The Ohio State University holds a special place in my heart as we walk into 2025, not because I attended the varsity, but because, as a matter of fact, I didn’t. However, I do live in and absolutely love the state of Ohio. Truthfully, I actually have never been a die-hard fan of the Buckeyes, that’s, until this 12 months. I don’t imagine I’m alone on this. When the The Ohio State Football team declared this because the “Jesus Won” 12 months, I used to be all in.
As someone who has experienced the novel change and spiritual revival of the center that happens by coming right into a relationship with Jesus, I couldn’t wait to see what would unfold within the hearts of this younger generation. Aside from what we’ve been seeing happen on social media, there may be undeniable evidence that the Holy Spirit is moving on this place. Gen Z is hungry for truth, looking for an anchor to place their hope in, and prepared to present their lives to the one one who can set them free.
The Holy Spirit is stirring, and the revival is on fire. It has taken me back to my early days of walking with Jesus, reminding me of after I first experienced the darkness being taken over by light and recent life was brought forth by God’s incredible grace. Seeing the football team and whole campus encountering revival ever since brings an amazing joy to my heart. I’m thrilled to be witnessing it and honored to assert the title – a Buckeye! Jesus is winning over hearts, and the Good News of the gospel is spreading like wildfire.
What is a Revival?
Some could be wondering what revival is, the way it starts, and what it stems from. First, a revival of the center is the spiritual awakening of Christians. We see this spoken of in Acts 2:42-47. It is when the Holy Spirit dwells within the hearts of man and causes a radical change of each the interior heart and the external way one lives due to the conversion by the facility of the Holy Spirit. We also see this spoken of by the Lord in Ezekiel 36:26,
“I gives you a recent heart and put a recent spirit in you; I’ll remove from you your heart of stone and offer you a heart of flesh.”
When we hear of this topic, turning to the Book of Acts is incredibly helpful in giving context and clarity to a vital topic. If you are recent to the Bible, this book is essentially the most detailed of the early church unfolding and “revival” happening. As we glance to Acts 10, we are going to see what happens when God uses one person to take the excellent news to a room stuffed with people willing to listen. The scripture begins with a bunch of Gentile men invited by their friend, Cornelius, to take heed to a person named Peter. While they knew nothing about Peter, they trusted the center of their friend who invited them to collect. So, they gathered and were stirred to come back to a saving faith and take the gospel of Christ with them to the ends of the earth. For a temporary look into unpacking revival, read Acts 10:34-43 with me…
So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is true is appropriate to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching the excellent news of peace through Jesus Christ (he’s Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we’re witnesses of all that he did each within the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to look, to not all of the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to evangelise to the people and to testify that he’s the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all of the prophets bear witness that everybody who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
What Is Shifting the Hearts of Students on College Campuses?
What we see happening on The Ohio State campus is way similar to what happened when the Word of God was shared through Peter to the boys Cornelius gathered. The hearts of those men wanted greater than what life looked as if it would offer, and the scholars on The Ohio State campus have the identical hunger today. Hungry for truth, for real love, and a saving faith.
One of essentially the most significant ways we’ve seen this displayed at The Ohio State University is thru God’s use of the football team and Run with Christ. Across news channels and social media platforms, we saw the football team holding a revival night on August 27, 2025, where a whole bunch of scholars were baptized. These young men stewarded the hearts of those willing to take heed to Christ through worship, prayer, and a call to repentance. What unfolded, I’m undecided anyone was prepared for. Baptism, after baptism, after baptism occurred. Students were taken from death to life all because revival began within the locker room, and God used it to bring a complete campus to experience Him.
Run with Christ is one other group taking the campus by storm on behalf of Christ. Run with Christ is a running group that gives relationships and community to those trying to feel connected. Through this, they will share the connection Jesus desires to have with them. Where one student saw a necessity, the Lord stirred up one other revival for the younger generation hungry for real, face-to-face connection.
I’m grateful to have done ministry alongside one in every of the Gen-Z students involved on this revival. She is part of the Run with Christ movement. What she has told me about having a front row seat to all God is doing I couldn’t keep to myself! “It’s like one other world on campus, we’re in a time where there are such a lot of lost broken people and folks have come to the ends of themselves. You can see it of their eyes, they’re eager for something more. They are at a crossroads of “what’s next” and the reply is Jesus. Eyes are being opened, and hearts are being softened to experience something they’ve never encountered before. They are feeling welcomed, invited, and recognizing the more they’re searching for is Jesus.”
The evidence is evident – God is on the move. Not only at on The Ohio State campus but additionally on campuses nationwide. College students are tasting and seeing that the Lord is sweet. He is faithful, real, and stuffed with compassion, and He eagerly awaits to increase His grace while taking their hearts on the journey of redemption. Revival of the center, which comes from Jesus, draws one to repentance; repentance sets the center ablaze in the liberty of Christ. Revival is here, and I think it’s here to remain.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Hannah Busing
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and creator of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women’s Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio along with her husband and two children. You can connect along with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
