What began as a normal Wednesday morning chapel service quickly became a 10-day spiritual awakening at Southeastern University. Here, the university’s chief of staff shares the story of the transformative move of God they witnessed
This moment didn’t begin with a scheduled event, a high production plan, or a strategic initiative. It began with a lingering hunger.
At Southeastern University (SEU) in Florida, we are intentional about creating space for the Holy Spirit to move, but what we experienced recently went beyond any calendar or administrative planning.
It started during the Wednesday morning session of our annual SEU Conference, a three-day event intended to conclude that evening. The 10am service never reached an end, but rather, stretched into the afternoon, the evening, and then continued for several days.
As a university, we found ourselves walking a familiar yet daunting line: the desire to stay out of the way of what God was doing, and the responsibility to steward the environment where He was doing it. Leadership in a move of God is a paradox of posture, it requires the humility to follow and the strength to facilitate.
Here is the story of that journey, from the first spark to the sustained flame.
When Hunger Meets Presence
The atmosphere on campus shifted almost immediately. It was a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment. It wasn’t marked by loud fanfare, but by a quiet strength – the presence of the Holy Spirit. Students weren’t leaving the altar. They weren’t checking their phones. In a world defined by digital distractions, their attention was entirely captured by something eternal.
From the back of the sanctuary, you could see the ripple effect take place. This wasn’t a performance; it was an encounter. Students were called to confess sins that had been holding them back, and you could see the moment the chains broke.
The joy and praise erupted from all around the room. It was as if the room awoke from a deep slumber as students hungry for God’s presence lingered wanting more.
The Logistics: The Stewardship of the Sacred
As the hours went on, we were forced to cancel luncheons, breakouts, and even classes for the remainder of the week. We relocated the ongoing worship and prayer from the conference venue to the chapel building on our campus. To ensure this outpouring was sustained with integrity and safety, we took several strategic steps to handle the complexity and delicacy of the moment.
First, we focused on protecting the atmosphere.
We intentionally simplified our tech and media for those services. We moved away from high production lighting, complex video, and polished stage presence. We wanted to ensure the moment wasn’t buried under performance. By stripping back the production, we allowed the focus to remain on the presence of God.
Second, we realised that reliability still matters.
While the students were in a state of spiritual hunger, our staff had to be in a state of alert. We mobilised our leadership teams and administrative staff to rotate in shifts. This wasn’t just about security; it was about pastoral care.
We ensured there were always seasoned leaders available to pray, process, and guide students through their experience. We leaned on pre-built systems for communication, using streamlined documents to coordinate prayer teams, security, and facility management.
Third, we focused on the students and community.
Logistics are an act of hospitality. As news spread, we saw an influx of guests from across the country. We had to manage parking, physical safety, and the basic needs of our student body. By setting up a schedule around physical space, we created more freedom for the spiritual move to continue without the friction of chaos.
From the Sanctuary to the Classroom
True outpouring is not measured by the height of the emotion but the depth of the transformation.
As the days progressed, we saw visible fruit in the form of physical healings such as a girl’s leg being healed, and an eye restored. Students weren’t just seeking a moment, they were seeking alignment, aligning their lives, their futures, and their character with the Great Commission.
The most profound evidence of this spiritual alignment did not come from the chapel stage, but from our classrooms. We received an email from one of our faculty members this past week that perfectly encapsulated what we desired for our campus.
After 10 days of continuous outpouring, we learned that excellence in this moment is about being faithful. Today, the campus is different.
She described walking into her classroom and instantly feeling the weight of God’s presence. She said it was so tangible, so heavy with purpose, that she felt she shouldn’t even speak.
She looked at her students and said, “The presence of God is here because of you.” They were carrying something. They weren’t just a part of a movement; they were vessels carrying the presence of God everywhere they walked.
The professor decided to turn on worship music and let the class praise, worship, and pray for one another. Sharing stories of what God had done. Because they were hungry, because they surrendered, what God was doing at the altar was now overflowing into their daily life. This is the heart of our mission at SEU: to see the divine intersect with the discipled.
A New Normal?
As the intensity of the initial days transitioned, we didn’t end the moment; we integrated it.
After 10 days of continuous outpouring, we learned that excellence in this moment is about being faithful. Today, the campus is different. There is a coherence between what we say in our mission statement and what we feel in our hallways. We have seen that when you lead with intentionality and provide space for the Spirit to move, the results are miraculous.
The hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and visitors whose lives were changed will take what they’ve experienced and use it to transform their own communities. We can’t wait to see how God continues to move not only on our campus, but around the world.
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