Baptize California Pastor Says America Is ‘on the Precipice’ of a Spiritual Awakening
Three years ago, Pastor Mark Francey sensed God calling him to launch a mass baptism event in a state many had written off -- California -- in hopes of sparking a major spiritual movement. The pastor of Oceans Church in Orange County obeyed -- first by launching 2023's "Baptize SoCal," where more than 4,000 people were baptized at Pirate's Cove in Corona del Mar, Calif., and then with 2024's "Baptize California," which saw 6,000 baptized along Huntington Beach on a Saturday and another 6,000 in churches across the state on Sunday. This year's Baptize California at Huntington Beach culminated with 7,752 individuals immersed -- possibly marking the largest one-day baptism event in American history.
All total, hundreds of churches came together to participate.
"It's hard to wrap vocabulary and words around what happened," Francey said. "It really feels like you're living in the pages of the book of Acts."
Now, Francey is organizing the biggest event yet: Baptize America, which will rally thousands of churches on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, for what is being called the "largest synchronized day of water baptism in world history." Unlike past events held in a single location, Baptize America will unfold at churches and gatherings across all 50 states -- all united in their faith in Christ. It is a multi-denominational movement, with the number of participating churches still growing.
"Psalms 133 says that where God's people are in unity, God commands a blessing," Francey told Crosswalk Headlines. "And so interdenominationally, from one side of the church world to the other side, we have some of the great Baptist churches, evangelical churches, Pentecostal churches, all linking arms together around one of the major creeds of the faith."
Francey sees signs of revival all over the world, with college campuses drawing thousands in worship, Gen Z showing an increased interest in faith, and -- of course -- mass baptisms transpiring in what is often viewed as a secular state, far from the Bible Belt.
"If we can share what God's doing in California, the state that everybody wrote off, using the generation that no one believed in -- Gen Z -- wouldn't it be like Jesus to use the Nazareth of the world to start the great movements that would awaken the nations?"
This year's Baptize California drew more than 7,752 individuals for baptism -- despite anything but picture-perfect weather. Rain fell in the morning and returned throughout the day, and instead of the usual California sunshine, the air was cool and overcast. Ponchos were prevalent.
"You're literally witnessing lives being transformed before your very eyes," he said. "You're watching people in tanks and in the ocean by the thousands -- crying and families hugging and people praying. It's just a very surreal environment."
America is on the cusp of revival -- if not already there, he said.
"It does feel like from 2020 till now, a very similar contextual environment that we saw in the Jesus Revolution in the 60s and the 70s," he said. "It does feel like God is bending a generation back to Him, and we're excited. It just feels like we're on the precipice. I think between now and 2030 we might see the greatest spiritual awakening in the history of America."
Worship leader Kari Jobe, who, along with her husband Cody Carnes, sang at this year's Baptize California, wrote on social media days after the event: "California, you're burning in our hearts. Revival is among us. God is moving, and these are special days we're living in."
The desperation brought on by the pandemic -- combined with rising loneliness and a lack of hope -- may have led to this moment, Francey said.
"No revival has ever come out of a time of prosperity. It's always come out of a time of distress, of turbulence," he said. "... I think we're in the middle of the beginning stages of something really, really significant in America."
Related Article: Record 7,750 Baptized in California in Largest Water Baptism in U.S. History
Photo Credit: © Baptize California
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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Originally published May 16, 2025.
