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Our History
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The Baptist General Conference
The Baptist General Conference is the title used to designate one fellowship of
hundreds of Baptist churches united to carry out the Lord's commission. This
conference had its beginning among the Swedish immigrants on August 13th, 1852,
in Rock Island Illinois.
Gustaf Palmquist came to Rock Island as a Luthern pastor. Through a study of
the Scriptures, he became a baptized by conviction. He was baptisted by immersion
and ordained to the Baptist ministry in the First Baptist Church of Galesburg,
Illinois, an American Baptist church. Seven weeks later, on this day in August,
three persons were baptized to form the First Swedish Baptist Church of America.
In two years, this group grew to between 40 and 50 members. Soon other churches
were formed in Village Creek, Iowa; New Sweden, Maine; New York City; Chicago;
Moline, Illinois and other places.
F.O. Nelson came to the United States in 1854 to aid in the Baptist work. In
1834, as a 25 year old sailor from Sweden, he had learned to know Christ in New
York City. Thirteen years later he was baptized by immersion in Germany. He
went back to Sweden to lead in Baptist work, but was banished in 1851. He
then came to Illinois to help in the missionary labors among the Swedish
people. Through his ministry, churches were organized in many locations in
Minnesota.
By 1864 there were eleven churches with 360 members. Progress has been made
through the years to our present day, where there are over 800 churches in
existence, and there is a very aggressive program of church planting under way
in the Baptist General Conference.
A major turning point in the BGC came in 1944 when the fellowship voted to
launch its own foreign missionary program. This advance in missions sparked
advances in every other branch of Conference work and fostered a new enthusiasm
in evangelism and in every aspect of local church activity. |
Our Heritage
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Immanuel Baptist Church
The work of Immanuel Baptist Church started in 1880, just two years after
the City of Iron Mountain was founded. A spirit of evangelism was prevalent
from the beginning; the people were hungering and thirsting for the Gospel.
Many people were converted and saved, and evidence of great changes took place.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. N.F. Pearson. He began his ministry in
July of 1882.
In 1883 the church moved from its location in Norway to Iron Mountain.
In 1884 the name of the church was changed to the "Swedish Baptist Church of
Iron Mountain." The church participated in the organization of the Swedish
Baptist Conference of Michigan.
In the ensuing years, spiritual and numerical growth have continued. In 1960
the church relocated to its present site, where it has continued to serve the
Lord and this community.
The years have witnessed many of God's blessings. There have also been
heartaches, disappointments, and tragedies. Although some have turned away,
many have followed Christ and many people from Immanuel today are witnessing
for Christ locally. Others are witnessing across the nation and around
the world. |
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