Two thousand people were baptized at a mass baptism in Southern California on July 27.
A week after Harvest Christian Fellowship’s annual Harvest Crusade, which drew 50,000 to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California—with 200,000 more tuning in online—Harvest hosted the second annual “Jesus Revolution Baptism” at Pirate’s Cove Beach in Corona Del Mar. Sixty-five pastors, elders and deacons helped with the baptism.
“One year ago,” Harvest pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie wrote, “we baptized 4,500 people; I didn’t think 2,000 more would come to be baptized this time.”
“And where is this happening?” he continued. “It’s happening in California! So many people are so quick to write our state off. They can’t get out of here fast enough, but I see that God is working.”
Laurie explained to The Christian Post that participants were walked through the significance of baptism, and each received a New Believer’s Bible, a copy of Scripture, filled with notes from Laurie to help new Christians grow in their faith. They were each contacted by participating churches for follow up.
“Additionally, they are enrolled in Harvest’s Gospel of John digital study guide and invited to join the Harvest Discipleship online community, which offers free online courses, small groups and other resources to help them grow in their faith,” Laurie said.
The July 20 Harvest Crusade—which featured a Gospel message from Laurie and music from Chris Tomlin, Brooke Ligertwood, Phil Wickham and Harvest Worship—saw 5,000 people make professions of faith in person and online. Attendees were invited to attend the Jesus Revolution Baptism the following Saturday.
Last July’s baptism of around 4,500 people at Harvest’s first Jesus Revolution Baptism was among the largest mass baptisms in American history. The location is particularly special, as it is the site where thousands of baptisms took place during the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and 1970s, during which Laurie himself was baptized.
Victor Chayasirisobhon, then-president of the California Southern Baptist Convention, told Baptist Press last year, “I hope to see this happen every year after the Harvest Crusade.”
“We continue to look for other creative ways to partner to fulfill the Great Commission,” he added.
