Powerful Messages of Transformation Through Faith in Jesus Shared at Turning Point USA Faith Night in Redding
- Elisa Ballard
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Redding, CA - February 7, 2026
Positive, transformational messages of faith in Jesus Christ were shared Saturday evening at the Redding Civic Auditorium at the event hosted by Turning Point USA Shasta County chapters to a crowd of approximately 400 attendees. Turning Point USA is the legacy organization of founder Charlie Kirk who was assassinated in Utah on September 9, 2025, while speaking to students on a college campus. There were protesters outside the event in Redding, holding up signs, some of which were crude and even menacing, but the protesters were peaceful and kept along the road that leads to the entrance of the Civic Auditorium. Security at the event screened everyone entering and there were no problems.
Several impressive young leaders, dressed in suits and ties and wise beyond their years, addressed the crowd. Evan Jones, Simpson University Chapter President of TPUSA led the event and thanked the attendees for coming. He expressed his gratitude for the collaborating chapter Presidents which include Deasle DeLello of Foothill High School, Raymond Randolph of Shasta College, Isaiah Larceval of West Valley High School, and Marin Mapes of UPREP and the many volunteers who were on hand to help.
Dan Sloan, professor at Simpson University and faculty advisor for the TPUSA chapter, led the invocation.
Worship was led by Carson William, setting a spirit-filled tone for the evening.
Jim Wadleigh shared a powerful personal testimony. After serving five years as an active-duty Marine and holding leadership roles in the public sector, he enjoyed material success but struggled with unresolved inner issues. These led to unhealthy coping mechanisms and a strained marriage. Despite outward ambition, he felt growing emptiness and isolation.
At his lowest point, he resigned his position, uncertain about the future. He began trying to read the Bible but felt lost. One day he saw a local pastor’s Facebook post advising those unsure where to start to begin with the Gospel of John. Jim followed the advice, and it marked the beginning of a profound transformation. Unhealthy habits lost their grip, and deep peace replaced his anxiety. He read Scripture every night, and soon his children joined him. Trusting God fully, he received a new calling: to visit homeless camps, read Bible verses with residents, and share the Gospel. His career also shifted toward work that served and protected others. He now thanks the Lord for the privilege of bearing fruit in people’s lives, prays continually, and seeks only to align with God’s will.
Tom Crandell, Overseer of Evangelism and Outreach at Bethel Church in Redding and founder of 1Hope4America, delivered an inspiring message about being saved by faith in Jesus Christ. At age 18, during an intense personal spiritual battle, God’s Spirit filled him; he felt born again, with all sins washed away. An immediate urgency to share his faith arose. He later became a youth pastor and founded 1Hope4America, which has led seven large-scale crusades across the United States.
Crandell declared that we are in a season of revival, pointing to evidence such as a 22% increase in Bible sales in one recent year in the U.S. and a 30% rise in the U.K. He reminded the audience that revival has repeatedly shaped America—the Revolution led by men of deep Christian faith and the Civil War driven by those determined to end the evil of slavery. “You can’t have revival if everyone is told everything you’re doing is right,” he said. True revival requires repentance of sin and placing full faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. This, he emphasized, is the only path to salvation and eternal life.
Dozens of people responded to the altar call that night at the Redding Civic, coming forward to place their faith in Christ.
As TPUSA continues to grow across the U.S. at high school and college campuses, there will be more opportunities to attend events such as this and hear the hopeful and inspiring messages shared, especially those of Charlie Kirk: Remember that “Jesus defeated death so you can live.” And “Get married. Have children. Build a legacy, pass down your values. Pursue the eternal. Seek true joy.” Finally, it's ironic that the protestors on the street referred to Turning Point USA as a hate group, but on this evening all we heard was a message of peace, love and faith.
