In an awe-inspiring display of faith, over 7,750 people were baptized in the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach, California, on May 3rd, marking the largest single-day baptism in American history. Organized by Oceans Church and led by Pastor Mark Francey, the event, dubbed “Baptize California,” drew approximately 30,000 attendees from more than 300 churches across the state.
Participants of all ages publicly declared their faith through water baptism, either in the ocean or in portable baptisteries set up along the sandy shoreline. As the waves crashed, Pastor Francey addressed the crowd, exclaiming, “You were part of the largest water baptism in American history. Who thinks that God could do it in the other states of America?”
The event, now in its second year, surpassed last year’s turnout of 6,000 baptisms, signifying a growing momentum in the movement. Organizers view the event as a spiritual catalyst, sparking hopes for a national revival. Next month, they plan to take the vision further with “Baptize America,” an event designed to unite thousands of churches in synchronized baptisms across the nation on June 8, which coincides with Pentecost Sunday.
Pastor Francey believes the timing of the next event is divinely significant. Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, and Francey sees this as a powerful symbol of revival.
“We’re going to flood local churches in every single one of our states, and we’re going to see a mass water baptism across our land,” he proclaimed. The goal of Baptize America is not to elevate a single church or denomination but to unite believers from diverse backgrounds in a public declaration of faith.
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The Baptize America team is actively recruiting churches nationwide to participate. Their message is clear: “If God can do it in California, He can do it in any state. And if He can do it in America, He can do it in any other nation in the world.”
Among those baptized was 71-year-old Joanne, who had considered baptism for four decades but never took the step. As she emerged from the waters, Pastor Francey prayed over her, saying, “We pray that you would rise up out of these waters with a new nature and a new life.”
The day was not just about the numbers but about transforming lives. Pastor Francey emphasized that the true measure of success is not merely how many people are baptized but how many are connected to local churches afterward. To ensure this, everyone baptized received resources from an online database to help them find a local church.
Worship performances by Bethel Music, Kari Jobe, and Cody Carnes filled the beach with praise, underscoring the day’s spirit of unity and worship. Francey shared that the idea for Baptize California came during a time of prayer two years ago, where he felt God calling him to promote baptism as a way to strengthen local churches.
Reflecting on the day’s success, he said, “This isn’t about a single church or a one-time event. Our heart is to unite the local church, to work together, and to build a lasting community of faith.”
As the Baptize America movement gears up for its June 8 event, Pastor Francey remains hopeful. “Ultimately, our desire is to make the Day of Pentecost the day that Christendom celebrates water baptism,” he said, drawing a parallel to the Book of Acts, where a prayer meeting led to bold preaching and the baptism of 3,000 new believers.
Organizers are calling on churches nationwide to participate in Baptize America, believing that the revival seen in California can spread across the country and beyond.
As the event’s website proclaims, “Our nation and the nations of the earth will bear witness that God is not done with America. It will be saved.”