American Baptists Are People of Action and Resolve
Throughout America, nearly two million men, women and children express their commitment to Jesus Christ through an affiliation with one of the 6,000 congregations of the American Baptist Churches. And, through our overseas and foreign mission work, American Baptists work with an additional 3.2 million people. As with any Christian group, American Baptists reflect a certain corporate character which makes us distinct and effective. Here are some of those specific traits:

Biblically-Based
We are a Biblically-based people. Since our inception in the 17th century, the Scriptures have been held as holy and central to our faith. In all our churches the Bible is regularly read and taught through study, sermon, and song.

New Churches
American Baptists specialize in starting new churches across the country and around the world. Local American Baptist congregations plant new churches as they see the need and God sets the vision.

Missions
Mission work is a high priority for American Baptists. We have a rich history of outreach throughout the world, with an urgency to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with every person in every culture.

Education
Colleges, universities, seminaries, grade schools, and even day cares have been established as part of American Baptists’ high commitment to education. We offer programs for all people-at all levels-including literacy, language and job training.

Religious Freedom
We appreciate the work of others. Having suffered harsh persecution at the hands of state churches, American Baptists are especially sensitive to the need for separation between church and state. Because of this history, we are tolerant and understanding, recognizing that God is at work among other Christian groups as well. And, we choose to love these brothers and sisters, work with them, and learn from them.

Evangelism and Outreach
American Baptists-as individuals and churches-have a passion for and are highly committed to spreading the Good News and reaching people with the life-transforming love of Jesus Christ.

Equality
We are willing to take a stand. American Baptist Christians have been leaders in the struggle for social reform, women’s rights, and the civil rights movement. Because Jesus modeled a life free of bias and prejudice, and because all people have an equal need for His love, American Baptist congregations have grown to include members from all racial and cultural backgrounds.

Local Churches are self-governing
American Baptists are congregationally oriented. We see Christ as the head of each fellowship. It is the individual members of a local American Baptist congregation who come together as a church body and are responsible, together with the local church leadership, for being led by the Spirit in their actions and directions.

Local Churches cooperate with each other
Balanced with the belief that the local congregation should be self-governing is an emphasis on congregations working together to do what they cannot do alone. Associations of churches seek the leading of the Holy Spirit as they work together in evangelism, mission, education, starting new churches, ordination of ministers and supporting one another.

 For additional information about the American Baptist Churches USA, call or write our national mission center at:

P.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
(800) ABC-3-USA

Or visit their Web site at: http://www.abc-usa.org/

 For additional information about First Baptist Church of Winfield Kansas call or write: