Worthy Christian News > Christian > Nearly 1,000 people baptized at California beach gathering

Nearly 1,000 people baptized at California beach gathering

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Almost 1,000 people were baptized at a California beach Saturday, in what is described as a possible spiritual revival in the state, Christian Headlines reports. The record number of people had gathered at Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach to be baptized by Calvary Chapel Church, Chino Hills Pastor Jack Hibbs and his staff.

Discussing the event in an interview with CBN News, Chino Director Gina Gleason said the number of people who came to the beach was far greater than the number of those who generally attend indoor services at the Calvary Chapel Chino Hills: 300 people normally attend an indoor service. “It’s remarkable and a significant number,” Gleason said. “California may be experiencing a spiritual revival.”

Moreover, the baptisms followed a season of extraordinarily high attendance for the church’s summer services. After being in COVID-19 lockdown for a time, the church decided to resume indoor services: “When the governor began to clearly target the church, that’s when we were led by the Lord and Scripture to obey God rather than man,” Hibbs said.

“We are reaching the most amount of people ever with many thousands of people coming on Wednesdays and Sundays,” Hibbs told Champion Newspaper. “We have seen conversions, prayers, and people weeping with joy and conviction. I’ve never seen church like this,” Hibbs said.

The church does provide outdoor seating and hand sanitizers and it follows social distancing protocols. Participants can also follow services via radio transmission from their cars, Christian Headlines reports.