5,500 College Students Lift the Name of Jesus in Cincinnati Arena: a ‘Glimpse’ of Heaven
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Thousands of college students poured into Cincinnati’s Heritage Bank Center Thursday for a night of worship and life-changing decisions, marking the latest stop on the UniteUS Movement that has seen countless students impacted this fall. Thursday’s event drew 5,500 college students, with thousands making first-time decisions or rededicating their lives, and some 2,000 connected to local churches and ministries, event organizers told CBN.
“What we witnessed at the University of Cincinnati tonight was just a glimpse of what heaven will be like! Praise the Lord for the gift of freedom found in JESUS,” UniteUS founder Tonya Prewett wrote on Instagram.
Organizers say the UniteUS Movement is evidence of a massive movement of God on college campuses, with 7,000 gathering this fall at Grand Canyon University, 8,000 at the University of Tennessee, and nearly 7,000 at the University of South Florida. The first UniteUS event this fall – at the University of Oklahoma – saw 9,000 gather to worship. Each event includes music, a gospel proclamation, and baptisms – often in the hundreds.
Daxton Hill of the Cincinnati Bengals and Brent Suter of the Reds recorded videos inviting students. Thursday’s night of worship at Heritage Bank Center was so large that the “fire marshal tried to stop the altar response,” Prewett said.
“But God had other plans,” she wrote, posting a video of thousands of college students standing with phone lights held high, creating a brilliant glow across the arena.
“Last night was one of the most powerful nights of worship ever by @elevation.rhythm!” she wrote, referencing the worship group Elevation Rhythm, known for the hit song Goodbye Yesterday. “What the enemy meant for harm, God turned into something we could have never planned.”
The first UniteUS event was held at Auburn University during the fall of 2023.
“Students right now are so hungry for truth and for hope,” Prewett told Fox News, “and I think they've looked for it in every other place, and they're realizing that the only truth and hope that they need is found in Jesus Christ.”
The UniteUS bio reads simply: “A movement of college students united to lift the name of Jesus.”
Photo credit: ©UniteUsFacebook
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‘Revival Is Here’: 7,000 Students Pack Grand Canyon University Arena to Worship Jesus
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
