When God Walked on Campus (Michael Gleason)

When God Walked on Campus

A Brief History of Evangelical Awakenings at American Colleges and Universities

Do you long for revival on your college or university campus? Is your heart burdened for the students you interact with each day? Here are accounts of revivals in the past two centuries to whet your appetite for the transforming work of God’s Spirit on campus today. From the academic halls of America – Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown, Middlebury, Union, Bethel, Wheaton, Williams, Trinity, Ashland, and many others – come these stirring stories of awakening and revival.

On both secular and Christian campuses, the moving of God has been evident, as young men and women were converted and stirred to ministry and foreign service. Out of these pockets of awakening came the formation or strengthening of student and campus fellowships such as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Youth for Christ, Campus Crusade for Christ, Navigators, and the YMCA.

Earnest Prayer for Revival

These are times in which we must earnestly be praying for revival. College campuses in particular, teeming with students, chase after the latest philosophies and vain ideas.  The more unbiblical the idea, the better they seem to feel it is.  Often the more educated a person you find, the less likely you are to discover a Christian. The wisdom of the age has inoculated many against the gospel.  Here is a book which should provoke many to seek the face of God to once again send revival to our universities.

Contents

• Foreword by Jim Elliff

1. An Invitation to Begin
2. “Like the silent dew of heaven.”  Campus revivals in the early 19th century.  A sermon by Timothy Dwight, The Character of Christ as a King
3. A “wonderful revival of religion.”  Mid-19th century campus revivals.  A sermon by C. H. Spurgeon, Solemn Pleadings for Revival
4. “Without any human planning.”  Campus revivals in the early 20th century.  A sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Revival: The Presence of God’s Spirit Among Us
5. “God moved into our midst.”  Mid to late 20th century campus revivals.  A sermon by J. Edwin Orr, The First Word of the Gospel
6. Principles and patterns of campus revivals

• Appendix: J. Edwin Orr (1912-1987): Historian of Revivals, by Michael A. G. Haykin

Endorsement

“Campus revivals have shaped successive generations of young Christians, and have even changed the course of our nation’s history. Now, Michael Gleason, a faithful campus minister, offers a historical review and analysis of campus revivals in America. The accounts are moving and inspiring, and we should hope and pray that God will move among the present generation of college students as he has done in the past. When God Walked on Campus should be read by everyone concerned for America’s college students-and America’s future.” – Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky

About the Author

Michael F. Gleason is Director of Religious Life at Ashland University in Ohio where he has served since 1989.  He is well-versed in campus life and chaplain ministry and so brings a unique perspective to the study of revival history.  Dr. Gleason received his doctorate from Ashland Theological Seminary and completed post-doctoral studies at Kent State University in 1999. He is married to Shelia and they have two children.