4,500 were Baptized at the ‘Jesus Revolution Baptism’ Event. Greg Laurie says people waited in Lines that Were ‘Half a Mile Long’

Some 4,500 people were baptized at a mass “Jesus Revolution” baptismal event at Pirate’s Cove Beach in California Saturday that pastor and organizer Greg Laurie says may have been the largest mass baptism in American history.

Laurie said, “We give God all the glory for this. I think this is a real sign of spiritual awakening.”

Laurie and his Harvest ministry organized the mass baptism at Pirate’s Cove, the same beach used for mass baptisms during the Jesus Movement 50 years ago. The beach was seen in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution.

One month ago, 4,166 people were baptized at Pirate’s Cove in an event dubbed “Baptize SoCal” organized by Oceans Church.

Laurie said, “People like to talk about the good old days and back during the Jesus Movement when we had the big baptisms there. … Let me just tell you, because I was there: We never had a baptism on the scale.” 

Laurie said about 3,800 people had signed up to be baptized, but many more than that showed up. When including those who were not baptized, some 20,000 people were in attendance.

Observers said people were on top of rocks and all over the Pirate’s Cove area. When asked about the length of the lines to be baptized some said, “We wait in lines longer than this for Disneyland – we’re happy to do this.”