Athey Creek Church in Portland, Oregon, along with several other partner churches, held the first crusade the city has seen in twenty-five years. With over 35,000 attendees, and over the course of two nights, 3,200 new believers found their way to accepting Christ at the PDX Crusade.
Senior Pastor Brett Meador preached each night and addressed the feeling of darkness that many are experiencing. “If our mental health system is so good, why are we spiraling?” asked Meador before discussing how Jesus is the vine. “So many people try to live their lives, and they feel like they are dying, but if you are connected to the vine and abide in the vine, you will find life in Jesus.”
Athey Creek hopes the event will be a catalyst for the city of Portland, which is one of the least churched cities in the US. But even so, it was incredible to see so many people worshiping a living God all in one place. “I believe the Lord’s doing a great work in Portland, and it’s evident here tonight,” Meador said. “But we have more work to do and that’s why it’s important for us to declare that He is the light of the world.”
A Little Help from a Custom Bible
During the event, Athey Creek Church wanted to offer new believers a Bible--one inspired by the city they live in. Fortunately, HarperCollins Christian was able to help create something perfect for the crusade, with a cover depicting the beautiful skyline of Portland.
In order to make this an option for those that turned their hearts to Jesus, Athey Creek sold t-shirts to their volunteers and members in advance. Each t-shirt purchase covered the cost of five Bibles for new believers.
While a Bible alone did not bring about this kind of spiritual revival, it aided in letting people know they are loved and cared for and provided a way to grow deeper in their faith.
If you might be interested in doing something similar in your city or for your congregation, please reach out to Alica Lowery at ChurchSource, who can guide you customizing Bibles for your specific needs.
Photo credit: Athey Creek Church