> I have two questions about Big Springs but will divide into two messages as the other one is rather long. I have gone through the Minutes of Big Springs Baptist Church which are posted on the Internet. > Did Big Spings keep records of marriages, births, and deaths and/or membership lists? Chances are they didn't. Most church records covered only actual church business (bills to pay, etc.), and membership issues. Whenever someone passed away, it may have been mentioned in the church during a service, but most likely it wasn't noted in the church books though. If someone was excluded from the church however, that would be noted in the book, and if they came back and "made their acknowledgements" to the church, they were reinstated and added back in on the church book. > My experience with the Baptist church was that at the age of 14 an individual could profess a faith in God and the acceptance of Christ as their personal savior. Was this true for Big Springs or were the people listed in the Minutes all adults? Big Springs was/is a Southern Baptist Church, if I'm not mistaken, and their doctrine mandates that a person is considered saved when they accept Christ as their savior, which is different from old time Baptist churches, in which they have an altar where a sinner come up to and bows, praying for God to save them until they receive it. The Southern (or modern as many refer to them and similar beliefs) Baptist believe that salvation comes from making a decision to follow God, whereas the old time Baptist believe that it's a gift that is given from God through Christ who is their intercessor. While the Southern Baptist do believe in the acceptance of Christ as their personal savior, there is no particular age limit as to when a person can make that decision, it simply depends on the person and whenever they choose to do so. Darrell Waddell ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNCLAIBO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/781 - Release Date: 4/30/2007 9:14 AM

Thanks, Darrell. So if a person was "dismissed by letter" they were probably moving to a different church? I believe the age of 14 in the church that I'm familiar with meant that was the earliest a child could make a decision on their own. Sharon ----- Original Message ----- From: Darrell G. Waddell To: Sharon Bryant ; tnclaibo@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 1:49 PM Subject: Re: [TNCLAIBO] Big Springs Baptist Church > I have two questions about Big Springs but will divide into two messages as the other one is rather long. I have gone through the Minutes of Big Springs Baptist Church which are posted on the Internet. > Did Big Spings keep records of marriages, births, and deaths and/or membership lists? Chances are they didn't. Most church records covered only actual church business (bills to pay, etc.), and membership issues. Whenever someone passed away, it may have been mentioned in the church during a service, but most likely it wasn't noted in the church books though. If someone was excluded from the church however, that would be noted in the book, and if they came back and "made their acknowledgements" to the church, they were reinstated and added back in on the church book. > My experience with the Baptist church was that at the age of 14 an individual could profess a faith in God and the acceptance of Christ as their personal savior. Was this true for Big Springs or were the people listed in the Minutes all adults? Big Springs was/is a Southern Baptist Church, if I'm not mistaken, and their doctrine mandates that a person is considered saved when they accept Christ as their savior, which is different from old time Baptist churches, in which they have an altar where a sinner come up to and bows, praying for God to save them until they receive it. The Southern (or modern as many refer to them and similar beliefs) Baptist believe that salvation comes from making a decision to follow God, whereas the old time Baptist believe that it's a gift that is given from God through Christ who is their intercessor. While the Southern Baptist do believe in the acceptance of Christ as their personal savior, there is no particular age limit as to when a person can make that decision, it simply depends on the person and whenever they choose to do so. Darrell Waddell ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNCLAIBO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/781 - Release Date: 4/30/2007 9:14 AM

Yep, if they were dismissed by letter, it means they have joined another church of the same faith and order. Cheers, Darrell ----- Original Message ----- From: Sharon Bryant To: Darrell G. Waddell ; tnclaibo@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 2:08 PM Subject: Re: [TNCLAIBO] Big Springs Baptist Church Thanks, Darrell. So if a person was "dismissed by letter" they were probably moving to a different church? I believe the age of 14 in the church that I'm familiar with meant that was the earliest a child could make a decision on their own. Sharon ----- Original Message ----- From: Darrell G. Waddell To: Sharon Bryant ; tnclaibo@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 1:49 PM Subject: Re: [TNCLAIBO] Big Springs Baptist Church > I have two questions about Big Springs but will divide into two messages as the other one is rather long. I have gone through the Minutes of Big Springs Baptist Church which are posted on the Internet. > Did Big Spings keep records of marriages, births, and deaths and/or membership lists? Chances are they didn't. Most church records covered only actual church business (bills to pay, etc.), and membership issues. Whenever someone passed away, it may have been mentioned in the church during a service, but most likely it wasn't noted in the church books though. If someone was excluded from the church however, that would be noted in the book, and if they came back and "made their acknowledgements" to the church, they were reinstated and added back in on the church book. > My experience with the Baptist church was that at the age of 14 an individual could profess a faith in God and the acceptance of Christ as their personal savior. Was this true for Big Springs or were the people listed in the Minutes all adults? Big Springs was/is a Southern Baptist Church, if I'm not mistaken, and their doctrine mandates that a person is considered saved when they accept Christ as their savior, which is different from old time Baptist churches, in which they have an altar where a sinner come up to and bows, praying for God to save them until they receive it. The Southern (or modern as many refer to them and similar beliefs) Baptist believe that salvation comes from making a decision to follow God, whereas the old time Baptist believe that it's a gift that is given from God through Christ who is their intercessor. While the Southern Baptist do believe in the acceptance of Christ as their personal savior, there is no particular age limit as to when a person can make that decision, it simply depends on the person and whenever they choose to do so. Darrell Waddell ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNCLAIBO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/781 - Release Date: 4/30/2007 9:14 AM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/781 - Release Date: 4/30/2007 9:14 AM