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PDX Crusade Kicks Darkness Out of Portland for a Weekend

by Andrew Tuttle
08/06/25
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In 586 B.C., the Babylonians wiped out the Jews in Jerusalem – this after years of the prophet Jeremiah warning them of coming judgement.

And in the 11^th month of the year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. – Jeremiah 39:2

The Jews were walking skeletons after two years of the Babylonians surrounding the city and starving them out thus the invading army had little trouble. The Bible mentions the judgment of the city of Jerusalem by the Babylonians three other times: Jeremiah 52, 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36. Hmm, maybe God wants us to know something.

The Jews of Jeremiah’s time did not listen. His prophetic warnings started with "repent so judgement doesn’t happen" and ended with "judgement is coming" – face it buddy, it’s the end of the line!

On Aug. 2 and 3, 2025 A.D., one of the most godless cities in the nation also got a wake up call. Like the prophets of the Old Testament warning the Jews of pending wrath and judgement - if they refused to turn from their sin - perhaps Portland heard something similar at the PDX Crusade.

The three event Christian Crusade held on Saturday and Sunday – similar to the Billy Graham Crusades of old and the current Harvest Crusade in Anaheim, CA – PDX Crusade turned the Moda Center into a straight-up church sanctuary complete with worship music and a stirring message – one of warning but also of hope.

Borne from Athey Creek Church in West Linn, OR, the first-ever crusade united churches from the Portland Metro area all for one purpose – winning souls to Jesus Christ. Originally planned as two events – one on Saturday and Sunday – tickets to PDX Crusade sold out in minutes forcing organizers to scramble and figure out how to address demand. So, a third event was placed at 12 p.m. Saturday preceding the 7 p.m. times on Saturday and Sunday. Approximately 35,000 showed for the three crusade events.

PDX Crusade brought popular Christian music artists CAIN, Taya, Cary Jobe & Cody Carnes, Anne Wilson (no, not Nancy’s sister), Marilyn Manson, Chris Tomlin and Zach Williams to perform. (Totally kidding about Marilyn Manson – he was not there. Got you though, didn’t I?) While the music served as the draw, the point of the show was not a concert.

Whosoever would confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, though shalt be saved…for the scripture saith whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed.

That was the point and reportedly 3,200 people got the point.

One man tattooed up to his neck, literally, and a few on his face left the 7 p.m. Saturday crusade during worship, in tears, simply overwhelmed by emotion. One of the thousands of volunteers pulled him aside and prayed with him. Turns out his son, born in 2008, died a year later and the man was angry with God for that death. 

Hallelujah, he returned. Seen shortly on the floor of the Moda Center after the call to accept Christ, weeping with one of the many who lifted new believers and the backslidden up in prayer, he gave the original gal who prayed with him a fist pump on his way out.

Another handed a five-year old boy his first Bible. Cradled in the arms of his father, the beaming dad was beyond thankful to see his son grab the Word of God.

From young teenage girls openly weeping to stoic middle-aged men looking for answers, PDX Crusade saved souls from God’s pending wrath and judgement. That’s what being “saved” means, by the way, in Christian vernacular.

Pastor Brett Meador of Athey Creek Church, one of the biggest congregations in the state, delivered two sermons. If you consider the one given for both events on Saturday a base hit, the Sunday version slammed it out of the park. No, don’t consider Brett Meador a prophet – that ended with John the Baptist – Meador’s teachings focused on what the Bible says about sin, how it offers pleasure for a season but ultimately destroys.

More than once Meador brought to life the evangelist Billy Graham with the words, “The Bible says…” to get across the point that what he’s saying is not coming from him but the word of God. You can dive back into your sin of alcohol, drugs, sex, McDonalds and Taco Bell (Meador actually said that) but be careful of this your sin will find you out.

Not God will find you, He already knows! The passage from Numbers 32:23 says your sin finds you out. Like the couple from the Coldplay concert that made headlines a few weeks ago. Yep, that was mentioned too. And how could it not be said? Dumb sheep also made the sermon, because all of us like sheep have gone astray.

Like in the ancient of days, today’s pastors (well, at least some of them) warn of the End Times and like in the days of Noah urge all to get onboard. Once God shuts the door, those who get left behind have only themselves to blame.

A week earlier, Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusade had one of the biggest confessions of faith in its 35-year history. Today, it seems, some people just might be listening to pastors’ warning of the judgement to come. Because judgement is coming and the signs of the times herald the end of days. Just in recent months:

• 8.8 earthquake in Russia


• 5.7 earthquake in Dominican Republic


• 2.5 earthquake in New Jersey


• Flooding in Texas and North Carolina


• Volcanoes coming to life in Russia, Alaska, Hawaii and yes possibly off the coast of Oregon


• One race stomping the heads of another race into the pavement. (Nations against nations is actually ethnicities against ethnicities and I am more than happy to discuss where the real systemic racism lies in this country, but I digress.)


• A growing coalition to declare a Palestinian state

If you think 2020 was the year of Me looking outside to see what chapter of Revelation we’re doing today memes, just wait until the 2025 hurricane season starts. And if President Donald Trump folds and gets on board with dividing Israel – hold on to your hats and glasses, for this here will be the wildest ride in the wilderness.

God's wrath and judgement of the Old Testament indeed parallels today. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10 that the things in the Old Testament happened as an example for New Testament believers and for our admonition. We will face similar situations. 

Indeed, some pastors tell the truth and get maligned for it, others itch our ears and tell us what we want to hear - just like in the days of Jeremiah. Read the book! Don’t take my writings for it. Besides, when was the last time your pastor talked about the rapture and the judgement to come?

Billy Graham last held a crusade in Portland in 1992 at Civic Stadium, now Providence Park. A lot has changed in 33 years. But the Bible hasn't.  

Had the Jews of Jeremiah’s day repented and followed God’s plan they could have enjoyed the blessing – God wants to save them. You can deny what’s happening all over the world and remain in your delusion or admit and believe God. Jeremiah warned the people of his day, and those of us presently, not to fall into the trap – though God is not slack and instead long suffering towards us, tribulation comes at an hour you think not.

Just as all the signs of Jeremiah’s warning were ignored, the people of today have the same attitude as few churches dare tell the truth of God’s Word.

For many, He will come like a thief in the night.

But not for the 3,200 who listened to God’s call this weekend at the PDX Crusade.

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming – Matthew 24:42.