Converge (United States)

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Converge (Baptist organization)
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Converge
(Baptist General Conference)
U.S.
Origin1879
Branched fromMission Friends
Congregations1,346
Members324,163
Tertiary institutionsBethel University
Official websiteconverge.org

Converge, formerly the Baptist General Conference (BGC) and Converge Worldwide, is a

Orlando
, Florida. The current president of Converge is John K. Jenkins.

History

The Baptist General Conference grew out of the

Baptist views, arrived in America the next year with 21 immigrants. Some of these united with the Rock Island church, while others organized a church at Houston, Minnesota. Nilsson traveled widely, founding and strengthening churches. Anders Wiberg was another pioneer among these churches from 1852 until 1855, when he returned to Sweden as a missionary. It also had influence from and a partial connection with fellow Pietists and Radical Pietists of different denominational traditions within the Mission Friends movement.[2] [3][4] [5][6]

Christian experience was a major emphasis among these Swedish Baptists, and they prospered from the awakenings in the 19th century. Immigration, aggressive evangelism and conversion through revivals brought rapid growth to the denomination.

Chicago, Illinois in 1871. [7]

In 1879, when the Swedish churches had grown to 65 in number, they formed a General Conference.

ethnic groups
and missions in 35 nations.

The Baptist General Conference adopted the new movement name of Converge Worldwide in 2008, and was renamed to Converge in 2015.[10]

Statistics

According to a census published by the denomination in 2023, it claimed 1,346 churches and 324,163 members. [11]

Beliefs

The denomination has a

confession of faith.[12] It is a member of the Baptist World Alliance. [13]

Schools

Bethel University in Arden Hills, Minnesota.

Converge operates the

St. Paul.[14]

Notable Members

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 9781421408804
    .
  2. ^ Gehrz, Christopher (2011-01-15). "Recovering a Pietist Understanding ofChristian Higher Education: Carl H. Lundquist and Karl A. Olsson". Christian Scholar’s Review. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  3. ^ "The Missional Church and Denominations".
  4. ^ "Christian History" (PDF).
  5. ^ Phil Johnson, Mark Safstrom. "The Pietist Impulse in Christianity Conference at Bethel". www.pietisten.org. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  6. ^ Gehrz, Chris (2018-08-02). "The Pietist Option for Baptists". The Pietist Schoolman. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  7. ^ William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 65
  8. ^ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 57
  9. ^ George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 188
  10. ^ William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2021, p. 74
  11. ^ Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
  12. ^ Converge, Our beliefs, converge.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
  13. ^ Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
  14. ^ Bethel University, Church Relations, bethel.edu, USA, accessed November 2, 2023

Sources

  • Glenmary Research Center. Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States, 2000
  • McBeth, H. Leon. The Baptist Heritage: Four Centuries of Baptist Witness
  • Olson, Adolf. A Centenary History as Related to the Baptist General Conference
  • Wardin, Albert W. Jr. Baptists Around the World

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Converge_(United_States)&oldid=1190570971"