In an incredible display of faith in action, thousands of Christians across the country declared their commitment to Jesus by getting baptized on Pentecost Sunday, 2025, as part of an event that organizers said was the largest synchronized baptism in the history of America.
For context, press accounts confirmed that on Sunday, June 8, 2025, over 26,000 baptisms took place across the United States as part of the “Baptize America” campaign, an event that stemmed from the “Baptize California” ministry, which was created by Ocean Church Pastor Mark Francey.
After the event, Pastor Francey told Crosswalk, “This wasn’t just about a moment in the water; it was about launching people into a life with Jesus, surrounded by a community that can help them grow.” He added, “We witnessed countless personal transformations and families baptized together; it was a movement of hope.”
In addition, Pastor Francey said that the goal of the event was “to unite the local church, to work together, to really reach our world, and then to build a kingdom by connecting all of these people that are making the decision to get connected to the local church.” He added, “For us, the win isn’t the count of how many got baptized, really, it’s going to be how that translates into how we are getting people connected to the local church.”
Building on his explanation of the event’s mission, Pastor Francey said that he believes that “God is not done with America and California.” He continued, “In the 1960s, revival followed campus riots and national division. Light shines brightest in dark windows of time. …If this can happen in California, it can spread across America.”
Furthermore, in an Instagram recap of the event, Oceans Church wrote, “We gathered at historic Pirate’s Cove for Southern California’s Regional Baptism, joining with churches all across America for Baptize America — @baptizeamerica — the largest synchronized baptism event in our nation’s history!”
Continuing, the post explained that “hundreds of churches” had been involved in the event, and that “countless lives were forever changed as people publicly declared their faith in Jesus!” The church’s recap concluded, “Here in SoCal, the presence of God was tangible testimonies, salvations, baptisms, revival is here and He’s just getting started! We are in awe of all God did across our nation this weekend — to Him be all the glory!”
When CBN News reporters spoke to individuals who committed their lives to Jesus and got baptized at the event, one said, “It felt like God was there,” going on to describe the experience as “just amazing.” Another participant added, “God was pulling all my heartstrings,” he said. “So, you know, [I had to] come out here and finally accept Jesus as my Savior. And today was the perfect opportunity.”
Watch CBN’s coverage of the event:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video