At the website noted just below the final sentence of this paragraph you can read this: ‘Revival is sweeping the shore! Over 7,000 people flooded the waters of Huntington Beach for the largest single-day baptism in American history — and this is just the beginning, with an even bigger nationwide movement rising on June 8. More than 7,000 people were baptized Saturday in the waters off Huntington Beach, Calif., in what organizers called the largest single-day baptism event in American history — and a milestone leading up to an even larger gathering planned for June. It was the second year in a row for the “Baptize California” gathering, which saw 6,000 baptized along Huntington Beach last year but a record 7,750 this year. The all-day event stretched until the evening, with men and women, young and old alike, lining up to publicly declare their faith in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean as well as in portable baptistries. Bethel Music and the husband-and-wife team of Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe were among the featured singers. Some 30,000 people were in attendance. “You were part of the largest water baptism in American history,” pastor Mark Francey of Oceans Church, which hosted the campaign, told the crowd. “Who thinks that God could do it in the other states of America?” The first person baptized Saturday was a 71-year-old woman, Joanne, who told organizers she had considered baptism for 40 years but kept procrastinating. “We now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Francey said as the woman entered the ocean. “We pray that you would rise up out of these waters with a new nature and a new life.”’ Article: Record 7,750 Baptized in California in Largest Water Baptism in U.S. History.
Then, in addition to the above, please read about another event that happened this past weekend that shows that revival is truly happening in California. In the article Thousands Accept Christ at California Harvest Crusade, you can read the following:
‘A spiritual revival is spreading like wildfire across California. Over the weekend, nearly 50,000 people piled into Angels Stadium to hear the Gospel message delivered by Pastor Greg Laurie at his Harvest Crusade. “People like to write California off. But God is not done with our state. The last great spiritual awakening, the Jesus Revolution started here. I pray it will happen here again!” the Southern California pastor said on social media. Thousands of people responded during the invitation – so many that the fire marshal had to shut down access to the baseball field. They also had to turn people away once the stadium reached full capacity. More than 200,000 watched the crusade service online. And more than 500 radio stations broadcast the program life. “What an unforgettable night at Angel Stadium! God showed up in a spectacular way, as He always does, pouring out His Spirit in a tangible, powerful manner,” Laurie said. “We experienced epic worship moments throughout the evening, especially when 45,000 voices sang ‘The Blessing’ with Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes at full volume—it was truly a taste of Heaven. Laurie, the pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, said the heart of the Harvest Crusade, for the past 35 years, has been the proclamation of the Gospel. He urged Christians to “pray for all those who invited Christ into their lives” that they might be “seed planted on good ground” and grow strong in their faith.’
Revival happens when people desire it. Lukewarm, compromised, ungracious faith does not result in revival but in playing church. We need to see that revival can happen and is happening elsewhere. What are the things we need to do to have God send revival here? That’s the question of the day.
