College Students Across Southern California Gather for Unite LA Worship Movement at Pepperdine

Unite LA, a worship movement from the larger UniteUS revival sweeping the nation, brought students to the feet of Christ at Pepperdine University’s Firestone Fieldhouse on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Presented by Pepperdine’s Student-Led Ministries, thousands of students from across Southern California gathered for the event, which featured guest speakers Madi Prewett Troutt and Grant Troutt, whose faith-filled messages have reached millions, alongside Tonya Prewett, founder of the UniteUS movement.

Opening and closing the evening with live worship music, UPPERROOM WORSHIP, a contemporary worship collective based in Dallas, led the crowd through songs such as “Awake My Soul” and “Pour My Love on You” as students raised their hands in worship. Following the program, 19 students gathered at Pepperdine's Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool to be baptized, while their friends stood beside them in heartfelt support. 

Madi Prewett Troutt speaking

Prewett Troutt opened the evening’s talks with a message for young people to “wake up from spiritual slumber" and to choose a life of hope and purpose. Amid unprecedented stressors related to social media and technology, she acknowledged the proclivity to turn spiritually numb and hopeless. Yet she encouraged students that a “true encounter with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords,” is the path to restoration.

"There's something inside of you that needs to be resurrected," she said. "I know if I look at your Instagram, I’d think ‘You look so good.’ I know if I was given your resume, it's really good. But I bet if I got you alone, I would hear what is breaking you right now; I would hear what you have been holding in the dark. The Lord wants to bring you back tonight.”

She then challenged students to move beyond curated public images, to consider the true condition of their hearts, and seek a personal relationship with Christ. “Truth is not just a book; he’s a person,” Prewett Troutt added. “Encountering that person of truth can set you free.” 

Reinforcing his wife’s message, Grant Troutt reflected on the transformation that follows “a true encounter with the resurrected Christ,” grounding his message in Scripture from the Book of Jude. He shared moments of his personal testimony, which included many sports-related injuries that ended his bigger athletic dreams, ultimately leading to a sense of hopelessness and an attempt to numb the pain.

Grant Troutt encouaging the crowd to seek a true encounter with God

Troutt explained that he now speaks about the Gospel with such conviction because of an experience he had with Christ’s love while participating in college ministry at the University of California, Santa Barbara. This moment, he shared, brought him back to a belief that his life had purpose—a new one found in sharing the Gospel. 

UniteUS founder Tonya Prewett then shared her initial conviction for launching the worship movement in 2023. While mentoring young women at Auburn University, Prewett repeatedly witnessed alarming numbers of heartache, depression, and hopelessness. “I decided to do something about it,” Prewett said. She then gathered as many Auburn students as possible into the football stadium to pray and lift the name of Jesus Christ. 

Following the Auburn University gathering, the UniteUS team visited Florida State; then the University of Alabama; the University of Georgia; and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Thirty-one college visits later, UniteUS arrived on the West Coast for the first time with Unite LA at Pepperdine. 

Tonya Prewett sharing the story behind the founding of UniteUS

“I love the enthusiasm in this room because it shows you're ready for what God's going to do," Prewett said. 

On the value of Pepperdine encouraging students to recognize the inherent worth and greater purpose of their lives, Prewett said: “It matters that you walk in your purpose because it does not just affect you but everyone around you. There is a reason you were born.” She continued, “I believe LA will never be the same because of Pepperdine University. I believe the United States will never be the same because of Pepperdine University."

After the speakers, attendees who were devoting their lives to Christ for the first time and those desiring to renew their faith were invited to the stage to join in final worship music by UPPERROOM. When the event came to a close, students were baptized by local ministers, declaring new life found in Christ.

During the event Will Garinger, founder of Run With Christ, spoke about the revival of faith he sees occurring in Los Angeles. The evening also featured a scene from The Chosen, projected in the arena, in which Jesus encounters a woman at the well and speaks to her about “living water,” thematically reinforcing a connection to the spiritual thirst seen among young people today in Los Angeles.

Ashley Hetherington, a writer, speaker, and Christian content creator who attended the event was moved by the profound display of faith among the younger generation. 

“This generation is hungry for the truth,” Hetherington said. “It is moving to see so many students on fire for the Lord. People want the real thing, and they’re finding it here at Pepperdine. To see this happening in LA, a city that so many people give up on, is so special. I am so excited to see what the Lord will continue to do in the hearts of everyone here.” 

Student baptisms following Unite LA

College students and alumni from neighboring universities visited, such as Jannete Gonzalez, who brought her whole Bible study group from Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California. Recognizing the draw of this event among faith-based locals and those interested learning more about the Gospel, Gonzalez explained that she rallied friends from across Los Angeles to attend Unite LA and reached out to those whom she knew needed spiritual uplift. 

“Everyone here tonight is under that same mindset of wanting more of Jesus, and it is amazing to know people are getting baptized in the Pepperdine pool,” said Gonzalez. “We are looking for something more, and that is Jesus.”

Pepperdine junior Jack Sulewski, who also works for the University’s Hub for Spiritual Life, expressed thankfulness for the opportunity to contribute to such a large event with the singular purpose of uniting students across Los Angeles.  

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to be able to serve tonight,” said Sulewski. The impact is bigger when we have the structure, such as Unite LA, to support so many people’s encounters with Christ. To be able to have something like this to pour into and to yield through is a blessing.” 

For Izzy Latala, lead student organizer of Unite LA, the evening was a profound witness to the revival of fervent Christian faith among the younger generation. "I am so in awe that Pepperdine is the place where the Lord allowed us to exalt His name at Unite LA," said Latala. "Churches, students, and seekers of Christ were all hand-in-hand proclaiming and celebrating who Jesus was, is, and will continue to be, which is the Savior of the World! We were among so many others in Southern California who were hungry to see Him move in this generation."