A reported 12,000 people were baptized in and around the waters of the Pacific Ocean yesterday as part of Baptize California, billed as the “largest synchronized day of water baptism in American history.”
Baptize California is a “statewide movement of water baptisms on Pentecost Sunday” that unites local churches, including Saddleback Church, Sandals Church, Zoe Church, Restoration Life Church, and Higher Visions Church, under “a part of theology we can all agree on, which is the public profession of faith through water baptism.”
While the flagship event took place in Huntington Beach, there were dozens of regional baptisms across California, with many people signing up to partake in the festivities beforehand and others deciding to get baptized spontaneously.
Along with the baptisms, there was live music from Bethel Worship, Martin Smith (Of Deliriou5), and Sean Feucht of #Letusworship fame.
Notably, the event encouraged anyone who wanted to “publicly declare their faith in Jesus Christ” to be baptized, even if that meant being baptized away from their local church.
