In a stunning display of public faith, hundreds of worshipers took over Hollywood Boulevard for a spontaneous revival, lifting up the name of Jesus in one of the world’s most iconic and secular locations.
Ross Johnston, one of the organizers of the event, shared that this is the third consecutive year believers have gathered on the boulevard, though this time without a city permit. “Thousands of people came. And the city told us it was the first time in history that a Christian organization has shut down the boulevard,” he said.
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Despite past cooperation with city officials, Johnston revealed they were denied a permit this year — just one week before the event.
“The following weekend after our event, they had given a permit to the Pride Festival, the LGBTQ community,” Johnston said. “However, they denied our permit.” That denial didn’t stop them. “We walked into the street and started to worship, pray and praise God,” he said. “It was absolutely incredible. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Volunteers safely redirected traffic and coordinated movements at major intersections to create a space for praise. “We had about two to 300 volunteers, which is insane. Praise God for all of them,” Johnston added.
The worship was not just public — it was deeply personal. Johnston shared his own journey of transformation to underscore the sincerity behind the event. “I was born by artificial insemination. I grew up in a lesbian household with two moms and had never been to church my entire life. So when I encountered Jesus… I encountered the man.”
Framing the event as both a spiritual act and a stand for constitutional rights, Johnston said, “As Americans, we live in the United States of America. We have the amazing Bill of Rights… every person who is an American citizen has the right legally to actually express the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion.”
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For Johnston and many others, the event was not a protest, but a declaration — a revival in action. “What happens when a real revival breaks out? What happens when real lost people by the thousands on Hollywood Boulevard… start encountering the presence of God?” he asked. “What a privilege and what a time to be alive.”
Johnston left believers with a bold message: “All the prayers for revival and reformation are not coming. They are here.”
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
