Jesus Wins Coachella: The Monks of Stoke & A New Wineskin

If you’ve been in church more than seven times since 2020 you’ve heard the expression “new wineskin” tossed around here and there. It’s a favorite—usually said with a wink (or an eyeroll) and a nod toward doing things differently.

But here’s the truth: most of us are still planted well within the safety of the old wineskin.

We sing about freedom but stay in the box. We preach grace but deliver distance. We say Jesus is fun, but we haven't REALLY embraced the joy in years.

And then there’s the Monks of Stoke.

This tribe of tie-dye-clad, joy-spreading, Jesus-loving wild ones was commissioned by “the Godfather” (not that one—this one’s heavenly) to bring the stoke to the world. Based on the promise of John 10:10, that Jesus came to give life and life abundantly, the Monks are a living challenge to every religious box we’ve tried to stuff Jesus into.

Most recently, the Monks of Stoke made their way to Coachella. No - Not to condemn it. Not to pass out tracts. Not to blend in and hope for one meaningful conversation. They went to spread the stoke. They danced. They laughed. they tossed people into the air yelling - they offered moments of pure joy and blessing

And people came. Hundreds of them. Not just festivalgoers - but staff, vendors, security guards. One security team member was baptized after Tiara, felt prompted to buy them Starbucks for their early morning start to the work day - you know they felt the Father’s love in that!!. Music lovers were hanging around the monks and watching joy like it was a new species.

A little behind the scenes -  This is not a spontaneous road trip (Unless your name is Michale Dow). Deep training sessions are held in advance to make sure the people coming are actually carrying Jesus—not just some awkward Christian version of hype. Food is prepared, tickets secured, supplies gathered. Six people even stayed my parents’ house in Manhattan Beach the night before - because when the Holy Spirit leads, you don’t always get a hotel. They brought everything they needed to host a pancake breakfast for anyone hungry (because Jesus still says, “Feed My Sheep”), and most importantly, they were covered by intercession, fueled by personal quiet time, and ready for anything because of their connection with the One who makes the impossible feel normal.

But the heart of the Monks of Stoke isn’t the schedule or the pancake syrup, it’s what they call celebration. To be celebrated is to be thrown into the air. It’s a holy party moment. A spark of childlike joy.

It’s a reminder that Heaven doesn’t just tolerate you - it delights in you.

Sometimes it’s just fun. Other times, there’s healing, prophetic words, even inner wounds stitched up by laughter and grace. One person approached shyly and asked, “Is it okay if I’m celebrated?” Like they weren’t sure if they were worthy of joy.

That’s the real new wineskin right there.

This is no abandoning Scripture. It’s living it. Representing Jesus so authentically that people who would never step inside a church feel safe, seen, and hungry for more. Because at Coachella, they didn’t just feel goosebumps …they felt Jesus.

And the fruit? You don’t have to take our word for it. TikTok was flooded with videos and testimonies of people who “weren’t into church” but somehow felt home around these wild monks. One podcast, Not My Scene, (starts at 35:06) featured the Monks after the event, because what started as curiosity turned into undeniable encounters with Jesus.

One more story that paints the picture of how powerful  this assignment rerally is - A group of young women, wandering through the early hours of the morning with sunglasses hiding their bloodshot eyes, stopped Chad and said, “We’ve been watching you. We’ve seen how people come up to your group and how they leave, and we’ve decided - you must have the best drugs at Coachella.” Chad smiled and said, “We sure do. His name is Jesus. Would you like to be celebrated?”

They said yes. And Jesus showed up.

This is the Church outside the church. This is the wild love of God in a new wineskin. Not just talked about. Not theorized in a sermon. But lived out loud.

And maybe—just maybe—you’re reading this because you’ve been looking for that kind of move. A way to break free of judgment and fear and just love people really well. If that’s you, maybe it’s time to find the Monks. Or become one.

Because the harvest is here. And the stoke is contagious.