Salvations & Healings at US festival

Published: October 19th, 2009

Tens of thousands of people from all over the United States of America gathered last June in the state of Kentucky to see some of the biggest bands in the world at the Ichthus Christian Music festival. In the midst of the thousands gathered several students took up residence in the most unlikely of places… a 24-7 Prayer tent. The team was made up entirely of students involved 24-7 Prayer USA’s Campus America vision from across the state of Kentucky. Throughout the festival, the team prayed for and with other revelers almost 24 hours a day. 

“We saw an amazing and supernatural ‘tour de force’ of the Holy Spirit with prayer, intercession,worship, prophecy and healing over the course of 72 hours,” said David Rempfer, who serves as the Co-State Coordinator for Campus Kentucky. 

As a storm forecast loomed over the festival’s plans, hundreds were praying that God would clear up the weather and that the festival would continue unhindered. Reminiscent of a similar situation facing Ichthus four years ago, a two-state-wide storm moved to the south after a few sprinkles and another moved past mere miles north of the festival grounds. However, the break in the weather was only the beginning of what God would accomplish during the festival.

As they prayed, they saw people healed of things like hearing loss and back pain. God also gave many of them insight into the lives of those who came for prayer. The team was also to encourage and pray for ministers who were at the festival with their youth groups.  One story that unfolded began when two girls came into the tent as part of a scavenger hunt for their youth group…

“They came looking for the prayer tent and to have a photo taken with us for proof,” David said. “We asked if we could pray for them before they left, and Jesus blew the lid off their experience of how intimately God knows us and wants us to know Him.”

Many prayed to receive Christ as their savior, especially on the last night of the festival when a call to salvation was made from the main stage. Included in those that responded were the two girls who had come into the tent just hours earlier on their scavenger hunt. Reflecting on the overwhelming response to this call, David commented that he and his cohorts in prayer were deeply moved at the experience.

“It was one of the most beautiful, supernatural things I have ever seen,” David said. “More than statewide storms splitting. More than healing happening. More than prophecies pronounced. When the closing speaker counted to three and asked people to stand if they wanted to receive Christ, it felt like the hill itself moved as thousands of kids stood to their feet. Each of those thousands of kids was someone's to-die-for.”

After all the long hours serving in the prayer tent, David said he and the team found themselves overwhelmed by the moment.

“It was simply unfathomable, breathtaking, and most of us who were there to see it that had poured out over the course of the weekend were in uncontrollable tears as the Spirit of God rained down and reigned a new.  It was absolutely incredible, a foretaste of revival and a true ‘Acts 2 moment."

Please pray for the Campus Kentucky team as they continue to spread the vision of prayer across their state:  

• Pray for discipleship and more Campus Catalysts. Many Campus Catalysts in Kentucky are nearing graduation and new Campus Catalysts are needed to hand off the torch. 
• Pray for continued networking among Kentucky campuses.
• Pray for unity amidst Kentucky churches.
• Pray the fire for God continues to be stoked among students throughout Fall 2009 and 2010. 
• Pray that campus ministries are ignited with longing for His presence and a heart for the lost. 

Campus America is a simple call for a connected, unbroken Year of Prayer in 2010 on every college and university campus in the U.S., so that every student has the opportunity to experience the presence of Jesus.  It’s an invitation to a generation that really could change the course of many thousands of lives, impacting the poor, and spreading the good news about Jesus. Find out more and how you can get involved at CampusAmerica.org.

Rachel Wegner oversees journalism and media for 24-7 Prayer USA. She moved to Kansas City in May 2009 to join the Campus America team and stayed on as 24-7 Prayer USA fully relaunched in January 2011. She is an active member of the Kansas City Boiler Room and involved with the thriving artists community therein.

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