In an extraordinary moment of spiritual awakening, thousands of Americans publicly declared their Christian faith through baptism on Pentecost Sunday in churches and outdoor venues across the country.

According to the Christian Post, Organized by the initiative Baptize America, the revival led to more than 28,000 people being baptized nationwide in a coordinated effort across more than 1,000 locations.

The large-scale event, led by Pastor Mark Francey of Oceans Church in California, aimed to mark the day of Pentecost as a pivotal moment for public declarations of faith. Francey, who founded Baptize America, said the idea emerged during a period of prayer and reflection.

He described receiving a spiritual message instructing him to make Pentecost a day for mass baptisms, mirroring the significance of Pentecost in the Christian tradition as the "birth of the church." That vision, Francey said, came to him in what he described as an “open vision” at Pirate’s Cove, California.

“It burst out of a time of prayer,” Francey recalled, noting that he heard "a still, small voice" prompting him to set the movement in motion on Pentecost. He hoped to see a day when people could walk into any church and experience baptism as a step in their spiritual journey.

Record Number of Baptisms Across the U.S.

More than 600 churches nationwide joined the initiative, creating a widespread impact through over 1,000 coordinated gatherings. Francey estimated the total number of people baptized in the U.S. alone to be between 28,000 and 30,000.

In addition to the domestic events, Baptize America also had an international reach. In Canada, a partner organization called Baptize Canada reportedly baptized around 1,100 people on the same day. Smaller but spiritually significant gatherings also took place in Paraguay and Sweden.

According to Francey, the support of leading churches was instrumental to the project’s success. He said that five of the ten largest churches in the nation participated in the revival, contributing to the momentum and visibility of the effort.

Local Churches Unite in Community Impact

Individual congregations across multiple states took part, including Victory Christian Fellowship in New Castle, Delaware, which baptized more than a dozen people during their service. In Florida, GrowLife Church in Land O’Lakes celebrated baptizing 22 people.

Shoreline Church in Old Lyme, Connecticut, reported 23 baptisms, while Living Waters Fellowship Church in Windsor Locks, also in Connecticut, joined the coordinated baptism events. Each church’s participation reflected a local extension of the broader spiritual movement.

Victory Christian Fellowship Pastor Laurie Idahosa described the experience as “simply incredible,” adding that God is drawing people closer and their church is ready to support that call on a global level.

Pastors Reflect on a Spiritual Awakening

GrowLife Church Pastor Kandi Bailey saw the event as a powerful symbol of unity among believers. She said, "We wanted to be a part of a larger vision—people coming together to say, 'I'm a follower of Jesus.'" She added that seeing so many profess their faith was a “beautiful heavenly perspective.”

Bailey emphasized her belief that a spiritual movement is taking place among today’s generation. She said it’s about recognizing God’s love for the world and encouraging others to find purpose in faith.

From Connecticut, Pastors Michael and Meredith Calo expressed that the Holy Spirit is particularly active in current, uncertain times, saying that young people, in particular, are “experiencing a hunger for understanding.”

Vision Born in California Continues to Spread

“There is hope for everyone,” the Calos emphasized, adding that Jesus offers that hope to a divided and struggling world. They encouraged both repentance and baptism as symbolic connections to the message of the Kingdom of God.

In reflecting on the broader significance, Pastor Vasily Ivanov stated, “God is always on the move.” He emphasized the urgency of the message, saying that now is the moment for people to witness God’s work and be part of it.

This national effort follows another significant spiritual gathering led by Francey earlier in the year. In May, his Baptize California initiative saw more than 7,700 people declare their Christian faith, including around 1,100 individuals who decided to follow Jesus spontaneously, without any earlier registration.

Future of the Movement Remains Promising

Francey credits the success of the Pentecost event to divine alignment and collaboration among influential leaders in the Christian community. “It was just the hand of God,” he said, adding that the timing and partnerships came together in a way no person could orchestrate alone.

“When what you’re doing is bigger, better, and smarter than you, you really can’t take credit,” he reflected, pointing to the unity and passion demonstrated by churches nationwide as evidence of a greater plan at work.

As Baptize America continues to grow, Francey and other leaders involved say they remain hopeful this revival could inspire many more people, both believers and seekers, to explore the Christian faith and find meaning through it.