Our Rich History

On the 8th of May, 293 delegates from nine states met in Augusta, Georgia. Within a few days the Southern Baptist Convention was formed.  Article 2 of the new constitution stated, “It shall be the design of this Convention to promote Foreign and Domestic Missions.” Estep in his book, Whole Gospel – Whole World, writes, “The heartbeat of the Southern Baptist Convention is missions.  It has been so from its beginning in 1845.”  Out of the SBC’s desire to participate in making disciples of all people groups, there were two mission boards created to “promote Foreign and Domestic missions.”
 
170 years later our focus has not changed. The basis for our commitment to the Great Commission is the commitment to biblical truth. For the last 170 years, we have continued to work together to promote biblical truth and participate in making disciples of all people groups.  These two things have allowed us to have a common focus and accomplish more together than apart. 
 
As Baptists, we have a rich inheritance both historically and theologically. What has held us together and will continue to hold us together, in the future, is our common commitment to biblical truth and to making disciples of all people groups.  In the months and years ahead, we will continue to remain loyalty to both.