Rick Warren urges students to spark a new awakening, share the gospel boldly, and invest in eternity as Christianity nears its 2,000th birthday
At the Collegiate Day of Prayer gathering this week at Texas A&M University, Pastor Rick Warren delivered a stirring message, urging students to embrace their role in a coming global revival. Speaking passionately about his decades-long walk with Christ, Warren expressed profound confidence that a powerful spiritual awakening is on the horizon.
“I’ve been walking with Jesus for 65 years, and I’ve seen two major revivals in my lifetime. Revival is coming here, and you are going to be a part of a mighty move of God,” Warren declared to a packed audience.
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The longtime pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life highlighted this generation’s unique hunger for God. “I’ve never seen a generation more willing to collaborate, to put God’s priorities above their own. That’s why I pray for you all the time.”
The 2,000th Birthday of Christianity
Warren emphasized that the current generation has a historic opportunity as the Church approaches a significant milestone: the 2,000th anniversary of Christianity in 2033.
“What do you give Jesus for His birthday? What does He want most? He wants His lost children found,” Warren said. He challenged students to dedicate their lives to evangelism, echoing the heart of Christ’s Great Commission.
The Call to Action: Invest in What Matters
Warren laid out three choices for how to spend one’s life: waste it, spend it, or invest it. “The greatest use of your life is to invest it in something that will outlast it. And only two things will last forever—God’s Word and people.”
He urged students to prioritize sharing their faith, questioning, “Is anyone going to be in heaven because of you? If you bring even one person to Christ, your life has made an eternal impact.”
Treasure in Heaven
Echoing Jesus’ teaching, Warren encouraged believers to “store up treasure in heaven” by dedicating themselves to reaching the lost. “You can’t take earthly possessions with you, but you can send treasure ahead by investing in bringing people to Christ.”
A Generation Poised for Awakening
In closing, Warren compared today’s college students to a “sleeping giant” ready to shake the world for Christ. He urged them to act, reminding them of Jesus’ words: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
With passion and conviction, Warren left the audience with a resounding challenge: “If you want God’s blessing, care about what God cares about most—His lost children. Revival is coming, and He wants you to be part of it.”
The night concluded in worship and fervent prayer, as students embraced Warren’s charge to ignite a new movement of faith across campuses and beyond.
