SEU Experiences Outpouring
What began as a scheduled conference for students of Southeastern University (SEU) has become an extended time of worship, repentance, and renewal that leaders say reflects what they have been praying for in the next generation.
The three-day conference began Monday, February 9, and was scheduled to end Wednesday evening. But at the conclusion of Jennie Allen’s teaching on Wednesday morning, things unexpectedly began to change.
“There was a moment in the midst of the conference when the atmosphere shifted. All of a sudden, the raw responses of students sparked an outpouring of spiritual and emotional healing,” says SEU President Kent Ingle.
Near the end of her message, Allen challenged students to stand and verbally confess their sins and struggles. For several minutes, students stood and trusted God to break chains that bound them.
“All I can think of is that we saw what James described in James 5:15: ‘Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (NLT)’” recalls Ingle.
What followed next took students and staff far beyond the conference schedule. Breakout sessions were cancelled as worship continued from 10 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., at which time leaders transitioned students to Bush Chapel on SEU’s campus.
“There’s an unstoppable hunger,” says Ingle. “Students simply want to be in the presence of Jesus. We don’t have a label for what’s happening – and we don’t want one. We’re not trying to use certain words. We just know that God is doing something special on our campus.”
Mike Santiago, lead pastor of Focus Church and AG executive presbyter representative for ordained ministers under 40, notes that the Assemblies of God has always been marked by Spirit-led renewal.
“From our earliest days, we have prayed for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on younger generations. To see what is happening at SEU is deeply meaningful. I truly believe this is a catalyst to see these students activated in their callings.”
Santiago also speaks to the influence of SEU leaders, especially Ingle, who have “positioned students to encounter a new wave of God’s presence.”
As SEU students continued to press in, SEU staff cancelled classes on Thursday to make room for what God wanted to do. On Friday, classes resumed but students were encouraged to remain in the Lord’s presence and prioritize what they felt the Lord wanted to do in their lives.
Word spread quickly across the country of this divine encounter, leading to community members and those from outside the state of Florida flooding to SEU’s campus to experience this outpouring. Additionally, a livestream has been provided so that those who are unable to be physically present on the campus can still witness this incredible work.
“We’ve had reports of all kinds of healings, including physical healings, during the past few days. We have received phone calls from those tuning in to our live feed who say they immediately felt the presence of God, and some have even reported healings taking place right in their own homes,” says Ingle.
To steward this supernatural move well, university leaders have structured specific times for community participation on campus, being careful to prioritize the student body. The chapel is open to the public from 10 a.m. to noon and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. They have also set up large screens in outdoor areas for those who want to watch what is going on but are limited due to the seating capacity of the chapel.
Worship has been led primarily by SEU’s student-developed worship teams, part of a long-standing vision to cultivate worship leaders from within the university community. Teams now rotate in extended shifts to sustain the gatherings. Local churches in Lakeland have joined to support the effort, and congregations from all over the United States have sent resources to provide food, water, and other needs for both students and visitors.
As far as what leaders and students expect next, Ingle’s answer is clear: “Our posture is simple. Whatever God wants to do, we want to honor Him and give Him space to do it.”
While students continue to gather in prayer and worship, with hearts stirred by the Spirit, leaders remain focused not on defining the moment, but faithfully stewarding it, trusting that the fruit will extend beyond the campus and into countless lives.