A Weekend Of Eternity: Salvations, Baptisms, And Revival At FaithFest

Under a towering 110-foot cross, tens of thousands gathered in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, for one of the most powerful weekends of worship our nation has seen in years. FaithFest 2025 was more than a concert, more than an event -- it was a movement of God. 

Reports tell us that more than 1,000 people surrendered their lives to Christ, nearly 100 were baptized on the spot, and countless others rededicated their lives or experienced deep restoration.

It's not every day that we see such a sweeping work of the Spirit. And in the midst of all the division, fear, and despair gripping our culture, FaithFest couldn't have come at a more needed time.

What made this year's FaithFest so unique wasn't just the size of the crowd -- though the event sold out for the first time in its history -- but the unmistakable sense of God's presence. Pastor Greg Laurie preached about the transformation God brought in his own life, and the response was overwhelming. People stood to declare their faith, families wept in joy, and new believers were immediately given Bibles to start their journey of discipleship.

This wasn't hype or entertainment. This was the Gospel doing what the Gospel has always done: cutting through noise and confusion to call people home.

The timing of FaithFest speaks volumes. We live in a season where headlines often leave us discouraged, and hope feels like it's in short supply. But here, under the cross, we saw a counter-story unfolding.

Spiritual Desperation: Our society is battling spikes in depression, loneliness, and anxiety. Many feel unmoored, without purpose or peace. FaithFest reminded us that the answer isn't in self-help or shallow distractions, but in the life-transforming power of Christ. Real faith still speaks to real brokenness.

Cultural Confusion: Issues of gender, morality, and identity dominate public debate, leaving many adrift. At FaithFest, the message was not coercion but clarity: Jesus offers truth, forgiveness, and eternal purpose. In a culture clouded by uncertainty, this kind of clarity is desperately needed.

Moral Loss and Hope for Renewal: From political scandals to institutional failures, trust in leadership has been eroded. People are tired of hypocrisy and corruption. But FaithFest reminded us that real change doesn't begin with systems -- it begins with individuals. When a thousand people say "Yes" to Christ, it has ripple effects: homes are healed, marriages are restored, churches are strengthened, and communities are renewed.

Missed Opportunities in a Digital Age: So much of modern life is lived online -- behind screens, behind curated profiles. But salvation is not virtual. Baptism is not digital. FaithFest brought people together in flesh and blood, shoulder to shoulder, to worship, repent, and rejoice. It was a reminder that gathering still matters, and that God works powerfully when His people come together.

Of course, hope isn't naïve. A thousand decisions for Christ are beautiful, but they are only the beginning. We must pray for discipleship, for accountability, for long-term growth. Baptism is the first step of a journey, not the last.

There is also a danger in focusing too much on numbers -- tallying baptisms and salvations without recognizing the quieter, slower work of sanctification. Yet this event seemed prepared for more than just emotional highs. New believers were equipped with Bibles. Churches and leaders were present for follow-up. This wasn't a one-night revival that fades in the morning. It felt like the spark of something deeper.

What FaithFest gave us is not just statistics but a story -- one that challenges the hopelessness of our age. For every headline filled with anger and violence, here is a headline of joy and transformation. For every cultural message of confusion, here is a message of clarity and eternity.

The truth is simple: Jesus is still saving, still healing, still redeeming. He is still drawing people by the thousands. And if He can move so powerfully in a valley in North Carolina, He can do it anywhere.

FaithFest cannot stay contained to one weekend. The challenge now is for believers everywhere to carry this fire into their homes, workplaces, and communities. What began under the cross must continue in daily faithfulness, bold witness, and unshakable hope.

FaithFest 2025 was not just an event. It was a declaration: that even in the storm, Jesus is Lord. That revival is not a memory but a present reality. And that God is still writing eternal stories in a world desperate for light.