PORTLAND, OR — The roar of cheering crowds, raised hands, and voices united in worship echoed through the Moda Center this weekend — but it wasn’t for a celebrity or music tour. The headliner was Jesus Christ.
PDX Crusade, a large-scale evangelical event organized by Athey Creek Church, drew over 45,000 attendees across three sessions on August 2–3, marking Portland’s largest Christian gathering in more than two decades. The two-day crusade offered free admission and featured a blend of live worship music, testimonies, sermons, and public expressions of faith through baptism and prayer.
A Revival in a Secular City
Portland, often ranked among the least religious metro areas in the U.S., became the epicenter of spiritual revival for thousands of believers and seekers. According to Brett Meador, senior pastor of Athey Creek Church and lead organizer of the event, the goal of PDX Crusade was to “bring hope back to the city.”
“The nation knows Portland is somewhat of a joke,” Meador said during his sermon. “It’s kind of heartbreaking, because we love our city. It’s not just the homeless and the drugs and the closing of all the buildings… It’s the greater Portland area, how desperately we need Jesus.”
The event is Portland’s first evangelistic crusade in more than 25 years, following the tradition of Billy Graham’s global crusades, which reached millions around the world from 1947 to 2005.
Faith in Action: Worship, Testimony, and Baptism
Spanning nearly three hours per session, PDX Crusade featured performances from top Christian artists, including Taya (formerly of Hillsong Worship), Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, CAIN, and later, Chris Tomlin, Zach Williams, and Anne Wilson.
Between worship sets, attendees listened to real-life testimonies, a sermon from Pastor Meador, and a powerful invitation to faith. Hundreds responded by stepping down into the arena’s floor to publicly commit or recommit their lives to Christ. Many wept, prayed, and were embraced by volunteers from Athey Creek Church as they were blessed and counseled.
“It was refreshing to see how many people got down on the floor,” said Rick McDaniel, an attendee. “I thought there’d be a few people, but not that many.”
A Community-Driven Vision
PDX Crusade wasn’t just for longtime believers. Many attendees brought along friends and family unfamiliar with the Christian faith, hoping to introduce them to the gospel in a welcoming, high-energy environment.
“We came because we had some unsaved people that we brought,” said Ken Foster, a member of Athey Creek. “We want to support them here and the Word of God.”
Athey Creek Church, which began as a humble Bible study in West Linn in 1996, has since grown into one of the largest nondenominational churches in the region. According to executive pastors Rick Anderson and Tad Slaughter, their sanctuary now draws 1,500 people per service across six weekly services.
This crusade marks their most ambitious outreach yet — one that sold out its initial sessions within minutes, prompting organizers to add an additional performance to meet demand.
“The response was baffling,” said Anderson. “We didn’t expect it to sell out that quickly, let alone have over 45,000 people join us over two days.”
Faith Renewed and Mission Reignited
For many, the event rekindled a personal sense of mission and devotion. It wasn’t just about music and sermons — it was a call to action.
“It was definitely encouraging,” said Debbie Jensen, another attendee. “We feel like we’re all called to spread the gospel. Even if it’s just in our own home lives, keep showing Jesus to everyone we meet.”
Attendees described the event as uplifting, spiritually grounding, and timely for a city navigating challenges of homelessness, addiction, and division. Organizers hope the crusade will spark a long-term movement of spiritual awakening and community healing in Portland and beyond.
Looking Ahead
While no future crusade dates have been officially announced, Meador and his team hinted that the success of this event could pave the way for more large-scale outreach efforts.
“We are not done,” Meador told the crowd. “This was just the beginning of what God can do in Portland when His people come together in faith and love.”
Whether it’s in the pews, on the Moda Center floor, or in everyday life, the message of PDX Crusade rang loud and clear: Hope is alive in Portland — and it starts with Jesus.
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