Student-Led Prayer and Worship on College Campuses

Do students have the right on college and university campuses to assemble to pray and worship? In light of the tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Asbury University’s campus and now on over twenty other campuses around the world both secular and Christian, the question arises, should every college or university allow student assembly for student-led worship and prayer?

I have been watching a college in the news (which will remain unnamed) that may have prevented or made it difficult for students to assemble for student-led prayer and worship on the college's campus. Unfortunately, it appears there was no clear process or policy as to how students could request permission to have student-led prayer and worship on campus. It was a case of “students said...administration said” with each pointing their fingers at the other. There was little meaningful dialogue for resolving the misunderstanding and it was allowed to grow into a conflict that local media became interested in. I do believe the administration at this college should have taken the high road and made sure there was a resolution to the conflict and not let it get further out of control.

I believe that there was a miscommunication on both sides at this college. Additionally, I believe that the school administration is not flexible enough for spontaneous happenings like this and the students were emotional and reacted negatively when prevented from assembling on the campus. For the most part in conflicts like these, there will be miscommunications and misunderstandings if there is no clear policy and procedure. To allow student-led prayer and worship that is not sponsored by the college calls for wisdom and a clear policy that is not driven by emotional conflict and strong disagreement.

I believe students have a responsibility to respect the administrators of the school regardless of what the administration does or doesn’t do. Students you take the high road here and demonstrate maturity and understanding. Perhaps if the students had been more responsible in planning and less spontaneous in action, the college administrators and the students could have come to some kind of agreement and the students could have assembled for student-led prayer and worship.

Furthermore, I believe that students should have the right to assemble for prayer and worship on their college campuses. In fact, I think colleges have a responsibility to help students foster student-led worship and prayer. However, there needs to be a clear policy and procedure that allows for good administrative judgment and protects the interests of the students and the college.

Maybe it is Time to Descend Mount Asbury.

February 18th was Transfiguration Sunday. Matthew, in chapter 17 verses 1 through 13 tells the story of Jesus on a mountaintop being transfigured. Transfigured means transforming into something more beautiful or elevated. Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up to a high mountain to be by themselves. Matthew tells us that Jesus transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. Additionally, verse 3 says, “behold, there appeared to them, Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus.”  Peter thinks this is pretty cool. In fact, he thinks they should build tents for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus and just stay there. Then in verse 5 a cloud overshadowed them all and from the cloud, they could hear a voice say, “this is my son, whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” Matthew 17:9

Asbury University has had quite an interesting couple of weeks. In many ways, we have gone to the mountaintop and have been with Jesus. And many of us are like Peter, we want to build a booth for Jesus to stay in so we can remain forever on top of the mountain experiencing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In reality, maybe it’s time to come down from the mountaintop and take the messages to a hungry world. Now is the time to proclaim.

Remember, the bright cloud that overshadowed them all and the voice coming from the cloud that said this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him. It’s time to come down from our mountaintop experience and take the message of these days to a world that is desperate to hear them. It’s time for a commissioning service. This is the vision of Dr. Kevin Brown President of Asbury University and I agree. It is time to let Jesus shine in all His transfigured glory through his witnesses who have been to the mountaintop. It is time to let Jesus Shine

Lord, the light of your love is shining

In the midst of the darkness, shining

Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us

Set us free by the truth you now bring us

Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine

Fill this land with the Father's glory

Blaze, Spirit, blaze

Set our hearts on fire

Flow, river, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth your word

Lord and let there be light

By Graham Kendrick