AZMN sets 2027 baptism goal

Following a 20-year high for reported baptisms in 2025, the Arizona Mission Network has a new challenge for churches: Baptize 4,000 people in 2027.

And while baptisms are much more than numbers, numbers are important. Each baptism represents a reason to celebrate another believer following God’s command to be baptized. It becomes a double blessing when a person accepts Jesus as their savior and is baptized at the same time.

“Thirteen pastors and leaders met for 40 hours over three months to establish an evangelism budget and set a vision for baptisms,” said Eddy Pearson, the AZMN evangelism and discipleship director. “That was in 2020, a few months before the pandemic.”

New goals for the future

At that time, the team created a formula based on church attendance and the year’s projected goals to determine approximately how many people each AZMN church would likely baptize —  the number of attendees multiplied by 8%. For example, a church of 75 could expect to baptize six people.

In 2020, the goal was to reach 3,000 baptisms in Arizona by 2025. During the pandemic baptisms dropped by almost 1,000.

AZMN churches were not deterred.

By the end of 2025, churches reported 3,245 baptisms for the year, making it the strongest response in 20 years. Leaders are trusting God for 3,500 baptisms in 2026 and 4,000 in 2027.

Celebrating God’s movement in Arizona 

These figures only take into account the churches that submitted a Celebration Report (also known as the Annual Church Profile). In the last three years, less than 60% of AZMN churches submitted that report.

“We want to celebrate the movement of God in Arizona,” said Pearson. “The key is securing these Celebration Reports. If even 75% of our churches report, we believe we could celebrate 4,000 baptisms. Every church, no matter the size, contributes to the evangelistic flow.”

The Celebration Report indicates the health of AZMN churches. It tracks generosity in giving, worship attendance, missions, discipleship (Sunday school and Bible study groups), VBS and new life in salvations and baptisms.

“It’s a good way for pastors to track the health of their church,” Pearson said. “They can see where they were five years ago; where they are today; and where their church is going.”

This allows leaders to gauge success and make changes if needed to achieve their visions for the spiritual growth of people in their care.

Paul Pyle, senior pastor at Mountain View Baptist Church in Tucson, celebrates a baptism. In 2025, Mountain View was in the top 26 of baptizing churches in the Arizona Mission Network. (Photo courtesy of Mountain View Baptist Church).

Your chance to “Fill the Tank”

There are two upcoming opportunities to intentionally celebrate baptisms at your church, with Fill the Tank Baptism Sundays scheduled for Oct. 25, 2026 and April 4, 2027. Every church in the Arizona Mission Network is encouraged to participate either individually or in partnership with another church.

Ashley Evans, former senior pastor at 22nd Street Baptist Church in Tucson and current AZMN missional engagement director, began practicing Fill the Tank Sundays by filling the tank for a day. If nobody was scheduled for baptism that day, in faith the church filled it anyway.

In Arizona, baptisms from 2024 to 2025 increased by 16.5 percent. The Southern Baptist Convention as a whole reported 4.96 percent increase.

Share your 2025 baptism photos and videos

God is at work in Arizona — and we want to celebrate together.

If you have photos or videos from 2025 baptisms at your church, we want to see them! Share your photos and/or videos at azmn.link/BaptismPhotos(opens in new tab), and we’ll compile them to showcase how God is changing lives in churches all over Arizona. We’ll share these photos and videos online, on social media and in a variety of other ways, so please make sure you have the permission of the people featured before you submit any media, including parent or guardian permission for photos and videos of minors. Please submit all media by September 25.

If you have any issues submitting photos or videos, please email office@azmn.org.

For more information on Fill the Tank Sundays, AZMN baptism goals and other resources for your church, visit azmn.org/church-evangelism/baptism.

Irene A. Harkleroad, a freelance writer living in Carefree, is a member of Black Mountain Baptist Church, Cave Creek.