America was just an idea in the minds of non-conforming believers who came to her shores in the early 17th century. With the outbreak of the Great Awakening in 1740, numbers of colonists were faced with the real crucible of baptism. Embracing believer’s baptism in large numbers, the converts of the Great Awakening faced a firestorm of opposition. Unknown to most Americans today, refusing infant baptism meant a loss of citizenship in the colonies.
But a new nation with independent citizenship, apart from the chains of mother England was in the making. The part that the banished and persecuted Baptist people played in securing the liberties of this new nation has long been ignored.
In these pages their forgotten testimony is retold with vivid fervor. This is the story of scorn, ridicule, and hatred conquered by sacrifice and devotion. It is the story of one group of Americans who through patience and suffering gave us the America we all now enjoy.
Baptist History is a subject with which every member of the Baptist faith ought to be familiar. The contributions, which the Baptists made to the founding of our nation and to religious history, are extremely significant, yet they are often overlooked or ignored. Though there have been many volumes written about the Baptists, it has been many years since an in depth study of the Baptists in America has been presented. Sadly, during those intervening years, there have been some who have chosen to forsake the name, character, and principles of the Baptists. Consequently, there is an urgent need for our people to be stirred to remembrance.
America in Crimson Red accurately chronicles the rise of the Baptists and their struggle for religious liberty. It is evident that the author has spent much time in researching many credible documents and histories of a bygone era. He has collated the facts of history with unusual insight and candor. The result is an excellent treatise that is a must read for every Baptist. The reader can expect to gain a good working knowledge from the following narrative and will be rewarded with a greater appreciation for the labour, sacrifice, and courage of the many Baptists who stood firmly upon scriptural principles despite severe persecution.
The best way of preserving our history is to acquaint ourselves with the stories of the past. Then our history will become a personal heritage to be lived before a future generation. It is our belief that those who read this book will be strengthened in their faith.