Mass baptisms on a Florida Beach and at a Tennessee university have freshened forecasts of a coming revival in US churches and on American campuses despite daily headlines about how deeply the nation is divided on political and social policies.
A Tampa church recently baptised nearly 1,000 men, women, and children at the city’s Fort de Soto beach. It began on Easter Sunday when the Grace Family Church decided to do something different to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.
Associate pastor Daryl Black told Christian broadcaster K-LOVE the church didn’t want a traditional Easter event, so it invited all of Tampa Bay to be a part of the city’s biggest church service. More than 30,000 packed the main football stadium.
Legendary former NFL coach Tony Dungy shared a message with the crowd. “My mum was a Sunday school teacher, so I heard the word about Jesus. I accepted Christ into my life, but I was just living to be an athlete and a student,” he shared.
“I got to the Steelers. I was 21 years old and there were about 15 guys on the team that said, You can’t just do it this way. You can’t just have a uniform and be on the sidelines. You got to get in the game. You got to play. You got to put God first in your life all the time. And that’s when I kind of changed my life around,” he told the crowd.
The church’s lead pastor, Craig Altman shared about the true meaning of Easter: “The greatest comeback was Jesus Christ was crucified and buried and for three days He was dead. They thought all hope was lost, but then God resurrected Him from the dead. And that’s symbolic for us, that God can raise us up into a new life and bring a lot of hope,” Pastor Altman told Fox News.
Later, more than 1,200 people ran out of their seats to the stadium floor responding to the call to give their lives to the Lord. “All over the stadium people were coming to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ,” Pastor Black observed.
CBN News reports the beach baptisms of most of the new believers took place last month. Even random beachgoers asked if they could be baptised as well. Pastor Black answered: “Yes, you can. Do you know Jesus? Let me introduce you to Him and you can get baptised right now.” At the end of the day, he reflected: “I baptised so many people that my back was hurting when I was done. But it was worth it.”
He explained Grace Family Church is following up with all those who were baptised by encouraging them to take part in a discipleship program, adding: “There is a wave of revival that is coming. Bigger than what we’ve ever seen before. Young people really want the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s more than just the religion. It’s more than just rituals. It is a real relationship.”
That spiritual awakening is also evident on some American college campuses in stark contrast to the violence and hate being displayed at a few elite universities. More than 8,000 students from the University of Tennessee recently gathered to praise Jesus.
It was the latest Unite US event that takes the Gospel message to college students. “We have been waiting for a move like this all school year,” one student told FOX & Friends, adding: “There are just no words for the experience,” as she described how students fell to their knees and sang Speak the Name of Jesus at the finale of the event, before 150 of them rushed to the front to give their lives to Christ.
“There has been so much brokenness and weight on our campus and we have been praying for a move (of God) and I just pray that that continues,” another student added. Other comments included: “Just seeing the presence of the Lord fill the room and how people from all different backgrounds came together for one reason and to worship Jesus is just so awesome,” and “I think we need love in our country and I believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.”
Unite US founder Tonya Prewett told CBN News: “It’s all a move of God where we’ve seen over 800 students baptised on campuses. We’re just being obedient, we’re just walking in obedience and God’s gone before us and He’s moving in incredible ways.”
Photo: Facebook – Grace Family Church
