On Thursday night, dozens of people gathered at Associates Park, danced with their arms towards the sky and sang along to Christian worship music. One woman attending the event was overwhelmed with emotion from the music and began crying while sitting on a bench.

The event was hosted by USC’s chapter of Turning Point USA as part of the California Revival Tour. Musical artist Joel Mott sang the music, along with his band, during the event.

Henry Barnes, the president of USC’s TPUSA chapter, said he decided to host the event to celebrate conservative values. 

“[We] wanted to provide a speaker that could advocate for Christ in the world and support the beliefs of many of our members [and] share Christ’s love with them,” said Barnes, a junior majoring in human biology. “I am very grateful to have this opportunity to speak the gospel.” 

Last March, former TPUSA President Charlie Kirk held an open debate at USC, which drew hundreds of students to Hahn Plaza during The American Comeback tour. Following Kirk’s killing in September, USC’s chapter of Turning Point USA held a vigil to honor his passing. Turning Point USA also funded student government candidates at USC in 2018 for the Campus Victory Project, a project aimed at shifting college campuses rightward politically. 

In addition to Joel Mott, the event featured prominent conservative voices Ross Johnston and Nick VandenNieuwenhof. Ross is an evangelist and co-founder of California Will Be Saved, a religious organization that, according to its website, aims to spread Christianity throughout California. 

VandenNieuwenhof is the executive director of the Lincoln Institute, a nonprofit organization supporting students with the aim of shaping California’s culture for the future, according to its website.

Mott led the tour, performing Christian songs that had attendees singing and dancing along for two hours. Johnston and VandenNieuwenhof led the preaching during the event.  

Daniel Bjurback and his family traveled from Gothenburg, Sweden, to attend the event and be a part of the California Will Be Saved movement.

“We want to come here and support this and preach the gospel,” Bjurback said.  

During the event, attendees were encouraged to go to the front of the stage for “salvation.” Attendees prayed for and embraced those who moved forward. 

Gio Morfin, a former USC employee and South Central resident, said he attended the event to worship Jesus. 

“I’m glad there [were] a few salvation[s],” Morfin said. “We keep hoping that God will save all these people from USC.” 

The California Revival Tour is taking place in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County, across eight college campuses. USC is the third stop on the tour.