2015 ERLC Conference: Review and Reflection
On Wednesday, August 6, 2015, two HSF contributors, Matthew Bracey and Phillip Morgan, attended the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference theme, “The Gospel and Politics,” was much welcomed, especially post-Obergefell (the decision that granted marriage rights to same-sex couples). In this post, we’ll offer a summary and analysis of the day’s events. Morning Session...
The Ghosts of Students Past: Ayden Seminary and Eureka College
Arthur C. Clarke opened the forward of his 1968 novel 2001: A Space Odyssey by stating, “Behind every man now alive stand thirty ghosts, for that is the number by which the dead outnumber the living.”[1] Clarke’s statistics may be skewed due to his evolutionary calculations, but the main thrust of his thesis rings true. Behind every man and woman now living stand the ghosts of those who have gone before them. The same applies to...
D6 Conference Ticket Giveaway
Randall House, the Free Will Baptist publishing company, is hosting their annual D6 Family Ministry Conference on September 16-18 in Louisville, Kentucky. The conference theme for this year is “Refine”, taken from their theme verse of Ephesians 3:20-21. Randall House and the D6 team believe strongly in the implementation and practice of family ministry and generational discipleship in our local churches. According to D6, their...
How a Failed College Became a Catalyst for Unity: John Welch and the Free Will Baptist University
by Eric K. Thomsen From their earliest days—long before the formation of the National Association—Free Will Baptists in both North and South demonstrated great concern for education. A number of historic schools were started and closed, or absorbed by other denominational groups, as was the case after Free Will Baptists merged with Northern Baptists in 1911.[1] Only three regional Free Will Baptists colleges remained in operation...
When General Baptists Became Particular Baptists
What happened in May 1755, significantly altered the early years of what would become southern Free Will Baptists, and nearly dealt their churches a lethal blow. Prior to the events that will be discussed below, Free Will Baptists were one of the most successful Protestant groups in the southern United States. That certainly changed in the following years. In May of 1755, Calvinist John Gano arrived at the General Baptist church near...
Free Will Baptist National Convention: Reflections from Grand Rapids
by the Helwys Society Forum This past week, over 3,000 Free Will Baptist (FWB) youth, parents, pastors, exhibitors, and church leaders converged on the beautiful northern city of Grand Rapids, Michigan for their 79th annual National Convention. While the overall attendance was down from the prior year, it was a noteworthy and significant event. Five of the six Forum contributors were among those attending, and we were blessed to...
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