Hundreds Baptized During UCC Evangelistic Caravan

Contributed Report

“Try with Jesus” was the rallying cry of the evangelistic caravan, which took place in nine different locations across Upper Columbia Conference from April 17–25, 2026. Inspired by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the movement strengthened Hispanic communities across the inland Northwest. 

Led by the UCC Hispanic ministries team, church leaders and Peter Simpson, North Pacific Union vice president for Hispanic ministries, the initiative demonstrated a timeless biblical truth: While pastors, leaders and church members faithfully labor together, true spiritual transformation is accomplished by the power of God working through willing hearts.

The term "caravan" refers to a traveling team with guest evangelists preaching the gospel night after night and holding baptisms. From Spokane to Hermiston, Othello to Yakima, and Wenatchee to Tri-Cities, the traveling caravan of pastors, evangelists, musicians and volunteers served God to change lives and invite people to make decisions for Jesus. 

More than 240 individuals were baptized during the evangelistic meetings. On April 25, 2026, at the closing meeting in Pasco, more than 1,300 people were in attendance.

“Many of the evangelistic meetings that happened in the last half of the year are now bearing fruit in 2026,” said Eric Brown, UCC vice president of administration. “We are continuing to see the results of Pentecost 2025 and expect to see more than 1,000 baptisms across the conference this year.”

The success of the caravan lies primarily in the hands of church members. Each person had a role to play. Prayer teams, Bible workers, hospitality, outreach, logistics, music and follow-up crews all worked together. This was not just a program run by a few, but a movement where each member became a missionary to their community.

Months before the caravan arrived, local churches were already at work. Members prayed without ceasing for 50 consecutive days through prayer chains, hosted Bible studies leading friends and neighbors to baptism, and opened hearts no sermon alone could reach.

“Our district, before this evangelistic caravan, had two weeks of evangelistic planting,” said Jefferson Ortiz, Pendleton Spanish Church and Rekindle Church pastor. “We have learned that for our church to remain fervent, alive and focused on its vision, we absolutely need evangelism, not only publicly, but also personally.”

The vision for the evangelistic caravan began with conversations during UCC’s Hispanic ministries retreat about ways to spread the gospel. UCC held several evangelistic caravans in the past, most recently in 2015. Simultaneously, Idaho Conference was looking to hold an evangelistic caravan. The two were then unified into a synchronized wave of evangelism across the Pacific Northwest to ultimately include Idaho, Upper Columbia and Washington conferences. This cooperation with NPUC allowed for a wider impact, stronger use of resources and a beautiful sense of unity across conferences.

Following the caravan, churches remain dedicated to sharing the gospel as they move forward. “Over the next few months, we will continue with the same fervor seeking souls for the kingdom of heaven,” said Antonio Ix Rosique, Wenatchee, Quincy and Brewster Spanish district pastor. “Our church understands evangelism is not just another plan or project; evangelism should be the permanent way of life for the church.”

Plans for another evangelistic caravan in 2027 are already underway.

“What happened in this evangelistic campaign was not the finish line — it was the beginning of a process,” said one pastor. “Now, we walk faithfully with each new believer, trusting that what God has started, He will continue to grow.”