All Southern Baptists!?

Question

I am looking into joining the southern baptist church. I have so many questions.
1. How do I join?
2. Do I have to be baptized?
3.Where can I find a southern baptist church to attend (my zip code is 84405)?
4. What is it like to be in the church?

Thank you all!

Answer 1

Before you decide to join, I would seriously recommend attending the church for a while. Get to know the people as well as listen to the pastor and get involved in the church activities. That way you can make sure whether this is the real church you want to join. Just so you know, the Baptists have conferences, that differentiate the GARBC, the Southern Baptists, the American Baptists, The Black Baptist churches, etc.

Here is their official website: http://www.sbc.net/ - I think this website can answer most of your questions including the location of the church.

If it's a typical Baptist church, they will want you to appear before a committee, usually the church board before they will allow you to join their church. They will want to find out where you stand on certain issues and you most likely will have to share your testimony with them (how you became a Christian). They do practice open communion (meaning you don't have to be a member of their church), and they most likely will expect you to have been baptized by immersion at one point or another after your conversion (not infant baptism).

Answer 2

Well, you might be able to find videos of
Bro. Rogers, but he himself is in heaven.
Take your time and be sure the Southern
Baptists are what you really believe.
There are differences from church to church.
I am Pentecostal myself, which means we
believe all the stuff Baptists do PLUS all
the teaching in the Bible about the Holy
Spirit that Southern Baptists refuse to believe.
I have a problem with the SBC, (Southern
Baptist Convention) allowing members,
and even Pastors, to belong to the Freemasons.
Freemasonry is a cult. They hold their lodge
above Jesus Christ and perform occultic
rituals and ceremonies. Yes, you must be
dipped completely into water over your head
to become a true Baptist.
To be in most Baptist churches you go in,
sit down and sing a couple songs, then they
take up an offering, the choir sings a bit,
and then the Pastor teaches about a half-hour,
hopefully from the Bible.
I love Pentecost because the services are
always different, there is lively music and
singing, powerful preaching of the Full Gospel,
and many times people in the crowd get
healed of diseases they've had. I hope you
think awhile before joining any church. I was
raised Southern Baptist, and it just wasn't
enough for me. I needed the power of the
Holy Spirit to live for Jesus and be a witness
to others, so I joined the Church of God.
Please pray a lot and visit several churches
first, and I hope you will visit some Pentecostal
churches, to see what powerful Christianity is like!

Answer 3

If you don't know anything about a Southern Baptist then why do you want to join?

Are you A Christian? Do you believe once saved (always saved?)

Have you been baptized in another church? if so do you know you will need to be baptized again if it was not a recognized church?

Do you know if they baptize you, you are a member of their church?

Do you know once you are a member you can stay gone for 20 years and then come back on business meeting night and vote out the Pastor?

Do you believe Women can not be Pastors?

Just somethings you may not know.

Answer 4

Try finding a southern Baptist church in your town -- if your totally clueless about how, try the yellow pages or ads in the town newspaper.

I'd suggest that you attend several different churches and denominations, and select the one where you fit best.

Answer 5

Google "Baptist church" and your ZIP. Go to the Sunday service. The Preacher will ask is anyone new and an usher will give you a card. You're in. Lots of singing and a sermon. Baptism is optional. Go on Wednesday nights to see it. It's full immersion in a giant fish tank. The ones getting Baptised ware a robe. The preacher gets in too but he wares fishing waders under his robe. The singing is fun. I am actually a Catholic but go to the Baptist sevice for intertainment.

Answer 6

Hottfries, Great Answer!!!!!!!
Look, I am a Southern baptist member, so I know how they are sometimes.
If you want to see gays being bashed constantly, by all means, go there!
Me, I got sick of that.
Now, I'm called a Bapticostal by the Baptists cause I am pulling away from them. They don't like me much !

Answer 7

Keep in mind that you have to pick a particular church becuase all the southern baptiststs from the church on the next street over will hate you forever.

Answer 8

I have a counter question: why would you want to join a sect of which you have such little knowledge? Wouldn't it be wise to learn what they believe *before* you decide to join? There are plenty of Christian sects around.

I'm all for you joining a Christian sect - I just think it's incautious of you to want to join a specific sect without knowing their specific teachings.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 9

i use to visit bellevue baptist church headed by the late Adrian Rogers. It was awesome, great teacher you can find him at www.oneplace.com

Answer 10

Be prepared to commit the sin of homophobia if you want to be accepted.