Christian Revival Features Prominent Figures And Attracts Crowd Of 1,000+

A Christian revival on Sunday night drew nearly 1,000 people to an open field at a southwest corner of the Ohio State University campus where star football players performed baptisms.

The event, on the university’s campus, included Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Emeka Egbuka, DE J.T. Tuimoloau, and departed OSU WR Kamryn Babb. 

According to The Lantern, the Ohio State student-run newspaper, about 800 to 1,000 people attended the gathering with local churches from Columbus. The event featured four baptism waters set up, and roughly 60 attendees were baptized as the evening concluded.

The football players shared their faith journeys and the crowd sang worship songs all evening. Babb, who was forced to retire due to four ACL injuries following his playing career at Mizzou, mentioned how he didn’t realize how “broken” he was until “the weight and love of God wrapped [him] up like a big ol blanket.”

“I was just doing my thing because it was fun, and I’ll tell you this: I was on High Street, and I enjoyed it,” Babb told the crowd. “I had fun. But at the same time, I didn’t recognize my condition. I was spiritually dead. I could go out there, and I could smile and laugh … but on the inside, I was broken.”

The players shared personal stories as about 50 others came on stage to pray, and many left the event choosing a baptism. The Word was read to them from Scripture, and these new-born Christians were then directed by volunteers to the nearest buildings – where each of them received a Bible.

“We were praying for years and years for an event like this, and we were praying with expectation. We serve a miracle-working God,” said Egbuka, who is expected to be the team’s top receiver in the upcoming season. “So we definitely had an expectation when it came out, but God did increasingly and abundantly more than what we thought. So, we’re just blessed and thankful.”

Tuimoloau added, “I don’t think anything I accomplish on the field compares to what is happening right now.”

Henderson, who led the Buckeyes with 926 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in the 2023 season, agreed with Tuimoloau, stating, “Whatever I’ve done, this right here — what God is doing — is so much more important and so much bigger.”

The revival was the last opportunity to take place during both Sunday services on campus following classes beginning Tuesday, August 20 for the fall semester.