On Nov. 6, I had a very powerful dream which is a prophetic message to the church for the outpourings that will begin in the near future on university and college campuses all over this country and in other parts of the world.
In the dream, there was a wise man who was much older than I, standing in a secular university lecture hall teaching several non-Christian students. This man was intelligent and apostolic in nature, and he was speaking about kingdom, biblical principles which were flowing from him and into the hearts of the students. For the most part, the students were paying attention, and they were respecting the instructor’s point of view whether they understood what he was saying or not. For some of the students, this was all new. Sometimes the younger generation isn’t uninterested or being rebellious; they may not actually understand what we are attempting to teach them. This was the case here as well.
While the class continued, a younger college-age student got up out of her seat, grabbed her stuff and hustled past the teacher and out of the class, mumbling things like, “This is ridiculous!” She was dressed in black, and I could tell she was angry; she was frustrated with life, had staunch anti-Christian beliefs and didn’t like adult-male authority at all. This person represents the many young students who have filled so many of our universities—students who are rejecting kingdom principles for whatever reason.
Once she was out of the room, the Lord said to me in the dream, “It is OK. She will have a personal encounter with Me in the near future. She will understand what he (the instructor) is talking about then.”
Then I woke up. As I thought about the dream throughout the day, I realized that my generation has been blessed to experience some amazing divine encounters with God. Corporately, the one outpouring that touched me more than any other was the Brownsville revival under the leading of Pastor John Kilpatrick. Those moments forged my life tremendously. I also remembered Toronto, Smithton and (debatably by many) Lakeland, along with other spots through the country and world (too many to list) where God poured out His Spirit significantly. Then there were moments between all of those times where I experienced occasional unexpected encounters with God at church or in a prayer meeting that continued for extended hours. My generation has really been able to see God work in some powerful ways. Just as previous generations (Great Awakenings, Azusa Street, Jesus Movement and so on), we also have touched the hem of God’s garment.
Likewise, I am writing to you today so it will be noted that God has set into motion a soon-coming awakening among the younger generation. This is a divine encounter; an outpouring among the college and university campuses all over the U.S. and other parts of the country. I don’t know how soon this will take place, but we aren’t talking decades from now or even several years—it is on the horizon, God has marked out the plan of action for this awakening, and this is going to happen. A college and university awakening is on the horizon!
Many men and women of God have devoted their lives to spreading the gospel to the colleges and universities across the U.S. and other countries. Some of you reading this are working at a college right now, and God’s hand is with you in it.
I want to point out a few characteristics of this “University Outpouring.”
This Outpouring Will Be Spontaneous
In the dream, I knew in my heart what God said would be a near reality for the young lady who got up and walked out of the lecture hall. I understood clearly that a divine encounter was coming her way and that it would be set up by God alone, for her alone. God was going to personally visit this young girl in a way that it would get her attention. It would grab her heart and transform her mind, changing her life forever. But this type of encounter isn’t reserved for just one person. Sovereign outpourings and divine encounters are going to happen all over America and in other countries at a level that is unheard of. One by one, God is setting up appointments with His college kids—and they don’t even know it!
This is also how each outpouring will begin on different campuses. These sudden awakenings won’t be something that anyone would expect. God will use the bizarre and sudden circumstances to ignite international flames right there through the students. In other words, prayer is good, and we should pray, but we don’t have to beg God to get what is coming to the campuses. It’s going to happen regardless, and it will be very unexpected.
This Outpouring Will Be Autonomous
These outpouring that are going to strike many campuses nationwide will be student-led. Yes! You read it! God is now entrusting this up-and-coming generation with His mantle, authority and power, just as He once trusted you and me. He overlooked our immaturity when He handed us kingdom principles and told us to run with them and teach His people. At the time God anointed me as a minister, I was far from mature. But God overlooked my current state of demise and saw me for who I would become, and that is why He chose to set me on fire back in 1992.
God is doing the same thing here and now with these college students. Some of these students (ones you and I call kids), are our actual sons and daughters. The same ones who forget to give you the keys after they drive the car, leave laundry in the washer for three days, forget to take the garbage out, and leave their dirty socks on their bedroom floor for weeks. This is that group; they are the ones who are also receiving the keys to the kingdom, a great and mighty campus awakening. Mom and Dad, pastor, overseer, we are going to have to trust them, just as our mentors had to trust us. It’s not our outpouring this time; it’s theirs. Let them operate it the way God is leading them to. The Lord will bring the proper oversight, mentorship and accountability, and, believe it or not, it may not be you or me this time. God can use anyone.
All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him (King David), and he became their commander. About 400 men were with him (1 Samuel 22:2b).
This Outpouring Will Not Be Isolated to One Campus or State
I have taught for well over 10 years that the next outpouring will not be isolated and in one location like in the past; the coming outpouring will not be confined to just one church, city or state. The coming awakening will radiate from city to city, from coast to coast and from country to country. It isn’t going to be destroyed by man’s agenda or controlled by a set group of people. This awakening will be widespread, fluid, able to move, adjust and shift as God sees fit. One man or person alone won’t be known for the start of these outpourings; several people will be touched at once and in different locations. This is what will happen in the college awakening that is coming soon.
This ‘Campus Outpouring’ Will Begin on Liberal Campuses
Ouch! Yup, I just wrote it. I have been in and out of churches, Christian campuses and ministry facilities most of my life. But God is going to use the staunchest liberal professors, faculty and students to spark these awakenings. The young woman in the dream had a seared conscience, and God sovereignly broke through to her soul. God is going to break through to some of the most Christ-hating students and campuses you can ever fathom—and it will be His divine plan and timing.
As a believer, we are to pray for those over us and beneath us in authority. Let’s believe that God’s Spirit will suddenly and quickly begin to blow all across the campuses of our day. I want to see God spark a new flame in the hearts of the young people!
“ I will deliver you from your people and from the Gentiles to whom I now send you, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:17-18). {eoa}
Andy Sanders has been speaking for 25 years. He has traveled extensively around the U.S. and other parts of the world. He is a prolific writer who carries both a prophetic and leadership-type message to the church. Sanders has a B.A. from Central Bible College and a master’s and doctorate in Christian education from Freedom Seminary, graduating with honors. He is married to Cathy, and their family resides in Syracuse, New York.
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