Oklahoma City Church Baptized Over 1,000 People in Water in 2024
Following several weeks of prayer and fasting, People's Church saw multitudes come to faith and be baptized in water last year.
When invited to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting by his football coach as a senior in high school, Herbert Cooper wasn’t interested. But there was to be free pizza, so he went.“Todd Thompson, a former kicker for the Oklahoma Sooners, was there,” Cooper recalls. “He spoke in a monotone voice about how Jesus saves and our need for Him.”
As captain of the football team, already being pursued to play college ball, Cooper openly wept as Jesus redeemed his soul that Thursday evening. He compares his salvation experience to Saul’s dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.
The following Sunday morning, Cooper attended church for the first time. He returned for the evening service and was baptized in water, as Jesus instructed His followers to do in Matthew 28:19. He was then invited to and became part of a discipleship class, studying Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God.
Now 49 years old and the founding and senior pastor of People’s Church in Oklahoma City, Cooper says, “Evangelism, water baptism, and discipleship are transformative, and they are personal for me.”
CREATING SPACE FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT
People’s Church is comprised of multiple campuses around Oklahoma City and one in Indianapolis. Collectively, approximately 6,000—7,000 people attend. In 2023 and 2024 combined, the church saw over 20,000 people make decisions for Jesus.
“Every week we give an altar call,” says Cooper. “We’ve worked to create a culture where people bring their family and friends who do not know Jesus. Most importantly, we engage in prayer and fasting. We must create space for the Holy Spirit to move.”
Every January, People’s Church does 21 days of prayer and fasting, with meetings held at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday, and at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Up to 3,000 people attend each meeting in person and online.
Every August, 21 days of prayer are held, as is a time of revival, in which attendees seek the face of God, crying out to Him on behalf of those who do not know Him. Cooper describes the revival services as a highlight of the year for the church, characterized by thousands of people together in the sanctuary, interceding for several hours.
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
This dedication to time in the presence of Jesus is what Cooper names as the catalyst for seeing so many people ready to publicly declare their faith through water baptism.
“Water baptism is the next step after salvation,” Cooper says. “You are not serious about following Jesus if you won’t do the very next thing He told us to do after putting our faith in Him. He did it by example.”
In 2024, 1,029 people took that step and were water baptized at People’s Church. In 2023, 994 were baptized. Of this number, Cooper says, children, teens, young adults, and senior citizens are all represented. Many are new believers, and many more are rededicating their lives to Jesus.
Shannon, who was baptized last year, says, “Growing up, I was loved from dysfunction.”
She feels she reached rock bottom when she was abused, blaming herself for what she endured. Some time after accepting an invitation to People’s Church Indianapolis, Shannon chose to be baptized. She says, “After that I felt different. I have fire in my soul to serve and know Jesus more.”
Dre began attending People’s Church Oklahoma City following an attempt to take his own life. He grew in faith, wanting to publicly declare his decision to follow Christ. He says, “Getting into the water, putting my feet in, it was as though weight was falling off me. Before I went down, I closed my eyes as tight as I could. I felt like God washed away my sins and has given me an opportunity to be the man that He needs me to be and the man I am destined to become. Every time you choose to walk with Christ, you are choosing better for yourself, and you are choosing better for your future.”
INTENTIONAL OPPORTUNITY
People’s Church deliberately makes water baptism visible, available and understandable. It is one of the subjects covered in their Growth Track classes, in-depth teaching is provided to those considering baptism, and it is taught in kids’ church.
Additionally, Cooper and other pastors explain water baptism and its importance from the pulpit, preaching at least one entire message per year on the topic, then offering spontaneous baptisms. Cooper recalls that in November 2024, the weather was quite bad one Sunday during a spontaneous baptism. Yet 189 people still responded.
“You get what you preach,” Cooper says. “We walk this out. It is easy for churches to drift from water baptism or to put it off. But we do it, on average, once a month. We hope for 1,000 more in 2025.”
“This congregation has impacted Oklahoma City and beyond by focusing on changed lives through the transforming power of Jesus,” says Oklahoma AG district superintendent Darryl E. Wootton. “Baptisms confirm that lives are being changed. Pastor Herbert had me praying with him all year that God would allow People's Church to see over 1,000 people baptized. I knew they were getting close, but when he called me in December and informed me that they had surpassed their goal, we had a shout of praise together. We thank God for Herbert and Tiffany Cooper, their leadership team, and all the members of this congregation who are committed to sharing Jesus with the hurting of our communities. We know the best is yet to come for People's Church.”

