‘Who makes His … ministers a flame of fire.’ Hebrews 1:7 (NKJV)
A Gathering of Influencers and Faith at AmericaFest
In the midst of this cultural gathering, God brought together evangelists Bryce Crawford, Ross Johnston, and Nicholas Bowling to deliver a message about the urgency of sharing the Gospel in these last days.
Ross Johnston: A Life Transformed and a Mission for California
Ross Johnston shared his powerful testimony of growing up in a non-Christian household with two mothers and never setting foot in church until encountering Jesus at age 15. That encounter completely transformed his life, igniting a passion to see others experience Jesus just as he had. Now leading evangelistic efforts across California, Ross encourages believers that the people who will help save America are sitting in church pews today.
His passion is clear: every believer is called to share the Gospel and be a carrier of hope in a time of cultural darkness.
Bryce Crawford: From Despair to a Waffle House Encounter
Bryce Crawford’s journey took a dramatic turn when, at age 17, he was prepared to end his life. Sitting in a Waffle House, Jesus met him supernaturally, saving his life and forever changing his path. Bryce’s testimony highlights the compassion of a God who intervenes at the darkest moment, offering purpose and life instead of despair.
His vibrant approach to evangelism through social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok reaches people who might never set foot in a traditional church. His message: If God can save him, He can save anyone.
Nicholas Bowling: Encountering God and Sharing His Heart
Nicholas Bowling grew up in a religious but impersonal faith environment. Although he attended church, he lacked a real relationship with Jesus. His life spiraled into drugs, alcohol, and legal troubles before he hit rock bottom. In his brokenness, Nicholas encountered the real Jesus, leading him to a transformed life centered on God’s love and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Nicholas emphasizes that evangelism is not about human strength or religious performance, but about being empowered by the Spirit of grace. As he explained, it’s about abiding in Christ, letting Him produce the fruit through us.
Evangelism: The Call for Every Believer
Each evangelist highlighted the diverse ways believers can walk out the Great Commission:
- Ross gathers the multitudes through organized events.
- Bryce engages people one-on-one and through digital platforms.
- Nicholas reaches hearts through relational and apologetic approaches.
The common thread is the urgency and importance of every believer embracing evangelism in their everyday lives. It is not a task for a select few but a mandate for all followers of Christ.
Overcoming Fear and Stepping into Purpose
The conversation addressed the most common obstacle to evangelism: fear. Fear of rejection, inadequacy, or failure often holds people back. Anthony Watson beautifully reminded the audience that F.E.A.R. is “false evidence appearing real,” while faith chooses to walk in the “even ifs”—trusting God even if people don’t respond the way we hope. Anthony goes on to share this profound truth by comparing what “fear walks in” with what “faith walks in.”
Fear walks in the
What if’s.
What if people say I’m weird?
What if people want nothing to do with me?
What if people leave me behind?
What if I lose everything?
Faith walks in the
Even if.
Even if people don’t like me.
Even if people say I’m weird.
Even if people have nothing to say to me.
Even if people walk away from me.
Even if I have nobody else with me.
It’s about Jesus.
It’s always been about Jesus.
And it will never stop being about Jesus.
When you realize that no matter what you’ve done, there is grace for you, you’ll begin to step and obey the commands of Jesus.
When believers fix their eyes on Jesus and rely on His empowerment, fear fades, and boldness arises. Each speaker testified that when God became real to them, they couldn’t help but share Him with others.
The Heart of the Gospel: Love, Grace, and Transformation
At the core of each story was the message of God’s transforming love. From the back row of a church to the back booth of a Waffle House, Jesus is actively pursuing the lost. The Gospel is not about rules or religion but about a real relationship with a living Savior.
The evangelists urged everyone to see every human being as valuable, made in the image of God, and worthy of hearing the life-changing message of salvation. The time is now. Today is the day of salvation.
Five Things We Learned
- Evangelism is for everyone. Whether through large gatherings, social media, or personal conversations, every believer can share the Gospel.
- God meets people where they are. Life-transforming encounters can happen anywhere—church, restaurants, or in the depths of despair.
- Fear is the biggest barrier to sharing our faith. But faith in God overcomes fear through trust and obedience.
- Grace empowers action. True evangelism flows from abiding in Christ and allowing His Spirit to work through us.
- The urgency of the times demands boldness. In the last days, the call to bring people to Jesus has never been more critical.