When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

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Yes .... there was a time a person could be saved in a Baptist church .... Pentecostal Herald, May 1946.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Kewl. It still happens that way many times. :)

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Amazing that so many have left the old landmarks, wouldn't you say?

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

I got saved at home on Monday night March 28, 1955 after attending a service in a Baptist Church.

A couple nights later I went back, stood up in a testimony service and told how I had invited Jesus Christ into my life two nights before. I had never testified in my life and really didn't know what the term meant. The leader of the service just asked if anyone had anything to say about how the services had been a blessing and I stood up and said it.

I later learned about the Holy Ghost Baptism and began to pray for that experience. I continued to attend my Baptist Church. In August I attended three services in an Apostolic Church when I was visiting in another part of the state. After both Sunday night services I prayed and pleaded with God for the Holy Ghost Baptism.

Two months later I attended another Apostolic church and went to the altar to plead with God for the Holy Ghost Baptism. Someone asked me if I wanted to be baptized in Jesus' name. I wasn't certain that I wanted to but thought I'd go ahead and do it since I probably would do it some time in the future.

A month or two later I started attending an Apostolic church nearer home and began to seek or tarry (that's what they called it back then) for the Holy Ghost Baptism. I received the Holy Ghost Baptism on May 20, 1956.

But, I was not any more saved after water baptism that I was before, and I was no more saved after the Holy Ghost Baptism than I was before.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

How could he have been saved in a Baptist church? I didn't think that was possible...

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

I started out in a Baptist church. During one service when I was about 12 years old the message hit me, God moved me to tears, I was drawn to the front after service to "repeat after me" for salvation, then was baptized in the titles. It was 2 more years before we changed to a pentecostal church. I never did have that feeling I felt that night again until our first service in the pentecostal church. As a teen I recieved the baptism of the Holy Ghost and was baptized in Jesus Name.

There was no doubt what I felt in that baptist church was the Spirit of God, but it never happened again while I was going there and after I left that night I knew I had felt something but the prayer and baptism just seemed empty or more ritual.

Later on in life our church was eating out and I ran into that baptist preacher. He ask how I was and where I was going to church, after I told him, he said he was glad I had moved on to truth. I asked him what he meant and he said; "I know what you have is the truth, but if I preach that in my church I will lose my congregation"

Sad.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

UPCI preacher SS Grant felt "saved" at a Baptist Church.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

wow

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Honestly, there are a ton of baptist preachers like this. They even preach oneness to a point (with out calling it oneness). But like your friend stated, they would lose their congregation, be voted out, etc. I do believe that God is working in every religious body to bring us all into the truth.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

I haven't met one yet ... that fits this bill ...

Haven't met any AG ministers like this either ...

I know the other pat answer as to why they won't do it is because of the money ...

Yet I know some Apostolic ministers who won't leave for the same reasons listed above ... lose the church, family, income, network, friendships, etc.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

A person can still be saved in a Baptist Church. I'll be Preaching at one in a couple months. Sometimes I wonder how many of those on here who defend, to the bitter end, other denominations have ever actually set foot in one of their Churches. In fact I wonder how many have set foot in any Church that wasn't UPCI. I've preached for Trinity Pentecostals, my bro-in-law preached for the Methodists, and when my Pastor was an Evangelist he not only preached at a Baptist Church, he eventually Baptized the Pastor and the whole congregation in Jesus' Name and almost all were speaking in tongues by the time he left. But I guess that was wrong of him, wasn't it?

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

You are a double dipper.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

:happydance

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Very true, and more often the some would care to admit. That grip of traditionalism on pastors is almost impossible to break without great damage to their ministry and relationships often forged over a lifetime.

Of course, UPCI ministers then turn around and ridicule the "Baptists" for not leaving dead tradition for truth.

Sad.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Of course you haven't.

Not suprising.

It wouldn't fit your agenda well at all.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Truth is, of course you could get saved in a Baptist church. The question is, can one grow spiritually as God would will us to grow in a Baptist church ? Can one continue in the apostolic truth, accomplishing the will of God in our lives ? Would the almighty DA still be more apostolic than we will ever be had he only graced the auditoriums of the traditional baptist church ?

As many have said, orgs dont save people, God saves people. But nobody can argue that orgs help guide and grow our walk with God.(some through positive experiences and some through negative ones) You can argue apostolic orgs trivial discrepencies. But every member here, no matter what org they are affiliated, are here for one reason. . . they believe the apostolic truth in doctrine. You won't find that in a "Baptist" church.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

I have.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

I believe the article is written in the style of that day.
He was saved, according to the Baptist mode of salvation.
That is all the statement is saying.
Nothing more, nothing less.
As is evident he did not believe that was all there was to salvation.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

The obit was written from what we call the "one-step" viewpoint, held by many in the UPC at that time (and still held by many Apostolics).
Acts 2:38 is looked upon as:
1. salvation/conversion/regeneration
2. water baptism after salvation
3. Holy Ghost Baptism as an enduement of power

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

That is my opinion as well.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Agree.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

I got saved in a Southern Baptist church. It was because the minister was preaching Jesus and him crucified just like Peter did. He then said a person must repent and surrender his life to Jesus Christ. I was a catholic boy I didn't really know this because when I went to church in the 50-60's they were holding mass in Latin. I didn't have a clue what the priest was saying.
After I got saved someone asked me if I had received the Holy Ghost. Of course I said yes. He then said did you speak in tongues. I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. I'm glad today that someone had enough courage to put that question to me first hand. it was later in my living room while praising God that the Holy Ghost fell on me and tongues began like water running down hill. I spoke in them for hours and didn't want to stop. it was one of the greatest experiences beside my spiritual conversion that I have ever had. Of course the Baptist pastor told me to stay away from the pentecostals because they were of the devil. I said to them " How can something that praises and glorifies Jesus more than what I see you doing, be of the devil?/

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I attend Sherwood Baptist Church (the church that makes the movies - Facing the Giants, Fireproof, etc.) a lot and I have never heard them ask any one to repeat after them nor I have I heard them say to shake the preachers hand to be saved.

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The teaching that a person is justified/saved/born again at faith and repentance prior to and separate from water and Spirit baptism was the standard Apostolic/Pentecostal teaching for years. The idea that water and Spirit baptism are the new birth was a later teaching but it has become quite prominent.

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I know this is an old thread,but I am new here and this is extremely interesting to me. This is the way I believe, but I didn't know there were Apostolics that believe this. Isn't this belief rather anathema in the UPC? Are there Apostolic orgs that hold to this? I think the ACOPOC holds to this, but they also allow both oneness and trinity views.
I did not stay in the UPC because it just didn't jive with what God did in me. Never could accept the idea that one isn't saved until water baptism and they speak in tongues and that you are going to hell if you don't speak in tongues or aren't baptized. I got saved 2 years before Holy Ghost baptism, and my Baptism in the Holy Ghost was 4 years before water baptism. I mean when you really know Jesus and are on fire for Him and have the witness of the Spirit in your heart that you are a child of God and are born again, someone arguing that you are not just falls flat.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

When the UPC was formed in 1945, two organizations merged. One was the PCI (Pentecostal Church Inc) and the other was the PAJC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ). The PCI was chaired by Howard Goss who believed that a person was saved/born again at faith/repentance and that water baptism and Spirit baptism were experiences available to Christians after salvation. The PAJC was chaired by Bro. Witherspoon who believed that a person was not really saved or born again until completion of repentance, water baptism and Spirit baptism. No body really knows how many people believed the way Bro. Goss did or how many people believed the way Bro. Witherspoon did but I think we usually agree that the predominant view in the PAJC was the three-step view and the predominant view in the PCI was the one-step view.

Because of the differing views among the brethren, the fundamental doctrine statement was written ambiguously enough that those of both views could accept it and the merger went forward.

The first General Superintendent (Bro. Goss), first Foreign Missions director (Wynn Stairs), first Sunday School director (Bro. E.E. McNatt) and at least 2 of the district superintendents (Bro.Greer and Bro. Yadon) were one-steppers. The first issue of the Pentecostal Herald (the new magazine for the new organization) stated that articles would be accepted for publication with either view.

Over the years those who believed in the one-step plan of salvation have been demonized, ostracized, and squeezed out. We don't know how many ministers in the UPC still believe in the one-step view because they are afraid to be public about it.

I don't know of any organization that has the official one-step view.

I personally believe in the one-step view so I have no problem accepting people from other churches as brothers and sisters and believing as Bro. Goss (first UPC Gen. Supt.) that Baptists will be in the rapture. That's how I can be ordained in a oneness organization and attend a trinity church where I am also ordained.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

What orgs are you ordained with, if you care to share?

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Sam is the man!:highfive

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

I am ordained in The Churches of Jesus Christ http://thecojcint.net/Home.php
and in my local church, The Hamilton Dream Center http://www.hamiltondreamcenter.org/

It is my understanding that an organization called Global Network is composed of both oneness and trinity ministers. I don't have a link for them but they are on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/90779958460/members/

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

This is a link for Global Network
http://globalministriesonline.com/

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Hey, you are ordained out of Cleveland, TN too! :thumbsup

I'm ordained with another Pentecostal organization headquartered in Cleveland, TN.
What's the history of the COJC? I think I've driven past there.

I noticed the Global Network has Apostolic Bible Church in St Paul, MN.
I wonder if that's the same as the UPC church by that name that was connected to Apostolic Bible Institute?

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Sam, I think you're the coolest! :nod

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What organization out of Cleveland are you ordained in? One of the several groups who use "The Church of God" in their names?

The Church of Jesus Christ was chartered in 1927 by Bishop Mark Lawson. It has had several splits, mergers, etc and several groups use "Church of Jesus Christ" in their names. The group I am with is chaired by Mark Lawson's son, Boyd. I don't know if I have ever personally met Boyd or not. If I did, it would have been in Charleston, WV in 1959. When I got my first license with the CoJC, Boyd was a young man in his twenties pastoring a storefront church in Louisville, KY.

I think the Apostolic Bible Church in St. Paul, MN was pastored by Bro. Sabin and he left the UPC after the affirmation statement fiasco in 1992. I guess since he was pastor, the church was no longer considered UPC when he left. I think it was pastored by Bro. Mickey Friend at one time and may be part of the Global Network.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

The CoJC goes back to 1927 when Bishop Mark Lawson chartered it under charter 3146.

In 1959 I went with Bro. Eugene Shafer (he had been previously married to my wife's aunt) to a convention in Charleston, WV and I took out license with The Church of Jesus Christ. Bishop Mark Lawson was still alive and that was before the headquarters were moved to Oxford, Pennsylvania.

Then after I returned to Cincinnati I returned my license to Bishop Lawson because I was going to a UPC church and doing some teaching and preaching there and thought it might cause trouble being in a different organization than my pastor who was also District Supt. of the Ohio District of the UPC.

After the death of Bishop Mark Lawson in 1960, his son Boyd was made a Bishop and took over as chairman of the organization. Bishop Mark Lawson had expressed that as what he wanted before he died. Boyd was not a Bishop and felt like he was too young to take the office of Presiding Bishop but some of the elders prevailed upon him and he agreed. He was ordained a Bishop and took over. Some of the younger Bishops were unhappy. In 1961 Boyd resigned as Chairman and Bishop G. Calvin Brown of Oxford, PA was chosen as Presiding Bishop per Boyd Lawson's request.

During the 1960's some left the organization and formed other organizations. I was licensed for a while in one of those groups, The Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal Faith with headquarters in Niles, MI. Bishop G.R. Brock was Presiding Bishop. I let my license lapse with that group in 1963 or 1964 when we left the UPC church to attend an ALJC church. Then in 1971 that group, the CoJCPF merged with the original group. Others that left during the 1960's were a group with headquarters in Portage, IN; a group with headquarters in Ranger, GA; and a group chaired by Bishop Honea with headquarters in Tullahoma, TN. I had met Bishop Honea in Niles, MI in 1959 when he was just a skinny kid and did not have a title like Bishop. He formed a new organization because the old Bishop Brock organization was going to merge with the CoJC. Bishop Honea is dead and I don’t know how that organization is going now.

One night in late 1968, God spoke to Bishop Boyd Lawson in a dream and told him to go to check the charter office in Tennessee and in Washington, DC about the status of the 3146 charter. He discovered that the Tennessee charter would have expired within 24 hours. He paid the renewal fee and went to D.C. where it was the same story. He paid the renewal fee and received a copy of the original charter. He contacted ministers who had withdrawn over the years and built the organization back up. There was a court battle and he was awarded the charter with headquarters at 800 Benton Pike in Cleveland, TN. The group led by Bishop Calvin Brown changed their name to The Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic.

On Wednesday, August 13, 1975 Boyd Lawson resigned as Presiding Bishop and Bishop E.H. Marshall of Kingsport, TN was chosen to replace him. The original charter is still held by this group as far as I know. Bishop Anthony Adinolfi was Chairman some time later until he resigned last year. I don’t know who the current chairman is. Boyd Lawson is currently Chairman of another group with The Church of Jesus Christ as its name. I am ordained in the group chaired by Boyd Lawson. He is past 80 years old and has some health problems so I don't know how much longer he will be around and what will happen to the organization after his death.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Thanks for the info! I'm kind of a denomination buff. I love knowing about different churches and what they believe, but especially anything in the Holiness, Pentecostal, Charismatic, or Apostolic branches!

When I was last in Cleveland about 8 years ago I think, I ran across the COJC, either by an ad, or driving by a building with a sign, or finding them in the phone book, can't remember which. I tried to call their number but would only get a recording. Sounds like they have been around a long time, but have been through a lot of splits. According to their faith statement they sound like 3 steppers.

Could you tell me just what UPC had to sign in the 90s? I first visited a UPC church in 1978 and was baptized in Jesus Name. Their written doctrine has always seemed to be 3 step to me. I remember you could never seem to get a yes or no answer to the question "is speaking in tongues necessary for salvation?"

Yes, I'm ordained with the Church of God of Cleveland, TN.
www.churchofgod.org

That's the original one, the largest one. Then you have the Church of God of Prophecy which years ago was totally exclusive and claimed to be the One True Fold. They have made huge strides in recent years and have abandoned all that.
All of the other ones are splits and factions off of COGOP. Some of them are borderline cultic, but usually extremely tiny. All, except for COGOP claim to be the tiny exclusive Bride, the Body of Christ, the One True Church founded by Jesus. It's downright dorky lol.

There is now good fellowship between COG and COGOP on many levels with cooperative efforts and rumors of merger heard from time to time.

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The same thing has happened to the Church of Jesus Christ over the years. The original charter is held by a group with headquarters in Kingsport, TN. I don't know who their Overseer is right now. They retained the charter when Bishop Boyd Lawson resigned (under pressure) from the group in 1975. There are still several groups which use "Church of Jesus Christ" in their names. I don't know large they are. I don't think any of them are very big.

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The Churches of Jesus Christ International was founded by and is currently headed by Boyd Lawson. That's the group I am ordained in but I have no actual fellowship with any of their ministers or churches. I still send them a tenth of my tithe and an offering each month and my renewal fee once a year. Over the past couple years I have signed the application forms for a couple of ministers who wanted to be licensed/ordained through them but I don't see either of their names in the latest list of ministers.

Boyd Lawson pastors a church located at 800 Benton Pike, N.E. Cleveland, TN 37311. I have never been there. I used to think I'd drive down some weekend and visit. It's about 6 hours from here. But with recent health problems I don't know if I'll ever get there or not.

According to their statement of faith they are 3 steppers. I am a one-stepper. i would imagine that among their ministers there are 3 steppers and 1 steppers like there are in the UPC.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

When the UPC was formed in 1945 it was a mixture of one-steppers and three-steppers. It is my understanding that one-steppers were in the minority but nobody seems to know that for sure.

Over the years some of the three-steppers have tried to get rid of the one-steppers. A couple ways this has been done is by revising the fundamental doctrine statement in 1973 and by adopting the Affirmation Statement in 1992. Another way is by revising their history and presenting the UPC as always having been three-step in theology.

A good book on this is Christianity Without the Cross written by Thomas Fudge with a copyright of 2003. I have a copy of this book in pdf format and can send it to anyone who wants it as an attachment to an email. I got my copy of the pdf file from Dan Alicea who used to be pretty active here. I have passed on copies to several others over the past few years.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

.


I'll send you a message with my email.

Re: When You Got Saved in a Baptist Church ...
 

Sam, I always meant to ask your take on Ezekiel 13:18-20 v rapture doctrine. I was saved in a Baptist church, and I remember this being the reason given for why I needed to get saved.