A massive prayer movement is happening.
Hundreds of churches, ministries, and individuals are joining forces to pray for 250 million students worldwide as part of the Collegiate Day of Prayer (CDP) on February 27. This annual event, which takes place on the last Thursday of February, will involve over 700 participants who will pray for students at more than 1,100 college campuses. Thai Lam, Executive Director of CDP, explained that although his organization launched the modern observance in 2009, the tradition of praying for college campuses dates back to the early 19th century. It was originally a widespread practice among major denominations and college campuses but faded around the time of World War I.
Since its revival, CDP has seen significant growth, with the number of campuses involved increasing from 450 in the first year to 900 in the second. Lam described it as “the oldest day of prayer in American history” and noted that the event has continued to expand each year. The 2023 Collegiate Day of Prayer was especially notable, coinciding with a 16-day revival at Asbury University in Kentucky that garnered international attention. The Asbury revival had a profound impact on CDP, leading organizers to incorporate the spiritual awakening into their plans and expand their focus globally.
Following the revival, CDP organizers shifted their focus from praying solely for U.S. college students to a global initiative, with 5 million participants in 2023, half of whom were outside the United States. Lam emphasized that the event’s mission now includes praying for 250 million students in 195 countries. His hope is that every college campus will have a congregation or group dedicated to praying for its spiritual well-being, envisioning local churches adopting nearby campuses and committing to prayer.
Cru, a student ministry founded in 1951, is one of the organizations involved in CDP. Dan Allan, Executive Director of Mission Expansion for Cru, highlighted the ministry’s long-standing commitment to prayer and its alignment with CDP’s vision. Cru has encouraged its supporters to adopt three campuses in prayer—one close to their heart, one near their home, and one in another country. Allan attributed the growing participation in CDP to the spiritual hunger sparked by the Asbury revival and expressed hopes for a lasting commitment to prayer for college students.
Ultimately, the organizers of the Collegiate Day of Prayer aim to see a widespread movement of prayer for college students and faculty. They believe that through prayer, God can transform campuses and raise up individuals to support or start new campus ministries, leading to lasting spiritual change across the nation and the world.