became a member of a group of young people who had committed to visiting different churches to share God's love. That experience was beautiful and I stayed with that group for two years. In my third year, I got to organize my own youth group to expand visitation to more places.
![Elder N.R. Dower, secretary of the General Conference, North American Division, speaks to the students and faculty during the Sabbath morning service of the annual Andrews University Campus Concern Retreat, held October 7 to 10, at Camp Michiana. Elder Dower spoke to the students and guests on the theme, "The Time for the Task is Now." [Adventist Digital Library]](/build/image/11869.jpg?or=360&crop=%2C%2C%2C&w=480&h=480&s=2117a345954663ad47a76794b6de57de)
As I write this article there is talk of a "revival" taking place at Asbury University. I am very happy to hear of young people who are giving themselves to Christ. I hope that the young people involved in this experience remain faithful to God and that they continue in search of the truth that is in Christ. I am praying especially for the youth of our Adventist Church. We live in a world of great confusion and division, which sadly is affecting even our churches. I am convinced that a revival is needed more than ever in our churches and universities.
![E.L. Minchin at Campus Concern Retreat 1970. Photograph by Doug Drake. [Adventist Digital Library]](/build/image/11870.jpg?or=360&crop=%2C%2C%2C&w=480&h=480&s=88873f14e174d183eb749c615fd240c2)
Dear reader, I would like to ask that in this year 2023, you pray for the young people. I would like to ask you especially to commit to praying with another person (better if it is with a young person) at least once a week). Let us pray without ceasing. It’s time for a revival.
“La mayor y más urgente de todas nuestras necesidades es la de un reavivamiento de la verdadera piedad en nuestro medio…. Nuestro Padre celestial está más dispuesto a dar su Espíritu Santo a los que se lo piden que los padres terrenales a dar buenas dádivas a sus hijos. Sin embargo, mediante la confesión, la humillación, el arrepentimiento y la oración ferviente nos corresponde cumplir con las condiciones en virtud de las cuales ha prometido Dios concedernos su bendición. Solo en respuesta a la oración debe esperarse un reavivamiento.” Mensajes Selectos, tomo 1, p. 141
Recuerdo muy bien cuando llegué a Andrews para iniciar mis estudios; fue en el año 1971 y llegué con cierta incertidumbre por ser la primera vez que salía de Nueva York para vivir en un ambiente muy diferente del que me había criado. Todos mis estudios previos los habían cursado en escuelas seculares. Pensé que mi nuevo ambiente sería muy diferente pero lo que no me imaginaba era el espíritu de amor y oración que encontraría al llegar.
Resulta que en el año anterior se había visto en la Universidad un notable reavivamiento entre los jóvenes. El Espíritu Santo tocó los corazones de una manera impresionante, empezando con jóvenes que pasaban al frente confesando sus pecados, cantando alabanzas al Señor y orando. También los jóvenes salían compartiendo literatura y dando testimonio de lo que Dios estaba haciendo en sus vidas. Ese espíritu de reavivamiento se mantuvo durante el año que llegué, aunque con menos intensidad. Yo fui a Andrews con la intención de usar la mayor parte de mi tiempo en estudiar biología y química, pero casi inmediatamente llegué a formar parte de un grupo de jóvenes que se había comprometido en visitar diferentes iglesias para compartir el amor de Dios. Fue una experiencia muy linda y me quedé dos años con ellos. En mi tercer año organicé mi propio grupo de jóvenes para poder llegar a más lugares.
En momentos en que escribo este articulo se oye de un reavivamiento que está ocurriendo en Asbury University. Me alegro mucho oír de jóvenes que se están entregando a Cristo. Espero que los jóvenes involucrados en esa experiencia se mantendrán fieles a Dios y que seguirán en búsqueda de la verdad que está en Cristo. En especial estoy orando por los jóvenes de nuestra Iglesia Adventista. Vivimos en mundo de mucha confusión y división, que tristemente está afectando aun nuestras iglesias. Estoy convencido que lo se necesita más que nunca es un reavivamiento en nuestras iglesias y universidades.
Apreciado lector, quisiera pedirle que en este año 2023 ore por los jóvenes y que se comprometa a orar con otra persona (preferiblemente con un joven) por lo menos una vez por semana. Oremos sin cesar. Ya es tiempo de un reavivamiento.
Carmelo Mercado is vice president for multicultural ministries at the Lake Union Conference. | Carmelo Mercado es el vicepresidente de la Unión del Lago
