Colorado Baptists celebrated a record-breaking 1,046 baptisms in 2023 — nearly doubling the previous year’s total of 550 — at their annual meeting on Oct. 14–15.
Held at Vista Grande Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, the gathering emphasized “Gospel Faithfulness in a Skeptical Age,” inspired by 1 Peter 3:15.
Executive Director Mike Proud attributed much of the baptism increase to outreach on college campuses, particularly through the Christian Challenge program, similar to Baptist Campus Ministries in other states. Proud noted the impact on campuses near Longs Peak Baptist Association and in Grand Junction, where more students are connecting with faith communities.
Other celebrations
The 68th annual meeting also featured a missions festival showcasing Colorado’s cultural diversity, with representatives from the state’s 365 churches, which collectively speak over 25 languages. International churches shared food from their homelands, enhancing the event’s multicultural atmosphere. Nearly 250 attendees participated in the celebration, underscoring the growth of Colorado’s Baptist community and its mission to reach a wide array of cultural and linguistic groups. The gathering reflected both a growing engagement among young people and a commitment to inclusivity and community outreach across the state.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was compiled by The Baptist Paper, with reporting by the Colorado Baptist General Convention.
