Who are the Baptists
and How Do You
Reach Them?
R. Chip Turner
❶ Almost 1 in 5 Americans Claims
to be Baptist
❶ Almost 1 in 5 Americans Claims
to be Baptist
❷ More counties in the United
States lists Baptists as the
largest faith group than any
other. (1287 counties - Source: Religious
Congregations & Membership in the U.S. 2000
Glenmary Research Center, Nashville, TN)
❶ Almost 1 in 5 Americans Claims
to be Baptist
❷ More counties in the United
States lists Baptists as the
largest faith group than any
other. (1287 counties - Source: Religious
Congregations & Membership in the U.S. 2000
Glenmary Research Center, Nashville, TN)
❸ Baptists in the U.S. are divided
into more than 60 bodies
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Conservative Baptist Association of America
Duck River & Kindred Baptists Associations
Enterprise Baptists Associations
Fundamental Baptist Associations / Fellowships
General Association of Regular Baptists
General Six Principle Baptists
Independent Free Will Baptists Associations
Interstate & Foreign Landmark Missionary Baptists Assn.
Jasper Baptist & Pleasant Valley Baptist Associations
Landmark Missionary Baptists
National Primitive Baptist Convention USA
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New Hope Baptist Association
New Testament Assn. of Independent Baptist Churches
“Old” Missionary Baptists Associations
Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Inc.
Primitive Baptist Churches
Primitive Baptists, Eastern District
Progressive Primitive Baptists
Reformed Baptist Churches
Separate Baptists in Christ
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Strict Baptists
Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists
Wayne Trail Missionary Baptist Association
However, knowing something about
a much smaller list will likely serve
you well. And, “doing your
homework” will help address other
Baptist denominations which may
have a strong regional presence in
your area.*
*Note: There are several smaller Baptist denominations
which do use Scouting consistently and would offer
growth potential in some locales.
Independent Baptist Churches
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Autonomy / Independence of the Local Church
Something About Structure
– Whether Southern, American, National,
General, BMA, Free Will, Progressive
National, Primitive, Independent,
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, etc., there
are some similarities:
Affiliations beyond the local church are
voluntary
National Conventions
State Conventions
Local Associations
Districts
A Baptist Denomination
State Convention
Association
Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
(an annual meeting and a denomination)
SBC Executive Committee
Guidestone Financial
Services (Annuity)
Woman’s
Missionary
Union (Aux)
ERLC
6 Seminaries
International
Mission Board
North American
Mission Board
LifeWay
Christian
Resources
A State Convention
Association
State Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
►Colleges/Universities
►Children’s Homes
►Retirement Homes
►Disaster Relief Units
►State Newspaper
►Program Staff &
Events for Churches
►State Missions
►And More (varies by state)
“Baptism” – Total Immersion
“People of the Book” – The Bible
“Evangelism” / “Outreach”
“Family Ministry” / “Strengthening Families”
“Missions”
“Spiritual Aspect of Scouting” / “PRAY Program
of Religious Emblems” / “Religious Education”
“Serving God”
“Local church, not The Baptist Church”
“Sharing in Leadership Selection”
“Ministry” vs. “Sponsorship” for Troops
100,000+ Local Baptist churches
Church members who are gifted to serve and are now being
underutilized
Desire of leadership to reach children, youth and families through
integral church ministries
The P.R.A.Y. Program
www.praypub.org
Good Shepherd Recognition
www.praypub.org
Association of Baptists for Scouting
www.BaptistScouters.org
Consult websites for specific Baptist denominations
Thank you!