AZMN churches report large increase in baptisms in 2024

God is at work in Arizona.

In 2024, Arizona Mission Network churches baptized 42% more people than in 2023 — the highest number of baptisms recorded in about 20 years.

Annual Church Profile reporting for 2024 also revealed increases in church membership; giving; and attendance at worship services, Bible studies and VBS.

“Our churches reported 2,786 baptisms in 2024, which was the highest total since 2005,” David Johnson, AZMN executive director, wrote in a May report to the state’s Convention Council. “We are working on finding out the reasons for this increase, but we are excited about what the Lord is doing in our churches.”

The 2,786 baptisms reported by AZMN churches surpassed the 1,957 baptisms in 2023.

Those numbers come from the Annual Church Profile, which Arizona Mission Network churches share each year to document everything from baptisms to attendance. In 2024, 57% of network churches shared statistics by submitting an Annual Church Profile. As more churches share their numbers year to year, the statewide picture becomes increasingly comprehensive.

“The main reason why we report numbers on our Annual Church Profile is to celebrate the work and glory of God in our state,” said Monty Patton, AZMN associate executive director. “The number of baptisms reported is the highest number recorded in about 20 years, and that is with only 258 of our 456 churches responding. We celebrate and rejoice, because each one of those baptism numbers is a real person who has experienced the grace and power of Jesus.”

Compared to other state conventions across the country, the AZMN saw the third largest percentage increase in baptisms from 2023 to 2024, following the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention with a 63.7% increase and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention with a 45% increase, according to Baptist Press.

This is “the first time since the late 1980s into the early 1990s (that) the Southern Baptist Convention saw four consecutive years of growth in baptism,” Baptist Press reported on April 30.

In Arizona, the network has set a goal of reaching 3,000 baptisms annually, said Eddy Pearson, AZMN evangelism and discipleship facilitator.

To reach that goal, the AZMN offers tools, coaching and resources that help churches develop cultures of evangelism and prayer, Pearson said. Funding from the North American Mission Board has made much of that possible, he added.

Beyond the intentional equipping of churches, Pearson also believes that coming out of the pandemic has created urgency among believers to share the gospel with friends and family members, contributing to the rising number of baptisms.

In addition to the increase in baptisms, from 2023 to 2024 AZMN churches also saw growth in other areas.

• Worship attendance grew from 28,237 people to 31,542 people.
• Average Sunday School and Bible study attendance grew from 16,015 to 18,166.
• VBS enrollment increased from 8,686 to 9,397.
• Churches’ undesignated receipts and Cooperative Program giving also grew.

To keep this momentum going, Pearson said both churches and individuals need to consider what’s next.

“What’s my church’s next step, from a leadership perspective, to be moving the gospel forward?” he said. “And then personally, what is my next step in cultivating better conversations about Jesus where I live, work, play and worship?”

Johanna Willett, a freelance writer living in Tucson, is a member of Mountain View Baptist Church, Tucson.