Baptist History Project

The Other Liberty: The History of Baptists in America

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Baptist History Project

Our assistant pastor, Joshua Huang, went on a 12-day trip up and down the East Coast in September 2017. He visited over 30 historical locations that have significance to the Baptist movement. In November, Pastor Joshua began teaching a 12-week study at church on the history of early Baptists in America, sharing the things that he learned on his trip. You can follow along by following the public Facebook page that was created for this project: http://www.facebook.com/theotherliberty

Week 01- What Makes the Baptists Different?

Week One of the Baptist History study series answers the question, "What makes the Baptists different?" With so many Christian denominations in existence today, what distinguishes Baptists from the others? The notes from week one can be downloaded here as a PDF: What Makes the Baptists Different?

Week 02- Why Is Baptism Such a Big Deal?

Week Two of the Baptist History series focuses on the topic of water baptism. Where did the water baptism originate, what is its purpose, and how do Baptists view the practice? The notes from week two can be downloaded here: Why Is Baptism Such a Big Deal?

Week 03- Does the Difference Really Matter?

When the Baptists first started settling in Noth America, they faced severe persecution at the hands of the Congregational Church, also known as the Puritans. In week three, we ask whether or not it was worth it for the Baptists to be different and look at specific examples of men who were persecuted for their beliefs. Here are the PowerPoint notes: Does the Difference Really Matter?

Week 04- Where Did Religious Liberty Begin?

In Week 04 we looked at Roger Williams, Dr. John Clarke, and the "lively experiment" that they undertook in Rhode Island. Under their leadership and perseverance, Rhode Island became the first colony to offer full religious liberty to all people. Their success paved the way for what eventually became a nation with religious liberty for all its citizens. Here are the PowerPoint notes: Where Did Religious Liberty Begin?

Week 05- Who Were the Baptists in New England?

Week 05 investigates New England as a whole. As seen in previous weeks, Massachusetts and Rhode Island were especially significant in Baptist history, and those two colonies were home to many of the earliest Baptist establishments. So who were the people who lived in New England and fought so fiercely to give us the religious liberties we enjoy today? PowerPoint notes can be found here: Who Were the Baptists in New England?

Week 06- What Did Baptists in the Middle Colonies Contribute?

The Baptists in the Middle Colonies do not receive as much attention as those in New England, but they made some notable contributions as well. For example, they were influential in starting the first Baptist association in America (Philadelphia Association), and they worked hard to educate future leaders. Because of these Baptists, the influence of the Baptists and their ideologies continued to spread. PowerPoint notes: What Did Baptists in the Middle Colonies Contribute?

 

Week 07- How Did the South Get So Many Baptists?

Almost everywhere you go down South you'll find a Baptist church. You can find them in town on the busy street corners and hidden out in the country in a grove of trees or in the middle of a field. They're everywhere! So how did they all get there? Here are the PowerPoint slides in PDF form: How Did the South Get So Many Baptists?

 

Week 08- What Do the Earliest Churches Teach Us?

Many of the earliest Baptist churches in America still exist today. Some of them are large and still going strong, but some of them are small and dying. How did they get started, who started them, and why were they established in the first place? Here are the PowerPoint notes: What Do the Earliest Churches Teach Us?