Some Other Preachers Cook Without Shortening A pastor, known for his lengthy sermons, noticed Jeff get up and leave during the middle of his message. Jeff returned just before the conclusion of the service. Afterwards the pastor asked Jeff where he had gone. "I went to get a haircut," was the reply. "But," said the pastor, "why didn't you do that before the service?" "Because," said Jeff, "I didn't need one then."
DEFINING OUR TERMS Baptist Comes from the Greek baptizo, meaning to bury or immerse. Ana To redo, or do over again.
DEFINING OUR TERMS (2) ana-baptist The term ana-baptist means one who re-baptizes those already baptized. There is no biblical basis for infant baptism, so ana-baptists did not accept it. Those baptized as babies were rebaptized after becoming born-again believers.
BIBLICAL BASIS FOR BAPTISM The Bible clearly teaches that one must first become a believer before they are eligible for baptism.
BIBLICAL BASIS FOR BAPTISM (2) The Ethiopian eunuch asked: What hinders me from being baptized? Philip answered: If you believe with all of your heart, you may. ACTS 8:36-37
BIBLICAL BASIS FOR BAPTISM (3) Babies can not believe. Those who were baptized as babies, later in life have a false sense of security. They think that they are Christians because they were baptized.
BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES The Bible is the sole authority of faith and practice. Salvation is by grace, not by works. Baptism is by immersion, not for salvation, but as a picture of the believer identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
The Catacombs The catacombs located beneath the city of Rome are a wonder of antiquity.
THE CATACOMBS Christians met for worship in the catacombs during times of severe persecution. It has been estimated that this maze of corridors and burial vaults stretch out some 600 miles. Estimates of the number of tombs: a minimum of 1,750,000. Blaiklock, 159
BAPTISM BY IMMERSION During the dark days of imperial persecutions, the Christians of Rome found a ready refuge in the catacombs, where they constructed baptisteries for the administration of baptism by immersion. Cote, Archeology of Baptisteries, pg. 151
BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES (2) Baptism for believers only, not infants. Churches are local and independent. Those professing Christ should live a holy life. Good works (most importantly spreading the gospel) are not for salvation, but a result of salvation.
BAPTISTS: HOW FAR BACK? If the truth of religion were to be judged by the readiness and boldness of which a man in any sect shows in suffering no sect can be truer or surer than those of the ana-baptists, since there have been none for the 1,200 years past that have been more generally punished Cardinal Hosius, Council of Trent, 1545
Lutheran Says Baptists Are Ancient Mosheim, a Luthern, said, "Before the rise of Luther and Calvin, there lay secreted in almost all the countries of Europe persons who adhered tenaciously to the principles of modern Dutch Baptists".
BAPTISTS: HOW FAR BACK? (2) Baptists go back at least 1,000 years before the Reformation. In the 16th century the reformer Zwingli said: The ana-baptists have caused great disturbance for 1300 years. That means Baptists were around at least 1300 years before the Protestant Reformation.
Baptists How Far Back (3) Hosius (Catholic) Mosheim, and Zwingli (Protestants) all testify that ana-baptists were around at least 1,200 years before the Protestant Reformation. During the Reformation some Protestants such as the Huguenots were called ana-baptist, but anabaptists did not originate with the Reformation.
METHODIST SCHOLAR Methodist Scholar John Clark Ridpath, Professor of History, DuPaw University: I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist church as far back as A.D. 100, though without doubt there were Baptists then, as all Christians were then Baptists. Baptists Church Perpetuity, pg. 59 The Baptist Way, pg. 65
DUTCH REFORMED STUDY 1819, The King of Holland appointed Dr. Ypeig and Rev. J. Dermont, Chaplain to the King, to prepare a history of the church. Their published report of 1823 contains the following: The Baptists that we called anabaptists may be considered as the only Christian community which has stood since the apostles, and has preserved pure doctrine of the gospel through the ages. Alien Baptists and Baptism
STATE CHURCHES PERSECUTED ANA-BAPTISTS Italy Roman Catholic Church Spain Roman Catholic Church France Roman Catholic Church Germany Lutheran Church England Anglican Church Russia Russian Orthodox Church All of the above state churches persecuted ana-baptist separatist churches throughout history.
A HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS by John T. Christian Persecuted everywhere by sword and fire, their principles would appear to be almost extinct, when in a wondrous way God would raise up some man, or some group of martyrs, to proclaim the truth.
A HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS by John T. Christian The footsteps of the Baptists can more easily be traced by blood than by baptism. God s minority has always been hated as bigots, extremists and non-conformists.
INDEPENDENT BAPTISTS For more than a hundred years after the death of the apostles, every church was separate and independent; and although the most distant of these little states maintained a mutual interchange of letters and deputations, they were not connected by church government. Gibbon s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, pg. 554
SECOND CENTURY MONTANISTS A group called the Montanists followed Baptist distinctives taught today. Armitage, pg.177 Kurtz, vol. 1, pg. 31
Roman Catholic Church 381 A.D. The Roman Emperor said: The Catholic Church is the only true Christian Church. All others are heretics to be killed. Baptism of babies is required for salvation. Babies not baptized were subject to Hell. Anyone who rejected infant baptism was against God.
Calvin Believed in Infant Baptism In his most renowned work, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin endeavours to prove that infant baptism is a divine institution. Calvin declares that "infants cannot be deprived of baptism without open violation of the will of God". Ref. Inst. 4,16,18)
NOVATIONS 300-400 A.D. The Novations stood for purity of church membership and rigid church discipline. Baptism was by immersion only.
NOVATIONS 300-400 A.D. (2) Ecclesiastical Researches states: The Novations were the earliest anabaptists; refusing to recognize as valid the ministry and sacraments of their opponents and claiming to be the true church, they were logically compelled to re-baptize all who came to them from the Catholic church.
NOVATIONS 300-400 A.D. (3) They held to the independence of churches; and recognized the equality of all pastors in respect to dignity and authority."
PATRICK IN IRELAND St. Patrick preached among the Irish, Scotch and Britons. He was not a Roman Catholic. Nicholson, St. Patrick, Dublin, 1868 He held and practiced ana-baptist doctrine. Ancient British and Irish Churches, Cathcart
DONATISTS 400-800 A.D. Refused to baptize infants. They insisted on only converted people being members of the church. Churches were independent Crespin, French Historian History of the Donatists, David Benedict
DONATISTS 400-800 A.D. (2) Re-baptized those who came to them from state churches. In 413 Honorius and Theodosius, emperors of the East and West, issued a decree that re-baptizers be put to death. If Ana-baptists only go back to the Protestant Reformation, who were these people that were decreed to to put to death in 413 a.d.?
PAULICIANS 6TH CENTURY Followed teachings of the Apostle Paul. Baptism was for believers. Communion was for those who had repented of sins.
6TH CENTURY BAPTISTRY
PAULICIANS 6TH CENTURY (2) They rejected infant baptism. They re-baptized adult believers. High standards of conduct and behavior.
PATERINES 1040 Milan, Italy. Separatist Christian Churches. Historians used these descriptions: They were irreproachable in their morals, modest in dress, no falsehoods or swearing, chaste and temperate, would not frequent taverns, they chose to live by home crafts, they would not put religious images on their walls. (How do we measure up today?)
ALBIGENSES 1000-1250 Name given to Paulicians who settled in a French town called Alby. Raymond of Toulose was sympathetic to these groups. The Pope considered them heretics and ordered an inquisition. Dominic was placed in charge of capturing and burning heretics (Catholic Order of Dominicans named for Dominic).
ALBIGENSES 1000-1250 (2) For 20 years the Albigenses were hunted down and killed or made slaves. Entire villages were burned to the ground. Many fled to other parts of Europe to form separatist churches. Albigenses being crushed by a Crusade
PETROBRUSIANS 1125 Peter of Bruys preached in Southern France. Baptists taught that the Scriptures were the sole authority and that baptism was for believers only.
PETROBRUSIANS 1125 (2) Peter the Venerable wrote a book against the Petrobrusian heretics. Petrobrusians lived 400 years before the Protestant Reformation.
HENRY OF LUSANNE 1116-1150 Henry of Lusanne preached from the Bible. Attacked non-scriptural teachings and the ungodly way the state church people lived.
HENRY OF LUSANNE 1116-1150 His followers were called Henricians. Henry was condemned by the Council of Rheims to perpetual imprisonment (he died in prison).
CATHARI A name used in the 12th century to describe all separatists, such as Paulicians in the East, Paterines in Italy, Bogomils, and in Southern France as Albigenses. Those who were called Cathari were pleased, as the word Cathari means puritan.
PETER WALDO Peter Waldo was a rich merchant. Waldo studied the Bible. He became a witness for Christ. Southern France was populated with preachers know as: Poor Men of Lyons, later called Valdensians, then finally called Waldenses.
WALDENSIAN DOCTRINE Waldensian Confession of Faith 1120 The Bible is the final authority Two ordinances only and they are symbolic: Baptism The Lord s Supper
WALDENSES DOCTRINE (2) Salvation and baptism essential for church membership Baptism of believers only and by immersion Illustrations depicting Waldensians as witches in Le champion des dames, by Martin Le France, 1451.
WALDENSES 1170 What historians said about the Waldenses: They do not visit taverns or drink. They curb their passions. They are always working, teaching or learning. They are very frequent in their assemblies and worship. They transact business without lying, fraud or swearing. They are very modest. today?) (How are we are doing
MULTIPLIED THROUGH PERSECUTION George Morell, a Waldensian in Germany, estimated that the Waldenses numbered approximately 800,000 in 1533. Memoirs of the History of the Waldensian Churches, George Morell
ARNOLDISTS 1155 Arnold of Brescia, taught by Peter Abelard. Arnold placed the authority of the Scriptures over the authority of the Pope.
ARNOLDISTS 1155 (2) Arnoldists rejected infant baptism. They promoted holy living. They attacked many of the man-made traditions of the church as being contrary to the Bible.
ARNOLD OF BRESCIA In 1155 Arnold was seized, crucified and burnt. Arnold burned at the stake by the hands of Papal guards.
COUNCIL OF 1175 Council of 1175 to settle ana-baptist problem. Albigenses condemned to death because of their heresy that infants are not saved by baptism. Many who refused to accept infant baptism were burned to death.
WAR AGAINST HERETICS 1209 Simon de Montford, Earl of Leicester, commanded a Catholic army to rid France of heretics (Paulicians, Albigenses, Waldenses).
WAR AGAINST HERETICS 1209 (2) 200,000 were tortured and killed in the most barbaric manner. Simondi s history speaks of eyes plucked out, noses cut off and bodies burned in large piles of wood.
God s Word Tells Us They that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. II TIMOTHY 3:12
INFANT BAPTISM In 1050 A.D. Pope Leo IX commanded that infants must be baptized because of original sin.
Paedo Baptism Most Christian Denominations practice paedo (Greek for infant) baptism including: Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican churches, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, some Church of the Nazarene, the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ (UCC) et.al. Reference: Wikipedia Paedobaptism
INFANT BAPTISM In 1175, at the Council of Lombez in Gascogne, the Albigenses were formally condemned as heretics for refusing to accept the State Church teaching that infant baptism brought salvation.
WALTER LOLLARD A Dutchman. Waldenses leader (ana-baptist). Came to England in the reign of Edward III. His followers rapidly increased. They were called Bible Men or Lollards.
LOLLARDS 1382-1430 Preached the Bible as the final authority and strictly followed it. They were opposed to State Church teachings of doctrines not found in the Bible, such as purgatory and indulgences.
LOLLARDS (2) The Lollards followed Wycliff as part of the early reformation movement. Held the key doctrines of modern day Baptists. Were burnt at the stake for the same beliefs as ana-baptists.
SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE Among the Lollards was one man of title, wealth and courage, Sir John Oldcastle, Earl of Cobham. He preached and taught the doctrines which have distinguished Baptists in every age. Dr. Thomas Fuller, Church History, vol. ii, pg. 448
FOLLOW THE SCRIPTURES Dragged to Tyburn to be hung up by the waist and burned to death. He warned the people to follow nothing but the scriptures; prayed for his enemies. He was an ana-baptist, said Parsons the English Churchman, "and deserved to die as a traitor.
LOLLARDS TOWER In 1414 the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican Church, gave money to build a prison for the Lollards. Tourists today can visit the Lollards Tower near London. The rings and other torture devices can be seen on the walls where hundreds of Bible believing anabaptists were tortured and killed.
Lollards Tower Iron rings can still be seen in this post WWII photo of a cell in Lollards Tower.
ANABAPTISTS IN SWITZERLAND March 7, 1526 this decree was issued: If you re-baptize you will be drowned to death. November 19, 1526, Felix Mantz was sentenced to drowning for the heinous crime of re-baptizing.
HATED BUT RESPECTED They are irreproachable. No lying, deception, swearing, strife, harsh language, no intemperate eating and drinking, they display humility, patience, uprightness, neatness, temperate, straightforward in such measure that one would suppose that they had the Holy Spirit of God. Franz Agricola, Roman Catholic historian circa 1527, The Noble Army of Heretics, pg. 131
GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES others were tortured.. had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, bonds and imprisonment they were stoned, sawn asunder, afflicted, tormented HEBREWS 11
GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES (2) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. HEBREWS 12:1
HATED BUT RESPECTED (2) How do we measure up to the great cloud of witnesses that came before us? Will we carry on the beliefs and testimony that they sacrificed to preserve? Will we, like they, live pure, holy and exemplary lives?
MENNO SIMONS 1536 Studied Scriptures in Germany, converted to Christianity and baptized by ana-baptists. Thousands of Mennonites killed for being ana-baptists. 1559 Menno Simons died. Approx. 1 million Mennonites in 80 countries today.
MORAVIANS Persecution chased many Swiss and German ana-baptists to Moravia. Hubmaier himself baptized over 300 converts who became ana-baptists.
MORAVIANS (2) Hubmaier was seized by order of the emperor, beheaded and burned in 1527. In 16th century Moravia, there were 70 communities of Moravians, among the most prosperous and law-abiding in society.
MORAVIANS TODAY Moravians deviated from ana-baptist teachings. Moravians today baptize infants, and they baptize by sprinkling or pouring. This is not Biblical.
MORAVIANS TODAY (2) When Christ was baptized he walked a long distance to the river for immersion. (He went into the water and he came up out of the water, MATTHEW 3:16.) For pouring or sprinkling Jesus could have been baptized from a water pot without the long walk to the river.
ACT OF SUPREMACY 1534 King Henry the VIII, Head of the Church of England, approved the Act of Supremacy of 1534. The Act required all ana-baptists to leave the country within 10 days or face death. In the same year 19 Dutch Baptists were burned at the stake.
INTERESTING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS In England, pardon records of criminals go back hundreds of years. It is interesting to see the crimes and punishments that are recorded in English history.
INTERESTING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS (2) In 1538 the Queen of England pardoned all criminals except the Gospelers (ana-baptists). The state church, calling itself the true church, imprisoned those who were carrying out the Great Commission that Christ gave to take the gospel to every creature. Gospelers were considered the very worst criminals in England.
HOLLAND 1546 In Holland and Friesland more than 30,000 persons suffered death at the hands of justice for ana-baptist errors. The errors: The Bible is the final authority, salvation by grace, not works, baptism by immersion and only for believers (no infant baptism).
What Our ana-baptist Forefathers Are Heirs To The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God if so be that we suffer with him For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ROMANS 8:16-18
KING EDWARD VI 1550 The King killed ana-baptists for the following errors: Churches maintained by volunteer giving. Congregation chooses its own minister. Those deemed by the pastor qualified to preach are allowed to speak.
BAPTISTS IN ENGLAND W.A. Jarrel s work Baptist Church Perpetuity or History: Baptists were in England from the first century. Numerous references are given from non-baptist church officials of Baptist presence in early England.
EDWARD WIGHTMAN S CRIME He was charged with affirming "that baptizing of infants is an abominable custom; and that Christianity is not wholly professed and preached in the Church of England, but only in part." Episcopacy required that Wightman be put to death April 11, 1612. His widow and five children joined another Baptist Church pastored by Thomas Helwys. McCauley s History of England
THOMAS HELWYS 1612 He was banished for teaching the Bible as opposed to Church traditions. (See MATTHEW 15:9.) Returned to form a Baptist Church at Spitalfields.
THOMAS HELWYS 1612 (2) Founded the well-known Baptist Church in Spitalfields, England. Wrote a book The Mystery of Iniquity. Helwys wrote a note on a copy of his book and sent it to the King of England.
THOMAS HELWYS (3) Helwys note read: the King hath no power to set spiritual lords over the people The King ordered all copies of Helwys book destroyed (four remain today; one at Oxford University). The King had Helwys imprisoned, where he later died.
HELWYS INFLUENCE Before his arrest, a sickly man named John Smyth visited Helwys in his home. Helwys and his family took care of Smyth and helped him back to good health. Smyth was a Separatist who in 1608 took a group to Holland and established a Baptist Church. This group came to America with the pilgrims.
Bradford s History of the Plymouth Plantation 1608-1650 One of these churches was led by Mr. John Smyth, a man of able gifts, and a good preacher, who was made pastor. Wightman was killed for being a Baptist His family joined Helwys Church.
Bradford s History of the Plymouth Plantation 1608-1650 For being a Baptist, Helwys was imprisoned where he died. Helwys family helped Smyth to stay alive. Smyth brought the gospel to America and formed a Baptist Church.
PARTICULAR BAPTISTS A belief in a particular atonement, for the elect only (Calvinistic). By 1644 there were 47 Regular Baptist Churches and seven Particular Baptist churches in England. A Short History of the Baptists, H. C. Vedder, pp. 142-143
EFFECT OF HYPER-CALVINISM ON BAPTIST CHURCHES Hyper-Calvinists nullified the Great Commission. Baptist preachers largely ceased to warn, exhort and invite sinners; holding that to invite people to believe was useless. What wonder a spiritual dry-rot spread among the English churches where such doctrines obtained. A Short History of the Baptists, H.C. Vedder, pg. 169
SMALL CHURCHES About 350 years ago in England there was a 12 member separatist church. It was rejected by the Anglican community. A young Christian lady, one of the 12 members, invited a young soldier to attend. He came for two and a half years before being born again.
DON T QUIT! His name was John Bunyan. What if after years of ministry and only 12 members, the pastor quit? What if the young lady had been too ashamed to invite the soldier to her very small radical church? God uses people who are not ashamed, and who do not quit!
JOHN BUNYAN Saved in 1653. In 1660 Bunyan was arrested for preaching the Gospel (following the Great Commission).
JOHN BUNYAN (2) Bunyan remained in jail for 12 years writing Pilgrims Progress and other works, including Holy War and Grace Abounding. Pilgrims Progress has been translated into 148 languages. When released from jail, he again preached the Gospel.
Copied by Bunyan While in Jail: Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name s sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. MATTHEW 5:10-12
GOD S SHERIFF: JOHN HOWARD Converted, became a Baptist. Visited Bunyan s jail at Bedfordshire. Instituted major prison reforms for English prisons.
TOLERATION ACT 1689 Official persecution of ana-baptists ended. About this time there was a serious moral breakdown of the upper classes. The King s immorality was taken as normal practice and many followed the lifestyle of the famous. (Sound familiar?) The immorality spread, causing a decline of the churches.
BAPTISTS IN ENGLAND 1690 For every 100,000 Anglican members: 45 Separatists ( ana-baptists) Baptists were outnumbered 2000 to 1
BAPTISTS IN ENGLAND 1690 YEAR NUMBER OF CHURCHES 1771 251 1790 379 1811 537 1820 672 Source: Baptist Register, Baptist Magazine
JOHN LELAND Separatists, mostly ana-baptists, when not physically persecuted, were verbally attacked. An Anglican leader criticized Leland for always quoting the Bible. The Anglican asked Leland what he could say about Numbers 22:21: And Balaam saddled his ass.
JOHN LELAND (2) Leland replied: Balaam is the false prophet representing the state church; the saddle is the tax burden the state makes us pay to support the state church; and the dumb ass is the taxpayer who supports the false church.
ANDREW FULLER 1782 Attended services, heard the Gospel, accepted Christ, and was baptized. He later was Pastor of the Baptist Church of Kettering, England. Great leader of pastors; wrote books that are still sold today.
ANDREW FULLER 1782 (2) Fuller was opposed to HyperCalvinism. Fuller encouraged William Carey: We ll hold the ropes, if you will go to India.
CHARLES SPURGEON S MOTHER Prayed for Charles for years and said this when he told her he wanted to preach: Ah, Charles, I often prayed the Lord to make you a Christian, but I never asked that you become a Baptist.
CHARLES SPURGEON S MOTHER Charles replied to his mother: Ah, mother, the Lord has answered your prayer with His usual bounty, and given you exceeding abundantly above what you asked or thought.
CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON The Prince of Preachers. Died at age 56. 60,000 attended his funeral.
Quoting Charles Spurgeon We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation. We were reformers before Luther and Calvin were born. We never came from the Church of Rome for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have existed from the very days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may
Quoting Charles Spurgeon Persecuted alike by Romanist and Protestants of almost every sect. Yet, there has never existed a government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others. We have ever been ready to suffer, as our martyrolgies will prove, but we are not ready to accept any help from the state, to prostitute the purity of the Bride of Christ to any allegiance with government. C.H. Spurgeon 1861
ALEXANDER McCLAREN Contemporary of Spurgeon. Huge church in Manchester. Commentary on Book of Psalms, called by many, the best ever written. Wrote the famous Expositions of Holy Scripture. Harwood Pattison wrote to Alexander McClaren asking for his advice on how to be a great preacher.
WHAT MAKES GREAT PREACHING? McClaren s answer: a verse in one of the Psalms carries the whole path of homeletics: While I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue. Psalm 39:3 Patient meditation, resulting in kindled emotion and the flashing of truth into warmth and light, and then and not until then, the rush of speech moved by the Holy Ghost.
HENRY DUNSTER 1653 First President of Harvard University. After one year of major success with the University, preached against infant baptism. Refused to have his baby baptized so he was dismissed from Presidency of Harvard. Baptists in History, R.C. Mosher
CULPEPPER, VIRGINIA 1611 Baptists arrested for holding meetings in their own homes. James Ireland was imprisoned in the Culpepper jail where an attempt was made to kill him. He survived to preach again and to lead many souls to Christ. Today a Baptist Church sits on the former site of the Culpepper jail.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN AMERICA John Clarke and others settled in Newport, R.I in 1639. John Clarke founded a Baptist Church in Newport in 1644 (before Roger Williams founded a church).
EARLY AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH Davis History of the Welsh Baptists pp. 6-9, says that Welsh Baptists suffered severe persecution in the fourth century (more than 1000 years before the Protestant Reformation). In 1663 John Miles and several others came from Wales to organize a church in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
EARLY AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH (2) Another group of Welsh Baptists formed The Penepek Church of Pennsylvania in 1701. The Wales group traced their church back to 600 A.D. and at that time there were large numbers of anabaptists in Wales.
Calvinists Said It is Foolish and Futile To Take The Gospel to Indians The position of the Calvinists was that: surely no heathen Indian aborigines could be considered part of God s elect, so to preach to them would be foolish and futile. What happened to Jesus command to: go ye into all the world and preach and teach the gospel to every creature.? Reference: The Baptists in America, page 51
Roger Williams Roger Williams lived near the Newgate Prison Square where Ana-baptists were tortured and killed by the English Crown. As a lad, Roger witnessed many executions. Sir Edward Coke helped Roger go to college and helped him get a job as a court recorder. Roger was distraught when Coke was imprisoned for being a Separatist from the state church of England..
State Church Punishment As punishment for following the Bible instead of the English Prayer Book, Coke s ears were cut off, his nose was slit on both sides and Coke s face was branded with the letters SS, which stood for sower of sedition. He remained in prison the rest of his short life. Reference: The Baptists in America, page 47
ROGER WILLIAMS Rejected by Anglicans, Roger and his wife became missionaries to the Indians. They named their child Freeborn.
ROGER WILLIAMS (2) Founded town of Providence (providence of God) by a spring of fresh water. Twelve families joined him there. Several were baptized in the spring at Providence. Rhode Island formed the first state in all of world history where people of any religion were welcome and protected from persecution.
HYMNALS: BAPTIST INVENTION 1664, Benjamin Keach, Baptist pastor in England, started the congregational practice of hymn singing. When Baptists were under persecution printed words could be dangerous, so they put verses and messages to song. These were easy for both the literate and illiterate to learn.
SONGS WRITTEN BY BAPTISTS My Country Tis of Thee (Baptist pastor, Samuel F. Smith) Rescue the Perishing Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross Almost Persuaded Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior Take The Name of Jesus With You I Need Thee Every Hour Blest Be the Tie That Binds Wonderful Words of Life Bringing in the Sheaves and many more!
OBADIAH HOLMES 1651 Arrested for preaching the Gospel and refusing to accept infant baptism. Whipped unmercifully as an example to others. John Spur and John Hazle were each sentenced to 10 lashes for helping Holmes to get up from the whipping post and for saying Blessed be God.
OBADIAH HOLMES 1651 (2) Abraham Lincoln was a descendant of Obadiah Holmes (Lincoln s father, Thomas, helped form Pigeon Creek Baptist Church, Indiana). Tales of Baptist Daring, B.P. Browne pp. 2628
MASSACHUSETTS 1668 Imprisoned for holding Baptist views : Thomas Gould William Turner John Farnum
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE SOUTH A church organized in Kittery, Maine, was so badly persecuted that the members moved to Charleston, South Carolina. They formed a Baptist church in 1684, the first Baptist church in the Southern States.
The Great Awakening George Whitfield, powerful Methodist, preached throughout the colonies. A massive revival called The Great Awakening took place One third of ministers were born again. Baptist Churches benefitted tremendously, with a surge in attendance and rapid growth in number of churches.
During Great Awakening James Lane, farmer in Virginia, told his son Sutton to stay away from the Whitefield meetings. Dutton disobeyed, attended a Whitefield meeting, became a Christian and surrendered to become a preacher. The father, James Lane, disowned his son Dutton and told his wife to never go hear her son preach.
Great Awakening Story One day Dutton Lane was speaking near the Lane Plantation. Mrs. Lane snuck off to hear her son preach at the Baptist Church. When her husband found out, he beat his wife unmercifully with a horse whip. Then he got his rifle ready to go shoot his heretic son.
Great Awakening Story Mrs. Lane said to her husband: You let the bird fly before you shoot it. Why not hear your son preach, before you shoot him. The senior Mr. Lane went to hear his son preach, returned again for another message and walked the aisle to pray for God to save his soul. He became a pillar in the Baptist Church.
CHRISTMAS EVANS Born Christmas Day, 1766. Parents poor; father died when he was 9 years old. Became a farmhand. At age 16 a gang of boys poked out Christmas right eye for being a Christian. Read the Bible by candle light and attended a Baptist church.
CHRISTMAS EVANS (2) Listening to preaching at church, Evans said: God put a distress in my heart for the salvation of souls. Helped establish 16 churches. Led many revival meetings. Had a great influence for God. Famous sermon entitled Maniac of Gadara lasted three hours, with listeners intent. Died July 1538, glorifying God with his last words.
FIRST NEGRO BAPTIST CHURCH Silver Bluff, South Carolina 1773. Established by Brother Palmer, an itinerant Baptist preacher on the John Galfin plantation. David George, a slave, was ordained to be the first pastor.
Slave Purchased to Preach In the 1840s a slave named Ceasar McLemore became a powerful preacher and leader. The State Baptist Convention purchased Mr. McLemore from his owner for $625. so that he could preach and teach the gospel to other slaves.
African American Baptists Today The largest denomination among African Americans is the National Baptist Convention, with 7.5 million members The more liberal Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC), has over 2000 churches and a total membership of 2.5 million.
VIRGINIA TOUGH ON BAPTISTS From 1768-1777, 30 Baptist preachers were punished and/or imprisoned for the offense of preaching the Gospel. James Ireland was imprisoned, tortured, poisoned and nearly killed. Official Virginia Law: Only one Baptist church per county. Today the predominant religion of Virginia is Baptist. ( One Baptist Church per mile. )
REVOLUTIONARY WAR CHAPLAINS uring the Revolutionary War, 33 of Washington s chaplains were Baptists. he two most famous were John Gano and Richard Furman. Baptist chaplains were among the most prominent and most useful in the army. eorge Washington
John Gano Baptist Pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York City (today at Broadway and 79th) During the American Revolution, Gano served as a soldier and a chaplain for the Continental Army and was a close friend of Washington. Gano crossed the Delaware with Washington and prayed for victory at Trenton. He ministered to the troops at Valley
Baptism of George Washington Washington declared to Rev. Gano, I have been investigating the Scripture, and I believe immersion to be the baptism taught in God s Word... I do not wish any parade made or the army called out, but simply a quiet demonstration of the ordinance.
Baptism of George Washington While in camp at Newburgh, General Washington requested Pastor Gano to baptize him according to the scriptures. Daniel Gano, one of Gano s sons and a Captain of the artillery was present and said that he, with about 40 officers and men accompanied the Chaplain down to the Hudson River where the Reverend John Gano baptized George Washington.. Ref: Wikepedia, First Baptist Church of New York and History of the Baptist Church in the City of NY by M. Haldemann
John Gano Baptizing Washington
Pastor John Gano When the 8th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington was commemorated at New Windsor, New York, with the official proclamation by Congress of a formal cessation of hostilities, it was Washington s request that prayer be offered by the Baptist Pastor, John Gano.
Baptist Pastor John Gano Reverend Gano, served the entire war and on April 19, 1783, under orders from George Washington, had the honor of announcing that the war was officially over and that the United States of America was free and independent. Afterwards, Gano assembled the officers and men who had survived the entire war and let them in a prayer of thanksgiving and peace (Thompson, 208).
Richard Furman Richard Furman, was a young Baptist Preacher from South Carolina, who was one of Gen. Washington s most powerful chaplains. Regarding Richard Furman, The British General Cornwallis said: I fear the prayers of that Godly youth more than the armies of Sumter and Marion. A huge reward for his capture. Furman lived to Pastor the First Baptist Church of Charleston, SC
BAPTIST INFLUENCE ON GOVERNMENT Jefferson testified that he derived his practical conceptions of civil liberty from the actual working of the doctrine of equal rights in a little Baptist Church in Virginia. Meaning of Christian Unity, William H. Cobb, Boston, pg. 136
BILL OF RIGHTS, U.S. CONSTITUTION The Virginia Baptists reviewed the proposed new U.S. Constitution to see if it properly protected religious freedom. They determined that it did not. They met with their friend James Madison, and with his help, drafted a letter to President George Washington.
BAPTISTS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY Virginia Baptists pointed out to Washington and Madison that the new Constitution did not assure religious liberty. Washington replied that the Baptists have been the firm friends of civil liberty and the promoters of our glorious Revolution. The result of Washington s and Madison s response was the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
LUTHER RICE Heavily involved with missions. Helped Adoniram Judson in India. Founded Columbian College in Washington DC, which was renamed George Washington University.
LUTHER RICE (2) In 1814 organized a meeting of 33 Baptist leaders at the Triennial Convention in Philadelphia for support of foreign missions. Founded first Baptist newspaper, The Columbian Star. Did much to support churches until his death in 1836.
JOHN MASON PECK Converted from Congregationalist to Baptist. Ordained as a minister in 1812. In 1817 the Triennial Convention commissioned Peck as a missionary to the territory west of the Mississippi (all of it!) He, his wife and baby headed west in a wagon.
DISAPPOINTMENTS OF A MISSIONARY In 1820 Calvinists took over the missionary board and cut off Peck s financial support. Peck went on for a year, penniless and lonely.
REWARDS OF A MISSIONARY In his first three years, Peck organized several churches and 50 schools. Continued preaching and teaching the Gospel, establishing more churches and schools. Died at age 89, still in the saddle. Harvard University gave him an honorary doctorate degree because of his profound influence in educating the West.
1814 CONVENTION Philadelphia, PA May 1814. The General Convention of the Baptist Denominations in the United States for Foreign Missions Richard Furman of South Carolina presided. one sacred effort for sending the glad tidings of salvation to the heathen, and to nations destitute of the pure gospel light.
RAPID BAPTIST GROWTH Source: H.C. Vedder
WILLIAM CAREY Originally hated the Dissenters until converted and baptized on Oct. 5, 1783. The poorer country churches raised the money to send Carey and a medical evangelist named Thomas as missionaries to India. Carey said: Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.
WILLIAM CAREY (2) Carey was opposed by British and Indian governments. He translated the Bible into six languages. Distributed 212,000 copies of the Holy Scriptures.
WILLIAM CAREY (3) Worked seven years to win first convert named Krishna Pal. He baptized Pal in the Hugli River on Dec. 28, 1800, the first of over 1,000 baptisms.
NOT EASY BEING A BAPTIST PASTOR Fire destroyed his printing plant. Cyclone destroyed his gardens. Flood washed away his house. Financial depression took all mission funds. Insanity and death of first wife, death of second wife. False and malicious charges against him.
JUDSON S MINISTRY Missionary to Burma. Worked six years to see first convert. After building a church of 10 members, the emperor threatened to kill anyone taking up the new religion.
NOT EASY BUT WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS! Lobbied for abolition of suttee (widow burning). Thousands converted under his ministry. Established a major school (including education of women). Assisted with establishment of banks. Established Indian Agricultural Society. Died in peace in June 1834.
REWARDS In 1993 the nation of India honored him with a postage stamp and ceremonies acknowledging the profound impact the Baptist Carey had on the progress of India as a modern nation.
BAPTISTS FORMED FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL In 1780 Robert Raikes became concerned about the poor, ignorant, depraved children on the streets of Gloucester. He formed the first institution that was called the Sunday School.
ADONIRAM JUDSON The Congregationalists sent him. His study on the way to the field convinced him that the Baptists were right according to the Scriptures. He and wife Ann were baptized by immersion at the Baptist Chapel in Calcutta on Sep. 6, 1812 (the first Baptist missionaries from America).
JUDSON S MINISTRY (2) His first wife and his child died, he spent two years in prison and nearly starved to death. Stayed faithful to his calling. Died April 12, 1850. Founded 63 churches with over 7,000 members.
ROBERT HALL, ENGLISHMAN Called to preach. Broke down every time he tried to speak in public. Persevered and became increasingly better. Considered one of top two speakers of 19th century, second only to Spurgeon. 1831, at his death, universally agreed that one of the brightest lights of the pulpit had been extinguished.
EARLY BAPTIST EDUCATION 1824: Baptist General Tract Society formed in Washington DC, then moved to Philadelphia. 1840: To use the printing press to evangelize American Baptist Publication Society was formed.
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION May 1845. Call issued by the Baptists of Virginia. 310 delegates from Baptist churches in the South met at Augusta, Georgia. The Southern Baptist Convention formed.
A HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS by William Stokes, 1866 Traced the decline of the Baptists down to The liberal influences of Colleges. The Railsback Study showed that most Christians who attended a State College or University, had their faith taken away or diminished. Christians be careful how you seek an education for your children.
JOHN ALBERT BROADUS 1865 Chaplain for Robert E. Lee. Joined faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Greenville, S.C. Prepared a class for preachers. Only one man showed up to take the class and that man was blind.
JOHN ALBERT BROADUS 1865 (2) Broadus went ahead with the class and did his best. God honored Broadus faithfulness. Broadus book The Preparation and Delivery of Sermons was most popular for over 100 years.
QUOTING BROADUS The best committee is limited to three persons, with one of those sick and the other out of town. The Bible throws considerable light on your commentary.
B. H. CARROLL Great preacher, teacher and leader. Began Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in 1908. Famous commentary on the Bible.
CAMPBELLITES 1811 Although claiming to be a Baptist, Alexander Campbell believed that baptism was essential to salvation. Campbell formed a new denomination called the Disciples of Christ, also called Campbellites. No musical instruments in church, women keep silent, no creeds, can lose salvation.
BAPTISTS IN THE SOUTH 1812
1812: TWO TYPES OF BAPTISTS General Baptists Armenian slant. Particular Baptists Calvinistic slant.
ANTI-MISSIONS BAPTISTS Became more numerous in the 1830 s. Anti-Missions Baptists say: If someone is going to get saved, God doesn t need you to do it. (True, but God told us to go into all the world and preach and teach the gospel. He does not need us, but we are his plan for the spreading of the Gospel that leads to salvation.) Among Anti-Missions Baptists today, some are called Hard Shell Baptists, and some are called Primitive Baptists.
BAPTISTS IN DENMARK Spread from Germany to Denmark. 1839: A Baptist church organized in Copenhagen by Rev. Oncken. Eleven people were baptized the first year and 10 the second year.
BAPTISTS IN DENMARK (2) Pastor Moenster started a church in Aslberg. King Christian V (not everything called Christian is) ordered Moenster imprisoned. 1850: Tolerance came after much persecution, due to high character of Baptists.
1850: TWO STREAMS OF BAPTISTS Regular Baptists. Separate Baptists. Led by Shubal Stearns. They had more fervor and emphasized that believers are guided by the Holy Spirit.
CHURCH CONTROVERSY 1826-1840: Controversy over lodge membership. Most felt it contrary to the Bible; diversion from church service. Others saw the lodges justified by good works. Anti-Mason struggle: William Morgan, former Mason, wrote a book exposing false teachings and rituals of Masons. Morgan suddenly disappeared. Most solid Baptist churches have opposed lodge membership as contrary to the Bible, e.g. sacred oaths, good works and mystic cult ties.
Seventh Day Baptists Founded a church in Newport Rhode Island in 1672 Sabbatarians believe that the church should meet on Saturday. In 1995 there were churches in 22 countries with a combined membership of 50,000. 78 churches in America with 4885 members.
Seventh Day Baptist Offshoots One Seventh Day Baptist was William Miller He said the Lord would return in 1844 Printed literature, attracted thousands of followers, called Millerites Later formed the 7 Day Adventists Main financial backer John H. Kellogg Kellogg Corn Flakes 16 Million Seventh Day Adventists worldwide
Baptist Offshoots The Baptist William Miller formed the 7 Day Adventists called the Millerites One Millerite was Charles Taze Russell who in 1879 began printing the Zion Watchtower Announcing Jehovah s Kingdom Today Jehovah Witnesses claim world-wide membership of 7 million.
Free Will Baptists Free grace, free will, free salvation. They cherish the practice of feet washing to remain humble. They do not believe that once saved; always saved Today the National Association of Free Will Baptists has 203,000 members in 2,275 churches
SHUBAL STEARNS Saved under the preaching of George Whitfield. Organized Sandy Creek Baptist Church in North Carolina. Helped establish 42 Separatist Baptist Churches which sent out 125 ministers.
SHUBAL STEARNS (2)
STEARNS BAPTISMAL SERVICE It was publicly announced that Stearns would baptize a new believer named John Stewart at Sandy Creek. Stewart was a huge man; Stearns was little. Elnathan Davis, an unbeliever, rounded up 12 mockers to come see the drowning.
STEARNS BAPTISMAL SERVICE Pastor stearns, seeing the congregation of mockers, took time to preach a sermon. Elnathan was converted and became a preacher himself.
RICHARD FURMAN 1815 During the Revolutionary War, Furman had stirred up churches to fight British troops under General Cornwallis. Cornwallis said: I fear the prayers of Furman more than the armies of Sumter and Marion. Cornwallis offered 1,000 pounds for Furman s head. In 1815 Furman preached to the President, his cabinet and dignitaries.
REV. Z. N. MORRELL 1836 Rode from Tennessee to Nacogdoches, Texas to minister in 1836. In 1842, he preached at a small school house four miles above Gonzales in the area where Indians had been attacking and killing whites. While Morrell preached, armed church members circled the building shooting at attacking Indians. And we think we have distractions in church today!
Landmark Baptists In 1852, an earnest Baptist evangelist James R. Graves of Nashville, Tenn. came to Kentucky. He brought a new concept to the Southern Baptists. No church is a true church unless it has a direct lineal descent from the original church. People of other churches should not be addressed as Brethren.
Landmark Baptists In 1855 Graves said: The members of one church may not take communion at another church, though of the same faith and order for each church is independent. Landmarkers hold that a baptism by immersion by one not a Baptist can not be accepted.
Landmarkers Today In May 1950, at a convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, 800 people met to form the North American Baptist Association. James M. Carrol, a Landmarker, wrote a book called The Trail of Blood., which traces the Baptist lineage down through history.
Landmark Baptists The only true church has direct succession from John the Baptist down to today Their Baptism the only legitimate one Closed communion No mission board other than local church Often called Missionary Baptists Est. 500,000 members, largely in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana
Two-Seed-In The Spirit Baptists Started by Daniel Parker circa 1820 Parker taught that all persons are either of the "good seed" of God or of the "bad seed" of Satan (the children of the good seed are the "elect" of Calvinism, and those of the bad seed the "non-elect"), and were predestined that way from the beginning. Therefore mission activity was not only unbiblical, but as a practical matter useless, since the "decision" was already made prior to
Southern Baptists In 1845 the Triennial Conventions of Baptists split over the issue of slavery. Two new groups:northern Baptists and Southern Baptists Today Southern Baptists have 40,000 churches with 16.6 million members. Most famous of the Southern Baptists is Billy Graham
William Franklin (Billy) Graham Born in 1918 Preached to more people than any other evangelist ever President Truman called Graham: a counterfeit who just wanted to get his name in the paper. (Ref. Plain Speaking) Orthodox Evangelical Baptist who promotes interaction with Protestants and Catholics.
BAPTISTS IN SOUTHERN U.S.
How To Identify A Southern Baptist They think God s presence is strongest in the back three rows. Fellowship always involves food. Preachers who wear robes are in cahoots with the Communists. If you wake up in the middle of the night, craving fried chicken, it is a call to preach.
IN GOD WE TRUST On November 13, 1861, N.R. Watkinson, pastor of the Old Ridley Baptist Meeting House (today Prospect Hill Baptist Church) in Pennsylvania, wrote a letter to Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury under President Lincoln.
IN GOD WE TRUST (2) Rev. Watkinson was concerned that recognition of the Almighty God had been overlooked on the nation's coinage. He believed that proudly declaring such recognition would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism 1864 the result: In God We Trust was placed on our money for the first time.
CIVIL WAR PRESIDENTS President Lincoln and President Davis were both sons of Baptist deacons.
NORTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION Formed in 1907. To help coordinate the work of Baptist Churches in the North. Helped coordinate fundraising.
Baptists in Brazil After the Civil War, Gen. A. T. Hawthorne went to Brazil to live. He requested missionaries. Young William B. Bagby and his wife of 3 months helped establish the First Baptist Church of Rio De Janeiro. 5 of the Bagby s 9 children became missionaries. Solomon Ginzburg, a converted Jew, followed the Bagbys as a missionary to Brazil.
Baptists In Brazil Ginzburg went everywhere witnessing and passing out tracts. He was bombarded by rocks, eggs and rotten fruit, but continued on. He preached, taught and passed out literature all over the nation. He was a dynamo for the gospel. For many years, he made converts in every area, before his death in 1927 In 2005, there were 6,000 Baptist Churches in Brazil with a total membership of 1,100,000
General Association of Regular Baptists Convention (GARBC) 1932: A group of churches concerned about the liberal trend in the Northern Baptist Convention broke away to form the GARBC. Today many have left the GARBC due to a concern over liberalism and have formed Independent Baptist Churches.
NOT TRUE BAPTISTS Those who believe in and practice infant baptism are called Paedo-Baptists. They baptize the Bible way by immersion, but then they go against the Bible by baptizing non-believers (infants). The Ethiopian Eunuch asked: See, here is water. What doth hinder me to be baptized? Answer: If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. True Bible does not teach infant baptism
CONSERVATIVE BAPTISTS Concerned about the liberal trend in Baptist churches, the Conservative Baptists were formed in 1947. In addition there are thousands of unaffiliated Baptist Churches Conservative, local and independent, that don t come under a larger umbrella organization.
GEORGE W. TRUETT George Truett was saved at a revival meeting in North Carolina. He surrendered to preach. During WWI Truett preached to soldiers in France and England. After the War, Truett was a preacher to the cowboys in Texas. Later Truett pastored the First Baptist Church of Dallas, with 8,000 members.
MORDECAI HAM Born in Kentucky into a family that included eight Baptist preachers. Estimated 300,000 conversions during his ministry. Life threatened many times.
MORDECAI HAM (2) July, 1910 in Nogales, Texas, a man brought a gun to the service to kill Ham. The man was converted, stood up and said: Saved, saved, saved. Based on this incident, choir director Jack Scofield wrote the hymn Saved, Saved, Saved.
MORDACAI HAM CONVERT As king of the Chattanooga underworld, Wyatt Larimore owned an amusement park, chains of illegal bootleg distilleries and gambling houses. Employed 300 people. He was worth a small fortune. His wife finally convinced him to attend a Mordecai Ham service. The message that night was titled: God s Last Call.
MORDACAI HAM CONVERT (2) Ham repeatedly quoted:, He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Larimore became converted and told his crew: We are going to close these rackets and bust all this rotten liquor. (More busting needed today!)
ANOTHER CONVERSION 1934, at Ham s temporary tabernacle on Pecan Ave., there was an interesting conversion: A 16-year old student at Central High School attended a meeting, heard the message, and walked the aisle to accept Christ. He later surrendered to be a preacher himself. The young man s name was William Franklin Graham, known today as Billy Graham.
R. G. LEE 1886, Robert Greene Lee, born in a log cabin York County, South Carolina. Mother gave Robert to God before she ever saw her son. As a young man, at Riverside Baptist Church in Greenville, S.C., Lee heard a young lady singing Whispering Hope. He leaned toward his friend and whispered: I hope I can meet her. Several years later they married.
R.G. LEE Lee pastored several churches with membership in the thousands. Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN had 7,500 members. Famous quotes by Lee: The Devil pays in counterfeit money. You are barking up a tree where there has never been a possum. Lee s Most Famous Sermon: Pay Day Someday
MODERNISTS Circa 1900, Baptists branched out into two main paths: Modernists The Bible is a good book, has benefits, is written by man and has errors; not taken literally; needs man s help. Theistic evolution, Gap Theory and other such beliefs came into being. Fundamentalists
J. FRANK NORRIS Mr. Norris, Sr. testified in court against horse thieves. The gang of thieves rode to the Norris ranch to kill the father for testifying. His son, young J. Frank ran out in front to protect his father and was shot three times. The doctor said, It is no use; your son will die. His mother prayed, God, if you will spare him, I will raise him to be your preacher.
J. FRANK NORRIS (2) Valedictorian at Bible College, pastored First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, TX. Saloon crowd told Norris to quit preaching against alcohol. He didn t so they burned down his church. He rebuilt. They burned it down again. He rebuilt it. Burning wasn t working, so they held a Town meeting to vote on hanging Norris.
Meeting to Vote to Hang Norris In the middle of the meeting Norris walked down the aisle and sat in the front row. The moderator said: This meeting is to vote to hang you. Why are you here? Norris answered: Because I heard it was going to be a close vote and I am here to vote against it.
Dr. J. Frank Norris In 1935 Norris accepted the pastorate of the Temple Baptist Church in Detroit Michigan, in addition to being pastor of First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas. Norris commuted by plane between two of the largest churches in America.
WORLD BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP Founded in 1939 by J. Frank Norris to prepare students for Christian work. Published the newspaper, The Fundamentalist.
BIBLE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP Protesting J. Frank Norris caustic methods and attacks against Beauchamp Vick and others, a group met in Springfield, Missouri in 1950 to form the Baptist Bible Fellowship. Founded Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. Newspaper: Baptist Bible Tribune (the editor, Mike Randal, came from my home church in Vallejo, CA).
Baptist Bible Fellowship International Today there are 10,000 BBFI churches world wide. In the U.S. there are 4,500 churches with 1.2 million members. A few years ago they were the fastest growing body of Baptists in the world.
If You Put All Baptists Together (aint neva gona hapn) According to the Baptist World Alliance of 1979 if you lump* all Baptists together. There are 90,000 churches 33 million members Average church size is 225 The word lump is appropriate because Baptists have given up just about everything except potlucks.
What Kind of Baptist Am I? Seven Bee Baptist B asic B orn again B aptized by immersion B ible believing B ent against sin B earer of precious seed (and honey sticks) B aptist
There Are All Kinds of Baptist Churches
So Many Kinds of Christians and So Many Kinds of Baptists (200 plus) Some say: You have your faith; I have mine. Luke 18:8 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all Eph.4:4-6 Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on earth?
ORIGIN OF DENOMINATIONS Baptists A.D. 31 Catholics A.D. 351 Lutherans 1530 Presbyterians 1535 Episcopalians 1540 Quakers 1648 Methodists 1729 Campbellites 1827 Mormons 1830 7th Day Adventist 1843 Christian Science 1879 Jehovah s Witness 1885 Pentecostal 1900 Nazarenes 1907 Church of God 1914 4 Square Gospel 1927
DROPPING THE BAPTIST NAME Many churches have dropped the word Baptist from the name of the church. Considering the price that so many Baptists paid to uphold scriptural Baptism, you would think keeping the name would be a badge of honor. I wonder how the Great Cloud of Witnesses feels about dropping the name?
STATES WITH GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF BAPTISTS 55% - Mississippi 51% - Alabama 51% - Georgia 47% - South Carolina 43% - Tennessee 43% - Kentucky 42% - Arkansas 33% - Oklahoma 32% - Texas 31% - Virginia 29% - W. Virginia 29% - Louisiana 25% - Missouri 22% - Florida 17% - Maryland 17% - Indiana 16% - Kansas 16% - Michigan