The “Cruzada PDX”, an unprecedented evangelical breath in Portland
In the heart of Portland, a city renowned for its distance from the traditional ecclesial tissue, an event recently upset the local spiritual dynamics. The “PDX Crusade 2025”, organized on August 2 and 3 at the Moda Center, brought together more than 35,000 participants in a collective momentum of faith, hope and celebration. Carried by Athey Creek Church, this mobilization has been the first on this scale for more than twenty-five years in the metropolis, marking a powerful return of the evangelical movement in a historically not very receptive region.
The scale of this rally surprised both the organizers and the national Christian community. During these two days, major figures of contemporary gospel music such as Chris Tomlin, Zach Williams, Anne Wilson or Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes, succeeded each other on stage, galvanizing crowds by performances that mixed worship and artistic innovation. More than a simple musical meeting, the Cruzada PDX embodied a logic of awakening and community opening.
The central message of the event articulated the need to get out of darkness and embrace the light of faith, through personal commitment. At the end of each evening, Pastor Brett Meador launched a vibrant appeal for individual conversion, highlighting the urgency of restoring meaning and hope in a fragmented society. This spiritual advocacy has not remained a dead letter: more than 3,200 people took the plunge, publicly responding to the invitation to follow Christ and to get involved in the renewal of the city.
Beyond the local dimension, the Cruzada PDX 2025 confirms a global phenomenon of evangelical resurgence, amplified by committed social networks and a contemporary quest for landmarks and spirituality. This awakening, nourished by the power of words, the relevance of messages and the emotional impact of Gospel music, propels Portland to the center of conversations on religious renewal in the West.
Sources
- CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), article of August 7, 2025: “3,200+ say ‘Yes’ to Jesus in Portland as 35,000+ awaits rare pdx gospel rally”
- TheendtimeNeWs, August 11, 2025 report: “3,200+ say ‘Yes’ to Jesus in Portland as 35,000+ awaits rare pdx gospel rally”
- PDX Crusade, official communication via the Athey Creek Church site
