4d795e47 Auburn University baptism. Credit Michael Floyd.jpg

Auburn students rush into lake for impromptu baptisms as football coach lends a hand at massive worship event

Alabama College Students Experience Mass Baptism After Campus Worship Program

More than 200 students at an Alabama college found themselves immersed in a unique spiritual experience recently. It all unfolded in one eventful night following a campus worship program that attracted hundreds.

Lake Baptism Gathering

This spiritual gathering took place on a Tuesday night at Auburn’s Red Barn venue, conveniently situated half a mile from Auburn University’s Neville Arena. The event that triggered this extraordinary occurrence was “Unite Auburn,” a worship event that drew an immense crowd.

Notable Attendees

“Unite Auburn” featured performances by the Christian worship band Passion and hosted speakers like Christian author Jennie Allen and Rev. Jonathan Pokluda, the lead pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.

A twist in the story emerged when an individual expressed a desire to be baptized, but a baptismal tub was unavailable. This led students to gather at the nearby lake.

Coach Freeze Joins In

Auburn Tigers’ head football coach, Hugh Freeze, also graced the event with his presence and even stepped into the water to offer assistance, as reported by Montgomery-based WSFA. Video footage captured Freeze aiding in the baptism of one of the school’s football players.

Spontaneous Gathering

Auburn senior Michael Floyd documented the unfolding scene, stating, “This was a great moment of Auburn being Auburn! Thousands gathered to unapologetically seek Jesus, and hundreds took their next step.”

Moving Moments

Photographs and videos from the event showcased hundreds of college students lining the lake’s banks, taking their turn to be baptized. The entire process spanned two hours and left an indelible impression on the witnesses.

Kenzie Gay, a senior at Auburn University, described the scene, saying, “It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever gotten to witness because there was such a genuine joy and sense of peace in the air.”

Unplanned Faith

What made these baptisms particularly special was that they weren’t part of a pre-planned religious event. Instead, it was a spontaneous gathering of college students moved by their desire to follow Jesus, as Auburn student Mateo Arenas pointed out.

Arenas shared his experience, saying, “It took me about 45 minutes to get to where the baptisms were held due to the amount of traffic of people who wanted to go witness the event themselves. Once there, it was quite a sight to see, people dedicating their lives to Jesus without fear, just a whole lot of love.”

A Spiritual Awakening

This mass baptism at the southern college campus echoes a similar spiritual awakening that occurred at Asbury University in Kentucky in February. Students there refused to leave after a chapel service, leading to continuous prayer sessions and widespread worship on the campus.

Conclusion

In both instances, the power of faith and unity among students transformed ordinary campus environments into extraordinary spiritual gatherings. These moments serve as reminders of the profound impact spirituality can have on young minds and communities.

(Fox News’ Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.)