In a city long known for its secularism, the largest Christian revival event in decades drew tens of thousands to the Moda Center earlier this month.
The PDX Crusade, hosted by Athey Creek Church in partnership with other local congregations, welcomed an estimated 35,000 people to the two-night gathering on Aug. 2–3. Popular Christian artists including Chris Tomlin, Zach Williams, CAIN, TAYA, Anne Wilson, Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes led worship, while senior pastor Brett Meador preached the Gospel each evening. More than 3,200 people came forward during altar calls, with volunteers distributing Bibles and connecting new believers to local churches.
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The event marked one of the most significant evangelical gatherings Portland has seen in decades, as reported by Fox News. It follows a 2020 outdoor worship protest that drew 4,000–7,000 attendees and recalls the late evangelist Luis Palau’s 1999 festival, which reached over 90,000 people.
Many who attended the PDX Crusade expressed amazement at the turnout and the hunger for faith in a city often seen as resistant to it. “I’m really excited about it,” Portland resident Laura Lybrand told Oregon Public Broadcasting while waiting in line. “I haven’t seen anything like this in a long, long time.”
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From the stage, Meador addressed the city’s visible challenges with homelessness, crime and spiritual emptiness. “Why is there so much darkness here? I believe it’s because we have often pushed Jesus — the real light of the world — out,” he told the crowd. In a sermon last month, he had criticized Portland’s “stupidity, wokeness and failure” after the Oregon House of Representatives hosted a drag performance to celebrate Pride Month.
According to the Pew Research Center, the Portland–Vancouver metro area is the only one among the nation’s 34 largest where the religiously unaffiliated outnumber Christians, 44% to 42%. Meador, who moved to Portland in 1996 because it was considered the most irreligious city in America, believes that makes it ripe for revival. “I believe the Lord’s doing a great work in Portland, and it’s evident here tonight,” he said. “But we have more work to do and that’s why it’s important for us to declare that He is the light of the world.”
Some attendees said they sensed something deeper happening in the Pacific Northwest. “I’ve just seen a number of different people over these last few months and years that are moving from different areas to the [Willamette] Valley, because they feel like there’s some sort of revival taking place,” Brandon Porter of Newberg told OPB. “They feel like God’s called them here.”
Athey Creek Executive Pastor Rick Anderson said the leadership is now considering making the PDX Crusade an annual event. “If the city of Portland reflects back and recognizes that this was a catalyst for reviving the church… and really bringing the love of Jesus to a lost and desperate world, we’re going to consider that a success,” Anderson said.
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In a time when America faces deep cultural and moral decay, these massive gatherings of believers signal a renewed desire for spiritual awakening, the kind of revival that can transform cities, restore hope and turn hearts back to God.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
Revival means renewing what already existed. In my native NZ we don’t call gospel meetings revivals. We are no more than originally christians.
How I rejoice at Portland’s gospel meeting success!
I take great comfort from Revelation 7:9 saying that believers coming out of great tribulation alone will be uncountable by man. Isaiah 54 should be nearly as famous as the previous chapter as it says God will make unsuccessful soul-winners unthinkably successful! I am aware of Jesus’ words about few that find the narrow way but Isaiah 65:1 says God is going to make people find God even though they didn’t seek Him. And more. Romans 10: 20 repeats the almost unbelievable declaration of God that a time is coming when He will find people who didn”t seek Him. Some or all of my relatives who have refused to believe will change; and don’t forget Rev 7: 9 announcing a group of saved people who are uncountable by man. God’s Word and His mercy are greater bthan you thought. Let’s believe Him and act accordingly