What were you before becoming now a Baptist?

Always curious to see background, as went from atheist, to saved, to charismatic, to Bapticostalists , and now straight Baptists

Defining it by Church Attendance:
Lutheran
Methodist
Presbytyrian
Atheist (nihilism)
Roman Catholic (Charismatic Fellowship)
Campus Crusade (nutcases - just a short visit)
Church of God (Anderson, IN version)
Evangelical Free Church
Pentecostal
Southern Baptist
Church of God (Cleveland TN version)

Defining it by THEOLOGY:
Lily & Holly Christian
Atheist
unaffiliated REFORMED [TU*IP]
Particular Baptist

Baptist from the day I was born. History on both sides was baptist so just grew up that way. Have not seen any reason to change.

I was a new Christian who.was lead to Jesus Christ as Savior at an independent Fundamental Baptist church (1962).

I had my believers immersion some time in 1963 or 1964.

In July of 1966 I Joined the Air Force. I had to specify a religion.
I was a Christian. There are different claims of being a Christian.
My best fit how and what I believed was Baptist.

I was out of the Air Force.
In that summer of 1970 I join the Baptist Church where I was lead to receiving Christ as my Savior.

Silverhair said:

Baptist from the day I was born. History on both sides was baptist so just grew up that way. Have not seen any reason to change.

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Pagan from the day I was born. History on both sides was Pagan, so I just grew up circling the drain. Saw no reason to change (until God knocked me on me *rse and made me an offer that I couldn't refuse.)

atpollard said:

Pagan from the day I was born. History on both sides was Pagan, so I just grew up circling the drain. Saw no reason to change (until God knocked me on me *rse and made me an offer that I couldn't refuse.)

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Now why would you call yourself a pagan?

But it is good to see that you accepted the offer that God made.

Silverhair said:

Baptist from the day I was born. History on both sides was baptist so just grew up that way. Have not seen any reason to change.

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Exact same here!

Silverhair said:

Now why would you call yourself a pagan?

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My family moved every few years following my father’s Research Work. We attended Church every Christmas and Easter as a social obligation until I was about eleven years old. When I once asked why we attended the particular church we attended (since the denomination seemed to change and we often drove past several churches to get to the specific church that was our destination), my father explained to me that “this was the church in town where the up and coming professionals went to be seen.”

I think ‘Pagan’ is a fairly accurate description of that upbringing. Christian in name only, but worldly to the core worshiping a god created by human hands.

Got saved in my uncle's Baptist Church when he came back to preach Homecoming Sunday 1969. Baptized in my home church a month or so later.

My heritage is Baptist going back at least to the Civil War.

atpollard said:

My family moved every few years following my father’s Research Work. We attended Church every Christmas and Easter as a social obligation until I was about eleven years old. When I once asked why we attended the particular church we attended (since the denomination seemed to change and we often drove past several churches to get to the specific church that was our destination), my father explained to me that “this was the church in town where the up and coming professionals went to be seen.”

I think ‘Pagan’ is a fairly accurate description of that upbringing. Christian in name only, but worldly to the core worshiping a god created by human hands.

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My up bringing was so different but we both got to the same place by the grace of God.

Mother had been saved as a teen in First Baptist church mission station (Samuel Moyer Gospel Lighthouse) in the poorest of the poor streets of Minneapolis. Dad was nothing but his mother had been Jewish (culture, not religion in Bohemia/Czech). Neighbors were all Irish or Polish Catholics and Jews.

Dedicated as baby at Fourth Baptist near home on the north side after the War. Did shabbat at Talmud Torah but did not "fit" with tight Jewish community. Loved Hebrew. Did mass with buddies. Loved Latin. Trolley line being torn up (belies my age) so mom asked the Baptist church to pick my older sister, myself, and maiden aunt. Church rented 4 buses from suburban system to pick up any needy.

Found what I'd been seeking in that Church. Bible studies, music training, and the Gospel truth. Saved at home on Sunday night. Baptized Easter (April 5, 1958) at the Fourth Baptist Church. Baptist College. Baptist Seminary. Baptist ordination and pastorates. Baptist professor. Baptist missionary. Helped found Baptist Board!

Guess I'd bear the name Baptist, too.

I’ve always been a Radical Christian in my thinking & Believing.

atpollard said:

My family moved every few years following my father’s Research Work. We attended Church every Christmas and Easter as a social obligation until I was about eleven years old. When I once asked why we attended the particular church we attended (since the denomination seemed to change and we often drove past several churches to get to the specific church that was our destination), my father explained to me that “this was the church in town where the up and coming professionals went to be seen.”

I think ‘Pagan’ is a fairly accurate description of that upbringing. Christian in name only, but worldly to the core worshiping a god created by human hands.

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I’m sorry to say this as a criticism brother, but your father it appears used church as a convenient prop to his career ambitions and your family were forced to go along for the ride.

JesusFan said:

Always curious to see background, as went from atheist, to saved, to charismatic, to Bapticostalists , and now straight Baptists

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I was brought up to attend the Church of England. Nobody ever told me why we went, or that I was a sinner in need of the Saviour. I eventually heard that in my late teens from a school friend who was a Christian. This led me to realise my spiritual state, and the fact that only Jesus Christ could save me. I prayed for God's help in knowing which church I should join - I knew that the C of E I had attended hadn't taught the gospel. I went to the local baptist church, where I found that the worship, the preaching, the evangelism was based on bible teaching. I have been a baptist ever since.

I have a very active assembly of Quakers in my community who have been growing each year. They have the particular quality of being quiet and peaceful. What do you think, are they Christian?

Dr. Bob said:

Mother had been saved as a teen in First Baptist church mission station (Samuel Moyer Gospel Lighthouse) in the poorest of the poor streets of Minneapolis. Dad was nothing but his mother had been Jewish (culture, not religion in Bohemia/Czech). Neighbors were all Irish or Polish Catholics and Jews.

Dedicated as baby at Fourth Baptist near home on the north side after the War. Did shabbat at Talmud Torah but did not "fit" with tight Jewish community. Loved Hebrew. Did mass with buddies. Loved Latin. Trolley line being torn up (belies my age) so mom asked the Baptist church to pick my older sister, myself, and maiden aunt. Church rented 4 buses from suburban system to pick up any needy.

Found what I'd been seeking in that Church. Bible studies, music training, and the Gospel truth. Saved at home on Sunday night. Baptized Easter (April 5, 1958) at the Fourth Baptist Church. Baptist College. Baptist Seminary. Baptist ordination and pastorates. Baptist professor. Baptist missionary. Helped found Baptist Board!

Guess I'd bear the name Baptist, too.

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Question for you Bob, are you familiar with the Moravians? I ask because I live in close proximity to Bethlehem PA and my Great Grandfather was from Slovakia.

Earth Wind and Fire said:

Question for you Bob, are you familiar with the Moravians? I ask because I live in close proximity to Bethlehem PA and my Great Grandfather was from Slovakia.

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I live in a Moravian community at The Marquardt in Watertown, Wisconsin. Sadly, Moravian Church left the evangelical zeal of John Hus (my home is on the corner of Hus and Comenius) and Count Zinzendorf and are now more liberal than typical Lutheran. I preached 5 times last year by invitation of the campus chaplain, obviously proclaiming repentance and faith.

About 500 or so reside in 72 duplexes surrounding a complex of 3 luxury condo buildings, 2 assisted living buildings, 1 memory care building, 1 rehab and nursing home buildings. We have fitness center, 2 huge chapels, 2 restaurants, etc. The Moravians see the RETIRED/ELDERLY as their "mission", an "underserved" part of the population. Their churches are smaller and do not have schools, hospitals, vast foreign missions. The focus is US. I would says less than 40 residents are Moravian, including 4 retired pastors. Most are Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran, the dominant denomination is our area.

Great discussions with folks and tremendous "calm, spiritual" environment. It is odd for us to have beer, wine and whisky at pot-lucks!! No smoking allowed on 55 acre campus. And a mile from fundamental Baptist Marantha Baptist University for plays, concerts, sports. GREAT location to retire and still share the Gospel!!

Conceived as a lost sinner, born anew as a child of God, at age 15, while attending an American Baptist Church. I still have my "certificate of baptism."