More than 6,500 college students gathered at Ohio State University last week to seek the hope that’s found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Nearly one third of them made decisions to give their hearts to God.
It was the second massive revival event of 2025 organized by the Unite US movement.
This time students braved sub-zero temperatures to get baptised in the backs of pick-up trucks.
“We’ve been in awe of how God has already been moving on this campus over the past year, and He met us here again tonight,” Unite US posted.
“God is moving in this generation, and we know that He’s just getting started!” the post exclaimed.
Tonya Prewett, the founder and visionary behind Unite US, wrote: “I am in awe of how God is moving on college campuses!”
The Ohio State revival follows a Unite US outreach held last week at the University of Kentucky where more than 2,000 students gave their lives to Jesus Christ and many were baptised as well.
OHIO STATE’S FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAD THE CHRISTIAN CAMPUS REVIVAL
Following the college football championship game which is the equivalent of an Australian grand final earlier this year, members of the Ohio State University and the University of Notre Dame teams gave glory to God.
Ohio quarterback Will Howard who led his team known as the Buckeyes to a 34-23 victory and was named Most Valuable Offensive Player (MVP) highlighted his faith after the game.
“First and foremost, I’ve got to give the glory and the praise to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I wouldn’t be here without him,” he declared.
Howard, who only transferred to Ohio a year ago, added that he is “so glad God gave me a chance to be a Buckeye.”
Teammate Cody Simon who was named Defensive MVP, said from the stage: “The Lord did something special on this team, and we’re just so thankful.”
Before their games during the past season, the Ohio players were often seen kneeling in prayer on the field.
Ohio State University is what’s known as a Big Ten college because of its huge size with around 60,000 students.
WHY EVENTS ON OHIO STATE CAMPUS HAVE BEEN SO EXTRAORDINARY
Until now it hadn’t been known for religious expression connected to its athletic programs just like most major colleges outside of denominational universities such as Notre Dame.
That’s why the events of last August were so extraordinary.
Some players shared their testimonies at an on-campus revival event organised by Christian groups that was attended by at least 2,000 people.
A former football team captain was joined by local churches to lead the revival event.
More than 60 people were baptised, including several members of the football team.
Head coach Ryan Day reflected: “I think when you start to see and hear some of the messages that some of our team is giving, not only out in the community, but to our own team on campus, you just recognise what unbelievable guys we have in our locker room.”
HOW THE US COLLEGE CAMPUS REVIVAL BEGAN
Unite US is a college campus evangelistic movement that organises revival meetings marked by salvations, water baptisms, and worship.
The sole focus is on “lifting up the name of Jesus.”
It was inspired by events that took place two years ago at Kentucky’s Asbury University just three hours drive from Ohio State University.
It hosted 16-days of continuous worship and prayer which ignited the first sparks of the US college campus revival that began changing thousands of young lives.
The next Unite US outreach will be held at Purdue University in Indiana on March 5.
Since September 2023, the ministry’s events have reached more than 80,000 college students across multiple campuses.
Photo: Facebook – Tonya Prewett
