Hundreds of College Students Baptized at Unite US Event at Pitt: ‘The Altar Was Full’
A collegiate-based ministry that first took root on a Southern campus three years ago ventured farther north Wednesday night than ever before – and saw the same outpouring of the Spirit that has marked its earlier stops.
Several thousand students packed the University of Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center for a Unite US gathering that saw hundreds make decisions for Christ, with baptisms continuing well past midnight. Unite US is a movement that began on the campus of Auburn University in the fall of 2023 and quickly spread to other campuses, drawing some 50,000 students over two and a half years across the Southeast and West – but until Wednesday night had not ventured farther north than Cincinnati.
The Petersen Events Center is home to the school’s basketball teams and typically is filled with the sounds of college hoops – but on Wednesday night, it was the focus of worship, testimonies, and gospel proclamation. Unite US events are free.
“Hundreds made decisions to go all in with Jesus tonight and were baptized at the University of Pittsburgh!” Unite US visionary Tonya Prewett wrote on Instagram. “God continues to do something new on every campus, and tonight we witnessed many people getting physically healed! We baptized until after midnight, and the testimonies are pouring in!”
She added, “The altar was full.”
Like other stops, the Pitt gathering was promoted by a social media post from a local athlete – in this case, starting quarterback Mason Heintschel, who urged students to attend.
Author and pastor Jonathan Pokluda, who spoke at Pitt, expressed gratitude not only for the outpouring he witnessed Wednesday night but also to Prewett for taking the step in 2023 and launching it.
“I got invited to speak at Auburn with my friend @jennieallen, and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said of the first Unite US at Auburn. “The whole event came together in just 6 weeks. What I didn’t know then – was that it wasn’t built in 6 weeks. It was built on years of prayer! @tonyaprew had been on her face before God, weeping for girls battling shame, hurting themselves, pulling out their hair, desperate for hope and healing. She had been prayer walking that campus, sensing that God wanted to do more. She was pleading with Him for a generation and asking Him to move on that campus. Next, she secured the arena, and we watched miracles happen.
“And now… we’re watching it continue to happen. Not just at Auburn, but across universities all over our country…her prayers continue to be answered.
“See this short video of Pittsburgh? This is what answered prayer looks like,” he wrote, referencing a clip of countless students walking to the floor of the arena to make decisions for Christ.
The entire Unite US movement was founded on prayer, he added.
“It reminds me of Pearl Goode – who would go before Billy Graham into cities and pray. You may know Billy… but maybe not Pearl.
“But heaven knows and heaven answers. God moves through hidden faithfulness. Small acts of obedience…
“quiet prayers…
“unseen tears…
“They turn into movements of the Spirit. Thank you, @tonyaprew, for pleading with God for a generation.”
The next Unite US night of worship will take place at Florida State (March 31), followed by stops at Samford (April 8) and Oklahoma State (April 28).
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published March 26, 2026.
