Some Good News from College Campuses - Breakpoint

Breakpoint Podcast Summary

Episode: Some Good News from College Campuses
Date: March 20, 2025
Host: John Stonestreet
Co-Author: Dr. Glenn Sunshine

Episode Overview

In this episode, John Stonestreet explores a surprising and uplifting trend: significant Christian revival moments occurring on university campuses across the U.S. He shares stories of mass student conversions, public baptisms, and large-scale evangelistic rallies, particularly highlighting the work of “Unite Us” and the embracement of faith by student-athletes. The episode aims to encourage listeners, emphasizing genuine spiritual growth and the importance of discipleship and prayer in sustaining these movements.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Remarkable Spiritual Momentum on College Campuses

Asserts a shift in typical campus narratives, reporting "something remarkable" happening among students.
- [01:18] “Well, something remarkable seems to be happening on college campuses around the country this fall. Reports emerged first of players taking a strong stand for Christ on the Ohio State and Notre Dame football teams. As it turns out, that was only part of the story.” — John Stonestreet

2. Ohio State as a Focal Point

Last fall: A group of churches organized a worship service at Ohio State with four football players preaching.
- ~800 attendees, “many responded to the gospel, including most of the team,” with immediate on-site baptisms.
Subsequent event: In partnership with “Unite Us,” another rally drew 6,500 attendees, 2,000 responding to the altar call, many baptized in “tubs... brought to campus in U-Hauls despite the frigid weather.”
- [02:45] “...that service attracted 6,500 people, with about 2,000 responding to an altar call, many of whom were baptized in tubs that were brought to campus in U-Hauls despite the frigid weather.”

3. Widespread Campus Impact

Reports such events at other colleges:
- Auburn University: 5,000 attended, 200 baptized.
- Florida State: 310 baptized.
- University of Alabama: 260 baptized.
- University of Tennessee: 8,000 at rally, 150 baptized.
- University of Georgia: 150 baptized.
- [03:22] “Overall, the total number of students who have responded to an invitation to accept Christ at these events numbers in the thousands now.”

4. Intentional Discipleship and Follow-Up

Acknowledges the historic weakness of “rally-type evangelism” — lack of proper follow-up, resulting in “shallow roots.”
“Unite Us” addresses this by:
- Carefully walking responders through the gospel.
- Connecting new believers to local churches and ministries for ongoing discipleship.
- Example: Florida State rally — 800 of 1,000 responders requested church connection.
- [04:07] “Unite Us knows that, so they carefully walk those who respond through the gospel to make sure they understand what they’re doing.”

5. Spiritual Foundations and Prayer

Success credited not to organizational methods, but to the Holy Spirit and prayer: events are “saturated in prayer for the success that they’ve had so far.”
Emphasizes the enduring need for faithfulness, prayer, and God’s intervention.
- [05:12] “…Unite Us gives credit not to their own work, but to the Holy Spirit and to events that are, as they put it, saturated in prayer for the success that they've had so far.”

6. The Bigger Picture: Hope Amid Negative Trends

Contrasts encouraging reports with persistent “bad news” about college campuses.
Notes genuine openness to spiritual conversations, possibly marking a "Kairos moment revival" or at least “testimonies of Christians who are willing to go public about their faith.”
Stresses the importance of praying for genuine conversion and lasting fruit.
- [06:05] “And whether this is merely a short lived fad on a few campuses or part of a real Kairos moment revival, that remains to be seen. But still we rejoice in what's happening in the hearts of students…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

[01:18] “Something remarkable seems to be happening on college campuses around the country this fall.” — John Stonestreet
[02:45] “That service attracted 6,500 people, with about 2,000 responding to an altar call, many of whom were baptized in tubs that were brought to campus in U-Hauls despite the frigid weather.” — John Stonestreet
[03:22] “…the total number of students who have responded to an invitation to accept Christ at these events numbers in the thousands now.”
[04:07] “Unite Us knows that, so they carefully walk those who respond through the gospel to make sure they understand what they’re doing.”
[05:12] “Unite Us gives credit not to their own work, but to the Holy Spirit and to events that are, as they put it, saturated in prayer for the success that they’ve had so far.”
[06:05] “Whether this is a short-lived fad or part of a real revival, we rejoice in what’s happening in students’ hearts…”

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 01:18 | Introduction of revival among college athletes | | 02:00 | Ohio State worship event and mass baptisms | | 02:45 | Second, larger rally and baptisms in cold weather | | 03:22 | Impact at other universities across the Southeast | | 04:07 | Addressing the need for discipleship and follow-up | | 05:12 | Acknowledging dependence on prayer and Holy Spirit | | 06:05 | Reflections on meaning: revival, hope, and prayer |

Tone and Style

Language: Hopeful, celebratory, and thoughtfully analytical.
Voice: Faith-forward, pastoral, and pragmatic.
Message: Despite challenges and a generally negative narrative about youth and college culture, there is clear evidence of the gospel moving on campuses, and Christians should celebrate, support, and pray for long-term spiritual impact.

This summary highlights the episode’s central theme: powerful, prayerful gospel movements among college students, underscoring the need for thoughtful discipleship and continued prayer. The host urges joy, caution, and faith in response to these extraordinary events.

Transcript

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If you're hesitant to speak up about your Christian beliefs because you're worried about being criticized publicly or shut down, even canceled. Or maybe you're trying to help your kids or students build courage when they face challenges. The new Colson Educators course, Navigating Cancel Culture is here and can help. Created in partnership with no Safe Spaces, the documentary by Dennis Prager, the course is led by the Colson center and Brett Kunkel. Using real life examples, the course explains Cancel culture, how it shows up today and why truth matters, how you can learn practical ways to stand firm and push back. Ready to join? Go to colsoneducators.org that's colsoneducators.org to sign up. Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stonestreet well, something remarkable seems to be happening on college campuses around the country this fall. Reports emerged first of players taking a strong stand for Christ on the Ohio State and Notre Dame football teams. As it turns out, that was only part of the story. About six months ago, a group of churches organized a worship service on Ohio State's campus with four of the football team players scheduled to preach in a crowd of about 800. Many responded to the gospel, including most of the team, and they were baptized immediately in tubs that were brought by the four players to to the event for that purpose. Then last month, the team worked with an organization called Unite Us to hold another evangelistic meeting on campus. That service attracted 6,500 people, with about 2,000 responding to an altar call, many of whom were baptized in tubs that were brought to campus in U hauls despite the frigid weather. And reports continue to emerge that this good news about the spread of the good news isn't limited to just Ohio State Unitus, an organization of students committed to spreading the gospel on college campuses, has been holding evangelistic events across the country over the last few years. At Auburn University, 5,000 people attended, 200 were baptized. At Florida State, 310 people were baptized. Of about a thousand who responded to the altar call at the University of Alabama, 260 were baptized. At the University of Tennessee, 8,000 people attended the rally, 150 were baptized, and at the University of Georgia, about 150 were baptized. Of the hundreds who responded to the invitation overall, the total number of students who have responded to an invitation to accept Christ at these events numbers in the thousands now. Historically, one of the weaknesses of rally type evangelism like this is the failure to properly follow up with those who respond. Unit us knows that, so they carefully walk those who respond through the gospel to make sure they understand what they're doing. They also work closely with local churches and ministries to connect converts with groups of local believers for follow up and discipleship. Remember, in the parable of the Sower, Jesus told of the seed sown in rocky soil after quickly sprouting up with great enthusiasm. Distractions and opposition cause it to wither. And that's why church community and ongoing discipleship are so essential for all believers, but especially young new ones. At the Florida State Unitus rally, For example, about 800 of the thousand students who came forward filled out a card to be connected to a church. Unite Us gives credit not to their own work, but to the Holy Spirit and to events that are, as they put it, saturated in prayer for the success that they've had so far. They're also not the only organization that's been reporting amazing success in reaching Generation Z, especially students on university campuses. And that's good news, if for no other reason than all the bad news that's been coming out of college campuses in recent years. So reports of students who are actually open to the Gospel, who are at least a little bit interested in spiritual conversations, that's encouraging. And whether this is merely a short lived fad on a few campuses or part of a real Kairos moment revival, that remains to be seen. But still we rejoice in what's happening in the hearts of students, for the testimonies of Christians who are willing to go public about their faith, even football players, for God's faithfulness to those who call upon him, and for his word that never returns void and always accomplishes what he intends. And we should pray for those who acknowledge their need of Christ, that their conversions would be genuine as he completes the good work that he has begun in their hearts and minds. We should pray for revival and for those who have committed to work for it, that God would bless their events and their other efforts with fruit that will indeed last. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stonestreet with Breakpoint. Today's Breakpoint was co authored by Dr. Glenn Sunshine. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, leave us a review wherever you download your podcast. And for more resources to live like a Christian in this moment, go to breakpoint.org.