Speakers Share Personal Stories of Revival during Student Week of Prayer

At the beginning of the message to her fellow students, Lily Chaffee said that when she was asked “point blank” to define the word “revival,” she struggled a bit to come up with a definite answer. 

Chaffee contended it was difficult because revival seems to be offered everywhere in the world. She described how pop-up phone ads constantly sell products, vacations, or gym memberships to gain renewal in life. All these things that advertisements promise will bring happiness are temporary and don’t meet the deep revival that “our hearts are searching for,” Chaffee said.

“I only know of one revival that is eternal,” Chaffee said. “A revival that is rooted in Jesus is never-ending and unbroken and life-changing.” 

Chaffee, a first-year religion and biblical studies major, was one of seven speakers at Student Week of Prayer at Pacific Union College, which was held Jan. 23-28 in the church sanctuary. Other speakers included Karen Baez-Castro, Misael Bernard, Beven Delos Reyes, and Santiago Hernandez. Kaitlin Nakanishi spoke at Friday night vespers, and Ashley Castro Rodriguez gave the final message during the church service on Sabbath morning. 

Though Student Week of Prayer is an annual tradition at PUC, there was a notable difference this year: not all of the student speakers were theology students. Castro is a photography major, Bernard is pursuing a history and political science degree, Reyes is studying pre-pharmacy, and Nakanishi is working toward a dual degree in biochemistry and music.

All the messages centered on “Revival,” the theme of the week and the 2022-23 school year. But each speaker explored different facets of spiritual revival, made all the more compelling by their personal testimonies. 

On Monday, Castro shared how becoming an RA in McReynolds’ Hall, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit changed her life in many ways—including putting others before herself. She learned about the rich beauty of togetherness.

“We are made to be a community,” Castro said, “to create connections with others which leads to greater revival.”

Reyes spoke at the Thursday service about how God doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the called. Reyes’s position as an RA at Nichol Hall moved him to begin a nightly dorm worship called “10 at 10.” He led students in music and worship for 10 minutes at 10:00 p.m. It sparked a worship revival as more students began showing up. Eventually, they moved from the hallway to the long-vacant chapel, where the worship thrives under Reyes’s enthusiastic, humble, and committed leadership.

“Where will you bury your bones?” is the question Bernard, the senior class president, asked students to ponder. Referencing the story of Joseph and his descendants, he spoke about the importance of legacy, sharing what his Hawaiian grandmother passed on to him and his cousins.

On Sabbath, Rodriguez, a second-year theology major, reminded the congregation that revival doesn’t happen on its own. Citing Philippians 3:13-14, she said we are all called to “forget those things that are behind,” but remember what the Lord has done in our lives.

Each service during week of prayer began with student praise teams, followed by a student-led participation activity, prayer, the introduction of the speaker, and then the message.

PUC President Ralph Trecartin said he is proud of the students and their shared messages about revival. “Each student speaker’s message was outstanding and thought-provoking,” he said. “All of the students who attended were engaged and enthusiastic. I love that students led every part of each program.” 

Later in her message, Chaffee shared the exact definition of revival. It means “to bring back to life something that was dead.” That had special meaning for Chaffee. She shared moving photos and how her home and community of Paradise, California, had been destroyed in the devastating 2018 fire. 

Chaffee’s family lost everything, and she felt like she lost her identity, including her creativity and love for life. But through that loss, she gained more of Jesus. He brought meaning back to her life.

“Revival cannot be bought or earned because it’s a gift,” Chaffee said. “In order to give you that life-changing revival, Jesus might ask you to let go of certain parts of your life, parts of yourself, so your hand can be free to hold onto him and the future he has in store for you.”