Sixty nations uniting churches, pastors and believers across the world are participating in the Baptize the World day on Sunday, which will see thousands of believers publicly declaring their faith in Jesus through water baptism.
The organisers say the global event will feature a livestream from the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, USA and baptism footage from around the world including from Co-Church in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal and Church of the King in Durbanville, Cape Town. Africa will also be represented by churches in Uganda, Burkina Faso, Kenya and Burundi.
Bevan Russell, who leads Co-Church with his wife, Tamlyn, told Gateway News he got involved with Baptize the World through his personal relationship with Ben Houston of Oceans Church, California who was a key player in the start, a few years ago, of Baptize California, which hosted mass beach baptisms at Pirates Cove, where many believers were baptised during the Jesus Movement revival of the 1960s and 70s.
He said he thought that the Baptize the World initiative on Sunday, which grew out of Baptize California, was an incredible focal point opportunity. “In a church context, we should all be be trusting for leading people towards baptism regularly. But I just know there is strength or momentum in having these focal points. So, we have a real desire as a church to just play a small part.”
Bevan said four people from their small church community have committed to being baptised on Sunday and a few more might join. He said he had also been trying to “sow a seed” about starting a “Baptise Ballito” movement to facilitate collaboration and cohesion among local churches. Nothing has been started yet but there had been some “good conversations”.
Baptize the World reports that leading up to Sunday’s global baptism campaign, more than 1 100 people were baptised at Pirates Cove on May 2 with scores of Southern California churches working together. The Baptize California movement started in 2023, when more than 4 000 people were baptised during Baptize SoCal. In 2024, more than 6 000 people were baptised in Huntington Beach alone, and more than 12 000 were baptised statewide during Baptize California, with every California county participating. That momentum continued in 2025 with approximately 26 000 baptisms during Baptize America, with all 50 states participating.
“Baptize California was never meant to end at the shoreline,” said Pastor Mark Francey, lead pastor of Oceans Church. “What we witnessed at Pirates Cove is part of something much bigger that God is doing across the nations.”
For many who attended the Pirates Cove gathering on May 2, the day was deeply personal. Participants shared stories of faith, transformation, healing, and new beginnings as they stepped into the ocean to be baptised, often surrounded by family members, friends, church leaders, and loved ones.
John Gasperetti traveled from Casper, Wyoming, to be baptized at Pirates Cove after hearing about the gathering from his girlfriend, who lives in Nevada and attended last year’s event. “I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, and I wanted to make my faith public,” Gasperetti said. “This was the next step in my journey of following Him, becoming more like Him, and walking in His plans.”
The day’s visual impact included hundreds of people gathered along the sand and shoreline, pastors baptising participants in the ocean, worship echoing across Pirates Cove, and families celebrating together on the beach.
Jim Loreto of Southern California said he came to Pirates Cove seeking renewal after a difficult season. “We were going through a lot of stress for the last several months, and I wanted a whole new rebirth, a fresh connection with Jesus,” Loreto said. “Renewal is what I wanted, a fresh start.”
For more information about Baptize California, Baptize America, or Baptize the World, visit https://baptize.org. Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baptizetheworld and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baptizeamerica.
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