A recent massive gathering of Christians across California reportedly broke a record when participants collectively held the world’s largest-ever baptism. Baptize California, an event that unfolded over a Saturday and Sunday at various locations throughout the Golden State saw a historic number of people immersed at individual churches and during a main-stage event at Huntington Beach. The two-day extravaganza showcases countless examples of life change and spiritual renewal, featured speakers, worship music from leaders like Sean Feucht, and more. According to preliminary numbers, there were over 6,000 people baptized at the Huntington Beach location, alone, with an additional 6,000 people immersed in churches across the state. “You can smell another Great Awakening in the air like rain before it hits,” Pastor Francey, who founded the event said. “God lit a match! If God can do this in the church in California, it can — and it will — happen in the rest of America!”

“It was a surreal and extraordinary day!” Francey told CBN News. “It felt like we were living in the pages of the book of Acts!” And the individual stories coming from Baptize California are truly incredible. Francey shared just one such story, telling CBN News how a Satanist accepted Jesus and “immediately got water baptized.” “You could see the change immediately,” he said. The preacher said 1,000 people accepted Jesus at Huntington Beach, with thousands coming to watch the event unfold. “The crowd steadily swelled to — at one point — as much as 14,000,” Francey said. “Hundreds of churches linked arms to accomplish what happened.”

Remarkably, this prompting happened before the Asbury University revival took form — and before Francey found out about “Jesus Revolution,” the feature film about Greg Laurie’s life and the Jesus movement. The movie, which made more than $52 million at the box office, sparked mass intrigue and spiritual fervour in many nationwide. All of this was confirmation for Francey that God was at work. Just weeks after Baptize SoCal took place May 28, 2023, and broke baptism records, Laurie’s own event inspired by “Jesus Revolution” — also held at Pirate’s Cove — shattered the Baptize SoCal record, with over 4,500 baptisms.  Francey’s vision went well beyond his Baptize SoCal efforts. He said he also felt God call him to expand the efforts, which brings us to Baptize California, this year’s endeavour. With the success of Baptize California, Francey is already planning to launch Baptize America next year, setting his sights beyond California. “Now we are gearing up to do this and unite the church all over America,” he said.

This good news of the “gospel of the Kingdom” needs to be read in the context of Jesus’ warnings about the state of the world in the end times. It will be like the days of Noah when lawlessness abounded “and you will be hated by all nations for my names sake“.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14