Hundreds of people gathered on Boscombe Beach in Bournemouth, England, last weekend as five local churches came together for a joint outdoor service.
Held during the warm weather, the event drew both church members and passersby, some of whom chose to stay for the entire service.
The churches involved were Lansdowne Church, Love Church, Catch the Fire, Coastline Vineyard, and Bournemouth Community Church. Worship songs were shared online ahead of time so that everyone could take part, and the singing was followed by baptisms in the sea. Each church had its own section along the shore, marked by flags, where they carried out the baptisms.
Originally, 67 people had signed up to be baptised, but more stepped forward during the service. In total, 92 individuals publicly expressed a commitment to follow Jesus.
Mark Smailes, associate pastor at Lansdowne Church, said the idea had come up several times during previous joint gatherings. Planning the event involved working closely with the local council and coordinating between the different churches.
“There were lots of people on the beach that day,” he said. “Some just stopped for a few minutes, but others watched everything from start to finish.”
Among those baptised was a man in his late twenties who had previously identified as an atheist. According to him, he had been recommended by a friend to watch the film The Passion of Christ. “He had sought out our Church, wanting to know more about Jesus,” said Mark Smailes.
Another individual who had overcome drug and alcohol addiction said:
“The second I gave my life to Christ I was instantly relieved of the bondage of addiction. This [Baptism] means everything to me. I owe my life to Christ, so to be baptised in his name is unbelievable.”
Smailes reflected on the day with gratitude: “It’s about meeting people where they are and sharing the message of hope. We’re thankful to be part of that.”
