The crusade was led by senior pastor Brett Meador of Athey Creek Church, drawing support from numerous other local congregations. Attendees gathered not only from across Portland but also from surrounding areas in the Pacific Northwest, reflecting a broader interest in spiritual revival in the region.

Thousands Make Faith Commitments in Public

According to event organizers, approximately 3,200 individuals responded to altar calls during the two-day gathering. Volunteers on-site handed out Bibles and helped connect the new believers with nearby churches to encourage continued spiritual growth.

In addition to teaching sessions, the atmosphere of the event was shaped by music from a lineup of well-known Christian artists. Worship performances included sets by Chris Tomlin, Zach Williams, CAIN, TAYA, Anne Wilson, Kari Jobe, and Cody Carnes, energizing the crowd and setting the tone for religious reflection and celebration.

Despite Portland’s reputation as one of the most secular metropolitan areas in the country, the scale and participation in the crusade surprised many attendees. Longtime Portland resident Laura Lybrand expressed her amazement, saying, “I’m excited about it. I haven’t seen anything like this in a long, long time.”

Historic Scope in a Religiously Unaffiliated Landscape

The most recent Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study from 2023–2024 found that the Portland–Vancouver area is unique among the nation’s largest metro regions. There, the percentage of residents without religious affiliation (44%) currently exceeds the number of individuals identifying as Christian (42%).

Pastor Meador, who moved to Portland in 1996, has long acknowledged the city’s secular culture. He noted that the area favored alternative spiritual practices and political progressivism, and even referred to Portland as “the most irreligious city in America” when he first arrived.

In a sermon delivered during the crusade, Meador addressed local concerns like homelessness, crime, and spiritual apathy. “Why is there so much darkness here?” he asked. “I believe it’s because we have often pushed Jesus — the real light of the world — out.”

Momentum Builds Following Recent Revivals

The PDX Crusade came just weeks after the Harvest Crusade in Anaheim, California, where 45,000 people filled Angel Stadium and an estimated 200,000 more watched online. This sequence of events has encouraged some observers to speculate about a broader wave of revival in the United States.

Some crusade attendees believe the Portland event reflects a spiritual momentum, especially in the Willamette Valley. Brandon Porter commented, “I’ve just seen several different people over these last few months and years that are moving from different areas to the Valley, because they feel like there’s some sort of revival taking place.”

The last time a similar religious event drew significant numbers in Portland was in 2020, when a worship protest during the COVID-19 pandemic attracted between 4,000 to 7,000. Before that, evangelist Luis Palau’s 1999 Portland festival brought in over 90,000 people, one of the largest ever in the region.

Event May Become an Ongoing Tradition

Athey Creek Church’s executive pastor, Rick Anderson, said church leaders are open to holding the PDX Crusade again in the future. “If the city of Portland reflects and recognizes that this was a catalyst for reviving the church… and bringing the love of Jesus to a lost and desperate world, we’re going to consider that a success,” he said.

The decision to continue the event will depend in part on community feedback and the long-term spiritual outcomes seen in the lives of attendees. Organizers are enthusiastic about what they view as positive signs of faith pushing back against a trend of spiritual disengagement.

During his closing sermon, Pastor Meador reminded the crowd that gatherings like the PDX Crusade are only the beginning. “I believe the Lord’s doing a great work in Portland, and it’s evident here tonight. But we have more work to do, and that’s why we need to declare that He is the light of the world,” he said.