The Baptist General Conference (BGC) is a national evangelical Baptist body with roots in Pietism in Sweden and inroads among evangelical Scandinavian-Americans, particularly persons located in the American Upper Midwest. From its small beginning among Scandinavian immigrants, the BGC has grown to a nation wide association of autonomous churches with at least 17 ethnic groups and missions in 19 nations. A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church or any follower of Jesus Christ who believes that baptism is administered by the full immersion of a confessing Christian. ... Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late-17th century to the mid-18th century. ...

The Baptist General Conference grew out of the great revival of the 19th century, but its roots can be traced back to Swedish Pietism. In 1852, Gustaf Palmquist emigrated from Sweden to the United States. Forty-seven days after his arrival, he and 3 others organized a Swedish Baptist church in Rock Island, Illinois. Frederick Nilsson, who was instrumental in leading Palmquist to 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 to 1855, when he returned to Sweden as a missionary. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late-17th century to the mid-18th century. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Rock Island is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois. ... A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church or any follower of Jesus Christ who believes that baptism is administered by the full immersion of a confessing Christian. ... Houston is a city located in Houston County, Minnesota. ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

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. John Edgren founded Swedish Baptist Seminary at Chicago, Illinois in 1871. In 1879, when the Swedish churches had grown to 65 in number, they formed a General Conference. The members of these churches assimilated into American society and gradually lost their separate ethnic identity. By 1940, most churches were English-speaking. In 1945, the Swedish Baptist General Conference dropped Swedish from its name and became the Baptist General Conference of America. Swedish Baptists had maintained an alliance with the American Baptist Publication Society, American Baptist home & foreign missions, etc., and later the Northern Baptist Convention. Some Swedish Baptists expected to merge with that body, but the groups moved toward different developments of theological emphasis. The conservative Swedish Baptists pulled back from growing liberalism of the Northern Baptists, and in 1944 formed their own Board of Foreign Missions. This moved them toward independent existence, which they have maintained to the present. Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... The Northern Baptist Convention was founded in Washington, D.C. on May 17, 1907. ...

The Baptist General Conference operates the Bethel Theological Seminary and Bethel University near St. Paul, Minnesota, and maintains offices in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The official periodical is BGC World, and Harvest Publications offers a wide range of Christian education material. The Conference labors in national and world missions, with missionaries in Central America, South America, southern Europe, former Eastern Bloc nations, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Asian Pacific rim. John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and leader of Desiring God Ministries, is perhaps one of the most well known BGC ministers in the 21st century. Bethlehem was organized as the First Swedish Baptist Church of Minneapolis in 1871. Bethel University is a comprehensive university of the arts, sciences and professional studies located in Arden Hills, Minnesota, a suburb of Saint Paul. ... State capitol building in Saint Paul Saint Paul is the capital and second-largest city of the state of Minnesota in the United States of America. ... Incorporated Village in 1836. ... John Piper John Stephen Piper (born 1946) is a reformed Baptist minister and author, currently serving as senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. // Biography Piper was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Bill and Ruth Piper January 11, 1946. ... Nickname: City of Lakes Motto: En Avant Location in Hennepin County and the state of Minnesota. ... The 21st century is the present century of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2006, the BGC had 194,000 members in 950 churches in the United States. These churches are also organized into 13 district bodies - Columbia, Florida/Caribbean, Great Lakes, Heartland, Iowa, Mideast, Michigan, Minnesota, Midwest, Northern California, Northwest, Northeast, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest. There are 5 district bodies in Canada that cooperate together through the Baptist General Conference of Canada. 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Baptist General Conference of Canada - a national body of evangelical Baptist churches introduced to Canada by Swedish Baptists late in the 19th century. ...

The BGC cooperates with the National Association of Evangelicals, the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, and the Baptist World Alliance, and was a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. The Baptist World Alliance was formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London, England during the first Baptist World Congress. ...

External links

• Baptist General Conference - official Web Site of the BGC
• Bethel University- official web page of Bethel University
• Bethel Seminary- official web page of Bethel Seminary

Sources

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