Portland’s Largest Faith-Based Gathering in Decades
Portland, Oregon recently witnessed its largest Christian revival event in decades, drawing a crowd of 35,000 to the Moda Center on August 2-3. The PDX Crusade, organized by Athey Creek Church in collaboration with other local churches, marked a significant moment for the city’s faith community. This two-night event featured gospel messages and worship performances by renowned Christian artists such as Chris Tomlin, Zach Williams, CAIN, TAYA, Anne Wilson, Kari Jobe, and Cody Carnes. The event’s success was highlighted by 3,200 individuals responding to altar calls, with volunteers distributing Bibles and connecting new believers to local congregations.
A City Ripe for Revival
Portland’s religious landscape has been shifting, with the Pew Research Center noting that the Portland-Vancouver metro area is unique among the largest U.S. metropolitan regions for having more religiously unaffiliated individuals than those identifying as Christian. Athey Creek’s senior pastor Brett Meador sees this as an opportunity for revival. During the crusade, Meador addressed the city’s challenges with homelessness and crime, attributing these issues to a lack of faith and urging attendees to embrace Jesus as the “light of the world.”
Community Impact and Future Prospects
The PDX Crusade has sparked discussions about a potential religious revival in the Pacific Northwest. Attendees like Brandon Porter from Newberg expressed optimism about a spiritual awakening in the region. Athey Creek Executive Pastor Rick Anderson mentioned that church leadership is considering making the crusade an annual tradition if it proves to be a catalyst for change in Portland.
Comparisons to Past Events
This revival event follows a similar gathering in Los Angeles in July, where 45,000 people attended Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusade at Angel Stadium. Such events indicate a growing interest in large-scale religious gatherings across the country.