CORONA DEL MAR : Mass Baptism to Be Held at Pirate’s Cove

In what might be the largest-ever religious ritual of its type in the county, about 3,000 people are expected to be baptized tonight at Corona del Mar State Beach as the Summer Harvest Crusade continues into its fifth day.

“To our knowledge, not since the days of the New Testament have there been so many people baptized,” said Ed Steele, a spokesman for the crusade. “In the New Testament, about the same number were baptized, so we’re pretty sure this hasn’t been done in the country or anywhere else in the world since then.”

Officials of the free Christian revival say the baptisms will be performed by 100 pastors at Pirate’s Cove.

Since Sunday, more than 45,000 people have attended the six-day crusade at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa. Steele said that since opening day, more than 4,000 people have signed cards stating that they want Jesus to come into their lives.

The crusade features the music of Christian rock bands and sermons by evangelist Greg Laurie, pastor of Riverside’s Harvest Christian Fellowship.

“The type of music that is heard at this event is in touch with what young people are listening to today,” said Steele. “This just has a message to it.”

Many of those in attendance were involved in the original Jesus Movement that began in the 1970s. Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa was a large part of that movement.