What if one of America’s most secular regions became known for something entirely different: a move of God?
Pursuit NW Pastor Russell Johnson believes that the day could be coming for Seattle.
During a conversation with Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. on the “Mature Me” podcast, Johnson reflected on revival, supernatural faith and what God could do in a region rarely associated with evangelical Christianity.
Johnson pointed out the striking reality of the Pacific Northwest: While the region has become deeply secular, it has also produced influential charismatic Christian leaders. Rather than seeing Seattle’s spiritual climate as proof that revival cannot happen there, Johnson sees fertile ground for God to move.
His vision is bold: He believes there could come a day when Seattle is known as a “hot spot for revival,” with people traveling there because they have heard about what God is doing.
But Johnson’s message wasn’t simply about Seattle. It was about what revival requires from believers.
“You have as much of God as you currently want and you can get more of God than you currently have,” Johnson said, explaining that spiritual hunger and dissatisfaction with the status quo can become catalysts for renewal.
He pointed to Hannah’s desperate pursuit of God in Scripture as an example of the kind of spiritual determination that precedes breakthrough. Johnson argued that revival begins when believers recognize that what they currently possess pales in comparison to what God could do if they truly pursued Him.
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That conviction becomes especially striking when applied to the American church.
Johnson warned against becoming comfortable with simply being “open” to the supernatural while never actually pursuing God for it. The woman with the issue of blood, he noted, was not merely open to being healed. Instead, she pressed through the crowd and reached for Jesus.
That same radical faith, Johnson said, has shaped Pursuit.
He recalled facing the prospect of buying a $55 million building with roughly $3 million in the bank.
“You don’t need faith for the stuff you can do,” Johnson said. “You need faith for the stuff you can’t do.”
For Johnson, impossible circumstances create room for supernatural dependence. He even suggested some Christians experience little activity from the Holy Spirit because they never attempt anything that requires God to intervene.
“There is a difference between ‘Holy Spirit, you are welcome here’ and ‘Holy Spirit, you are wanted here,’” Johnson said.
That may be the challenge facing the church in this hour.
Revival cannot simply become another Christian buzzword, conference theme or nostalgic story about what God did decades ago. If Seattle or any city is going to experience genuine spiritual awakening, Johnson’s message points to the truth that it will require believers who refuse to settle for comfortable Christianity.
Perhaps the places that appear spiritually darkest are not beyond revival at all. They just may be exactly where God intends to light the next fire.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
