More than 7,750 people were baptized in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Huntington Beach, California, on Saturday, an event organizers say marked the largest single-day baptism in American history.

Hosted by Oceans Church and led by Pastor Mark Francey,  “Baptise California” drew approximately 30,000 attendees from more than 300 churches across the state. Participants of all ages publicly professed their faith through baptisms in the ocean or portable baptisteries positioned along the beach.

“You were part of the largest water baptism in American history,” Francey told the crowd. “Who thinks that God could do it in the other states of America?”

The mass baptism, now in its second year, exceeded last year’s turnout of 6,000 and is seen by organizers as a spiritual catalyst for an even larger national event planned for next month. Called “Baptize America,” the initiative aims to unite thousands of churches across the United States in what is described as “the largest synchronized baptism in history.”

The next event will be held on June 8 and falls on Pentecost Sunday, a date that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles in the Christian tradition. Organizers believe the timing is symbolic and strategic, pointing to revival and national spiritual renewal.

The Baptise America campaign seeks to unite churches from diverse backgrounds around a common theological practice: the public declaration of faith through water baptism. Its website states, “This is not about any single church. It’s about united churches across the nation, pursuing the Great Commission’s fulfilment.”