72-Hour Revival at Baylor Leads to 22 Baptisms

The flames of revival were felt on the campus of Baylor University in Waco, TX, where students participated in 72 hours of continuous prayer and worship, leading to the baptisms of 22 students.

Baylor’s Office of Spiritual Life, in partnership with campus ministries and local churches, hosted FM72, a gathering of college students for 72 hours of continuous prayer March 19–22, on the Fountain Mall.

“The purpose of FM72 is to stir a passion for Jesus Christ in the Baylor community,” says Charles Ramsey, Ph.D., associate chaplain and director for Campus Ministries at Baylor. “It is a time to take inventory of one’s own journey, to linger in prayer, and to recalibrate towards what is most important: our shared faith in Jesus Christ.”

“FM72 is a reminder of what we yearn for, of spiritual promises yet to be fulfilled,” says Ramsey. “As I heard one student pray, ‘Lord, we ask for a forest fire, not a grass fire.’”

James Pool, founding sponsor for OneCry for Baylor University, explains that “Baylor has been a bit ahead of the curve” with the revival movement happening on campuses. “We’ve been seeing movement for the last five years. We’re seeing a kind of boldness in our students’ lives that is just phenomenal.”

Pool relates some stories of this boldness for the gospel that is consuming students. One student felt led to stand up on a chair in a Denny’s restaurant and—with permission of the staff—preach the gospel. The wait staff brought out the kitchen staff so they could also hear. As a result, many in the restaurant asked the Baylor students to pray for a variety of needs.

Another 18-year-old Baylor student met a young woman her age and shared the gospel with her. The woman’s boyfriend kept trying to interrupt and stop the encounter, so they went into the women’s restroom. The boyfriend entered three times, and the Baylor student boldly chased him out. As the young woman gave her life to Christ, the Baylor student declared, “You don’t need that guy!”

A sophomore Baylor student was compelled to stand up in a campus coffee shop among 200 students, as well as in the campus food court, to share the gospel. Many students responded by talking and praying with her.

During the 72 hours of prayer on campus, Pool says they witnessed 20 healings. “But the focus was not on healing,” says Pool. “It was on Jesus.”

One young man came to an evening worship gathering on crutches because of a broken knee cap. Students gathered around him to pray—and he was healed of all pain and could suddenly do squats and knee bends. His friends said that only God could do that—and then put their faith in Christ. His entire dorm floor has turned to Christ because of his witness of how God has healed him.

“Students just by faith are trusting God at His Word to touch people. And out of that miraculous is coming salvation,” says Pool. “We’re seeing a real outpouring of the Spirit of God.”

—Prayer Connect magazine. Click to subscribe.