JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It was a sea of hope at The Church of Eleven22’s beach baptism event at Hanna Park in Jacksonville. 

Nearly 2,000 people publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus among a huge crowd of supporters.

Lead Pastor Joby Martin says this is a day of celebration.

“Baptism is a public declaration that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. And it’s not the water that baptizes you. It’s that relationship you have with Christ through the Gospel of Jesus,” Martin said. “And so this is an opportunity for us to celebrate these people whose sins have been washed away and they’ve been resurrected to a newness of life.”

Each year the beach baptism has grown in size. The church said more than 11,000 were in attendance this year.