From Orphan Spirit to Revivalist: God’s Transformation of Ross Johnston

In a world often divided by backgrounds and beliefs, few stories capture the raw power of personal transformation like that of Ross Johnston.

Born through artificial insemination and raised in a lesbian household in Los Angeles, Johnston grew up far from any Christian influence; never stepping foot in a church, never hearing the name of Jesus, and never encountering the Gospel. Yet, at age 15, a simple invitation from a friend led to a life-altering encounter with God that turned him into one of America’s most passionate revivalists and evangelists.

Johnston’s early life was shaped by love from his mother and her partner but also by a deep sense of void. As he shared later on in life, he carried an “orphan spirit,” a feeling of not being fully seen or valued, despite outward stability. Around age 10, he began noticing that other children had both a mother and a father, highlighting the absence in his own family structure. Raised in a pro-LGBTQ environment with no exposure to Christianity, Johnston’s world was secular and distant from spiritual matters.

This background, however, became the foundation for his powerful testimony.

“Every person is created with a God void,” Johnston has stated online. “We just don’t know it until we encounter Him.”

The Turning Point: An Encounter with Jesus

Everything changed when Johnston, then 15 or 16, accepted a friend’s invitation to church. For the first time, he experienced the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit.

Over a few days of attending services which his mother drove him to, even going alone when his friend didn’t, he felt pursued and loved by God in a profound way. He surrendered his life to Jesus, becoming born again and filling the void that had lingered in his heart.

This radical conversion ignited a burning passion with Johnston describing it as feeling seen, valued, and adopted by a heavenly Father who healed his orphan spirit.

Called to the Frontlines: Revival in California and Beyond

In 2020, amid the chaos of the pandemic, Johnston sensed a divine call. The Holy Spirit urged him: “If you don’t stand now, you never will.” He resigned from a six-figure job at a top online consulting company to pursue full-time ministry. Co-founding California Will Be Saved, Johnston helped launch outdoor gatherings across the state, complete with live worship, Gospel proclamation, and baptisms in the ocean.

What started small exploded: Thousands attended events on beaches and in cities of influence. Hundreds were saved, delivered, and baptized as revival swept through California. Johnston’s movement emphasized uniting the church, awakening believers to their first love for Jesus, and reaching the lost.

Today, as a revivalist with Ross Johnston Ministries, he travels the nation and world, preaching in streets, high schools, and large gatherings. His mandate? Reach every public high school with the Gospel, proclaim Good News on every continent, and equip the church to lead a generation back to Jesus. Events like preaching at California high schools have seen dozens of students respond to salvation calls during lunch breaks.

Despite challenges, including a recent lawsuit stemming from an outreach rally two years ago, Johnston remains undeterred. “We will not stop preaching the Gospel.”

A Testimony of Redemption and Hope

Ross Johnston’s journey from a fatherless upbringing in a non-Christian home to leading revivals showcases God’s ability to redeem any story.

His life proves that no background is too far from grace, and no void too deep for Jesus to fill. As he often shares, his greatest desire is for every person to encounter the real Jesus, the One who turned his life around and set it ablaze for revival.

In Johnston’s words: “To love Him and be loved by Him are truly better than life itself.”

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