New Congregations on the Western Frontier Lay planting among Baptists and Methodists Dr. Ed Stetzer

A FORGOTTEN SIGNIFICANCE 1795-1810 most prolific era of church planting in American history Research and writing often focuses exclusively on mission agencies Work of ordinary believers outnumbers mission agencies hundreds to one Lay church planting movement Often overlooked Played significant role Movement among ordinary believers

A FORGOTTEN SIGNIFICANCE 1795 frontier: Kentucky Methodists and Baptists experienced explosive growth Goondykoontz on the numerical strength of churches in America Baptists at beginning of Revolutionary War: 700 churches Baptists in 1860: 11,221 churches Methodists at beginning of Revolutionary War: 300 churches Methodists in 1860: 19,833 churches Goondykoontz reports at the start of Revolutionary War, about 10,000 Baptists. By 1800, about 100,000. “In Kentucky alone, by 1810 there were 15 Baptist associations, 286 registered churches, and 16,650 members.” Goodykoontz, Home Missions on the American Frontier, 108.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Around 1800, majority of population of Western frontier was irreligious Economic hardship pushed people West despite difficulties Spent time preoccupied by tasks necessary to their survival i.e. building homes, creating towns, etc. Eastern Christians viewed those on the frontier as immoral

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Shifting religious landscape Second Great Awakening Impacted the West primarily 1797-1803 Movement of churches in West preceded it Baptists and Methodists benefitted disproportionately Great Revival in the West Tent revival, public domain

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Shifting religious landscape Mainline denominations waned Baptists and Methodists grew explosively Disliked and opposed by mainline denominations Tension between Eastern missionaries and Western Christians Eastern missionaries generally unsuccessful, not well received because of superior attitudes

LOCAL CHURCH LIFE Establishment church vs. Frontier church Mostly Eastern Did not want the “uncongenial atmosphere” of frontier churches Goodykoontz, Home Missions on the American Frontier, 129. Frontier church Mostly Western Did not want the dead orthodoxy of establishment churches “uncongenial atmosphere

LOCAL CHURCH LIFE — THE WEST Preaching Preachers not well-schooled Sermons often contained textual mistakes Focused on exhortation; expected response Doctrine simplified Did not highlight subtle doctrinal distinctions Audience lacked much education Emotional Often lacked preparation; avoided use of notes Strong appeal to Scripture

LOCAL CHURCH LIFE — THE WEST Indigenous leadership — the church of the common person Did not value history or elegance highly Treasured leadership of the common man Traveling churches Moved for many reasons, such as economic or spiritual motivation

LOCAL CHURCH LIFE — THE WEST Indigenous leadership: the church of the common person Led by laypersons Methodist Circuit Riders Layperson, visited the congregations in their care Visiting pastors Class president led congregation under the Circuit Rider Held weekly meetings while circuit rider away Baptists Also relied on local leadership but lacked larger hierarchal structure Baptist “farmer-preacher” Worked 5-6 days a week; preached Sunday worship and mid-week Identified closely to congregation, of same class and daily life Largely uneducated; prejudiced against educated preachers

LOCAL CHURCH LIFE — THE WEST Simplicity: an easily reproducible organization Simple worship services Creative solutions to practical problems on the frontier i.e., baptism in rivers Buildings not necessary Mostly small churches

LOCAL CHURCH LIFE — THE WEST Discipline Frontier life collided with biblical convictions Baptist monthly business meetings Discipline important piece of these meetings Churches had constitutions/covenants Numerous offenses resulted in discipline, including exclusion from membership Disciplinary issues Church attendance Recreational pursuits

PLANTING PATTERNS Often formed “classes” (Methodists) or “fellowship groups” (Baptists) before becoming churches Churches sent out members to support new churches Methodist churches planted under structure of circuits Methodist traveling overseers Oversaw layperson preachers; formed “classes” into churches Importance of personal evangelism Initiation of new Baptist churches Usually originated with licensed or ordained farmer-pastor who settled in area Locally run churches

LAYPERSONS INTO LAY PASTORS Ministers came from the laypeople and stayed laypeople Preached for little or no pay Openness to people receiving a call to ministry from God Overabundance of clergy Education not required for calling; calling adequate If felt called, tried preaching If church approved of preacher’s “gifts,” given license to preach If did not approve of “gifts” or if preacher did not improve, advised not to continue preaching Baptists ordination came from local congregation Methodist ordination came through hierarchal structure, but usually the preacher raised up by local congregation was ordained by bishop Methodist preachers called to singleness

SO WHAT? Despite lack of education, Baptist and Methodist lay preachers had unprecedented success Success can’t be entirely explained by external factors (i.e. Great Awakening) because mainline denominations declined at same time What made Baptist and Methodist churches successful is worth exploring Need to stop overlooking this part of church history in America Find ways to apply principles to today’s church