From September 15–17, Olivet Nazarene University welcomed Rev. Shane Lima, pastor of a growing congregation in at Ambassadors Church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to campus for the annual Fall Revival.
The joint revival services included morning chapel services on campus along with evening services hosted by College Church of the Nazarene. This twice-annual event, which has blessed the ca
mpus community for decades, once again proved to be a defining moment in the spiritual lives of students, faculty and local congregants.
In the series of three chapel messages, Lima urged the campus community to embrace courageous trust, daily surrender and an unwavering focus on Christ.
“This is an awesome opportunity for us to gather together in the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and pray together for the Spirit of God to fall fresh on us,” Lima said as he opened the week.
Day 1 — God finishes what He starts
Preaching from Philippians 1:1–6, Lima declared the promise that God always completes His work. To illustrate, he invited the entire chapel into a group game called “Do Not Leave Me Hanging.” As the room filled with laughter, Lima drew the connection: “The Lord is faithful to not leave us hanging. He doesn’t start a story and not complete it. He doesn’t start a journey and not bring it to its final end.”
He reminded students that community is one of God’s greatest tools of formation. “You’re not just at a university,” Lima shared. “You’re in a Christ-honoring place where we believe God is doing a good work in community. We need each other.”
To describe how God redeems brokenness, Lima turned to the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold. “Brokenness is actually the most beautiful piece of the piece…the broken areas of our life become the very proof of a living and loving God.”
The service closed with an extended altar call as Lima prayed: “I believe for a fresh wind and a fresh flame at Olivet… a flame that will not stay here but can travel like a wildfire across this country.”
Day 2 — Gratitude multiplies what we bring
Midweek, Lima turned to John 6 and the story of the loaves and fish with a clear message: gratitude multiplies what seems small. “When he had given thanks, they distributed it to all… gratitude takes the little you have and multiplies it to be more than it could ever be on its own.”
He also highlighted Jesus’ words to collect the leftovers: “Gather up the broken pieces… because broken pieces are not worthless pieces.”
One of the most memorable lines came near the end: “Jesus doesn’t waste anything. Not fish, not bread, not you.”
Finally, Lima challenged students not to underestimate God’s provision. Scholars estimate the crowd was closer to 20,000, far beyond the “feeding of the 5,000” label. “Sometimes the miracle is bigger than what we’ve called it.”
Day 3 — Don’t forget the one thing
The final chapel turned to Luke 10 and the story of Mary and Martha. After another interactive memory game, Lima drove home the point: “When you’re trying to remember all the things, it’s easy to forget the one thing.”
That one thing, he said, is remaining at the feet of Jesus: “You can be in the right place at the right time, but still not get right the one thing that matters most.”
In a culture of constant distraction, Lima urged students not to miss the presence of Christ. “Stay at the feet of Jesus. Choose the better thing.”
He closed with a call to maintain a holy focus. “If there’s nothing else you remember from revival, take this one thing. Stay at the feet of Jesus.”
To watch the full revival series online, click here.
