List of Baptists

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This list of Baptists covers those who were members of Baptist churches or raised in Baptist churches. It does not imply that all who appear on the list were practicing Baptists or remained Baptists all their lives. As an article of faith, Baptists do not baptize infants, practicing instead believer's baptism after conversion.

Preachers, theologians, and missionaries

Billy Graham

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

C. H. Spurgeon, "The Prince of Preachers"

• Ralph Abernathy, pastor and civil rights activist^[1]
• Annie Armstrong, missionary organizer; the SBC's Easter mission offering is collected in her honor^[2]
• John Birch, missionary to China and ardent anti-communist^[3]
• Hugh Stowell Brown, 19th-century preacher and activist
• John Bunyan, 17th-century preacher and Writer, best known for writing The Pilgrim's Progress
• Thomas Burchell, missionary to Jamaica^[4]
• Tony Campolo, pastor and professor of sociology^[5]
• William Carey, missionary to India^[6]
• Benajah Harvey Carroll, pastor, theologian, founding president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary^[7]
• J.M. Carroll, pastor author of The Trail of Blood^[8]
• Charles Henry Carter, English missionary to Ceylon and translator of the Old Testament, Book of Psalms, and New Testament into Sinhalese from Hebrew and Greek;^[9] considered the foremost sinhalese scholar of his time;^[10] his A Sinhalese-English Dictionary (Reprint, New Delhi 1996. ISBN 81-206-1174-8) is still considered an authority on the language
• Oswald Chambers, British pastor author of My Utmost for His Highest, son of a Baptist pastor, converted to Christianity under C. H. Spurgeon (below)^[11]
• Oren B. Cheney, American abolitionist and founder of Bates College^[12]
• John T. Christian, church historian^[13]
• Dr. John Clarke, medical doctor, early proponent of separation of church and state^[14]
• Elijah Craig, preacher, educator and entrepreneur, purported inventor of bourbon whiskey^[15]
• W. A. Criswell, pastor, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, founder of Criswell College^[16]
• Miguel A. De La Torre, prolific author on Hispanic religiosity^[17]
• Jerry Falwell, televangelist, founder of the Moral Majority^[18]
• John Gano, founding pastor of the First Baptist Church in the City of New York, chaplain in the Continental Army, and alleged baptiser of General George Washington^[19]
• John Gill, pastor and theologian^[20]
• Benjamin Godwin, Abolitionist leader in Bradford
• Billy Graham^[21]
• Mordecai Ham, tent revivalist who preached the sermon where Billy Graham was converted to Christianity^[22]
• Obadiah Holmes, early New England Baptist minister who was cruelly whipped in Boston for his Baptist beliefs and activism; pastor of the Baptist Church at Newport, Rhode Island for 30 years
• Johnny Hunt, author and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Jack Hyles, controversial pastor and prominent identity in the Independent Baptist movement^[23]
• Clarence Jordan, pastor and author of the The Cotton Patch Gospel^[24]
• Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, Nobel Peace Prize recipient^[25]
• Kenneth Scott Latourette, pastor; missionary and church historian^[26]
• John MacArthur, Jr., pastor and theologian^[27]
• Charlotte ("Lottie") Diggers Moon, missionary to China; the SBC's Christmas missionary offering is named in her honor^[28]
• J. Frank Norris, flamboyant Baptist preacher, one of the most controversial figures in the history of American fundamentalism
• Fred Phelps, controversial minister most noted for protesting the funerals of homosexuals and servicemen.^[29]
• John Piper, pastor and preacher at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis; head of Desiring God
• Adrian Rogers, televangelist^[30]
• John Smyth, pastor who founded the first English-speaking Baptist church^[31]
• C. H. Spurgeon, British pastor, known as "The Prince of Preachers"^[32]
• Charles Stanley, televangelist founder of In Touch Ministries^[33]
• Neiliezhü Üsou (1941–2009), influential Baptist preacher, theologian, church musician, music teacher and composer from the North-Eastern state of India, Nagaland
• Paul Washer, founder of HeartCry Missionary Society
• Sidney Abram Weltmer (1858-1930), influential Baptist preacher, professor, magnetic pealer, mental scientist; from Nevada, Missouri; founder of the Weltmer Institute for Suggestive Therapeutics and the American School of Magnetic Healing.; author of harmonized healing books and editor of Weltmer's magazine
• Roger Williams, founded the First Baptist Church in America^[34]

Politicians

President Warren G. Harding

President Andrew Johnson

President Harry S. Truman

• James Callaghan, British Prime Minister (1976–79) and leader of the Labour Party (1976–80)^[35]
• Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States
• Chuck Colson, senior aide to President Richard Nixon^[36]
• Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States^[37]
• Yukio Hatoyama, 60th Prime Minister of Japan
• Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas (R) and 2008 Presidential candidate^[38]
• Jesse Jackson, American civil rights activist and Baptist minister; candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988; shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997^[37]
• Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States^[37]
• Richard M. Johnson, United States Vice President under Martin Van Buren (1837–41)^[39]
• Claude Kirkpatrick, former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and director of his state's department of public works; involved in various Baptist activities within Louisiana and through the Southern Baptist Convention
• Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States; was a Baptist but he kept this to himself as an adult
• John McCain, United States Senator (R) Arizona, Presidential candidate^[40]
• Ron Paul, United States Congressman (R) and former Libertarian Party Presidential candidate; known for his libertarian leanings
• Nelson Rockefeller, U.S. Vice President under Gerald Ford (1974–77)^[41]
• Harry Truman, 33rd President of the United States^[37]
• Oleksandr Turchynov, interim President of Ukraine since 23 February 2014^[42][43][44]
• Bill Clinton, 42rd President of the United States

Jurists

• Hugo Black, Supreme Court associate justice^[45]
• Charles Evans Hughes, Supreme Court chief justice^[45]
• Howell Jackson, Supreme Court associate justice^[45]
• Roy Moore, Alabama State Supreme Court chief justice, removed from office^[46]
• Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court associate justice (raised Baptist, converted to Catholicism)^[45]

Industrialists and leaders of business

• S. Truett Cathy, billionaire founder of Chick-fil-A restaurants^[47]
• Carl Lindner, former owner of the Cincinnati Reds^[48]
• J. C. Penney, department store magnate, son of a Primitive Baptist lay minister^[49]
• John D. Rockefeller, 20th-century oil tycoon^[50]

Military personnel

• Charles C. Baldwin, Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force, 2004–2008
• John G. Burkhalter, highly decorated U.S. Army Chaplain who served in World War II and the Korean War
• Douglas Carver, Major General who previously served as the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
• John Alan Coey, American foreign volunteer in the Rhodesian Security Forces
• Jeff Struecker, pastor, author and former U.S. Army Ranger Chaplain

Entertainers, movie and television personalities

David "Sinbad" Adkins

Johnny Cash

Kevin Costner

• Clay Aiken, pop music singer^[51]
• Roy Acuff, country musician^[52]
• Warren Beatty, actor^[53]
• Spencer Bohren, American roots musician, raised Baptist^[54]
• Glen Campbell, country music singer^[55]
• Carter, Aaron, singer
• Nick Carter, lead vocalists of the pop group Backstreet Boys
• Johnny Cash, country music singer^[56]
• Jerry Clower, rural humorist, member of the Grand Ole Opry, lay minister^[57]
• Kevin Costner, actor^[58]
• Bette Davis, actress and former Baptist^[59]
• Jamie Foxx, actor, singer and stand-up comedian^[60]
• Aretha Franklin, singer and daughter of Baptist minister Rev. C.L. Franklin
• Ava Gardner, actress^[61]
• Buddy Holly, rock 'n' roll singer^[62]
• Whitney Houston, R&B/pop singer and actress
• Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer^[63]
• Gladys Knight, singer, converted to Mormonism^[64]
• Brian Littrell, pop singer, member of the Backstreet Boys^[65]
• Loretta Lynn, country music artist
• Reba McEntire, country music artist and actress
• Brittany Murphy, actress, singer, voice artist; raised Baptist and later became a non-denominational Christian
• Eddie Murphy, actor^[66]
• Chuck Norris, actor^[67]
• Grady Nutt, Hee Haw regular (1979–82), Baptist minister^[68]
• Brad Pitt, actor, raised Baptist^[69]
• Dennis Quaid, actor^[70]
• Willard Scott, television weatherman^[71]
• Ron Shelton, director^[72]
• Ashlee Simpson, pop singer^[73]
• Jessica Simpson, pop singer and actress^[73]
• Sinbad, born David Adkins, actor, comedian^[74]
• Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Broadus, rapper, raised Baptist^[75]
• Britney Spears, pop singer^[76]
• Irma Thomas, soul singer ^[77][78]
• Justin Timberlake, pop singer^[79]
• Tina Turner, singer, converted to Buddhism^[80]
• Carrie Underwood, country music singer^[81]
• Billy Vaughn, American Big Band orchestra leader, songwriter, and saxophonist^[82]
• Oprah Winfrey, raised Baptist, now a spiritualist^[83]
• Dan Whitney ("Larry the Cable Guy"), son of a Baptist preacher, attended Baptist University of America^[84]

Authors, writers, and journalists

• Ray Bradbury, bestselling author^[85]
• W.E. Cule, children's author and editor of Baptist Missionary Society publications
• Jill Dando, British reporter and telejournalist^[86]
• Maria De Fleury, English poet, hymnist and polemicist^[87]
• Gilberto Freyre, Brazilian sociologist and anthropologist; Baptist missionary in Brazil and the United States; raised Baptist
• John Grisham, best-selling author of The Firm, A Painted House and Skipping Christmas^[88]
• Robert Don Hughes, Baptist minister, educator and science fiction author^[89]
• Tim LaHaye, co-author of the bestselling Left Behind series^[90]
• Bill Moyers, television journalist and former White House Press Secretary^[91]
• Hazel Brannon Smith, journalist and editor; first female recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing^[92]

Athletes

• Jim Brown, former fullback for the Cleveland Browns^[93]
• Mike Conley, Jr., guard for the Memphis Grizzlies^[94]
• Zach Johnson, professional golfer, winner of the 2007 Masters Tournament^[95]
• Iris Kyle, 10-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder^[96]
• Ryan Langerhans, outfielder for the Seattle Mariners^[97]
• Dikembe Mutombo, center for the Houston Rockets^[98]
• Reggie White, professional football defensive end; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame^[99]

Miscellaneous

• Larry Birkhead, father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead^[100]
• Brian Bluhm, one of the students killed in the Virginia Tech massacre and a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry^[101][102]
• Edith Killgore Kirkpatrick (born 1918), former member of the executive board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention
• Frances Shimer (1826–1901), founder of Shimer College

Criminals

• Jesse James, American outlaw, son of a Baptist minister, a Confederate soldier^[103]
• Harry Longabaugh, "The Sundance Kid", train robber and outlaw^[104]

Fictional Baptists

Literature

• Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, by Fannie Flagg
  • Idgie Threadgood
  • Rev. Scroggins
• The Mitford series by Jan Karon
  • Sophia Burton, single mother raising two daughters
  • Absalom Greer, elderly minister and close friend of the series'protagonist, Father Tim Kavanagh (an Episcopalian rector).
  • Madelaine Kavanagh, Father Tim's mother
  • Emma Newland, Father Tim's secretary who was raised Baptist, converted to the Episcopal church, then returned to the Baptist church when she married.
  • Harold Newland, Emma's husband and local postal worker
  • Rodney Underwood, town's chief of police
  • Lew Boyd, owner-operator of local Exxon gas station
  • Mule Skinner, semi-retired realtor
  • Fancy Skinner, Mule's wife and unisex hairdresser
  • Bill Sprouse, jovial minister of Mitford's First Baptist Church
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • Miss Maudie Atkins, neighbor of Scout Finch, the protagonist; more moderate than the "Footwashing Baptists" who make a brief appearance
  • Mr. Radley's father, another of Scout's neighbors
• Superman comic book series
  • Perry White, editor of the Daily Planet^[105]

Television

• Designing Women, Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter), presumably Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke) and Charlene Frazier (Jean Smart). Specifically Charlene reveals that she is a "First Baptist" in the episode "Oh Suzanna". In the episode "How Great Thou Art" Charlene quits her church when she discovers her pastor is opposed to the ordination of women, which was her dream at one time. Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts) briefly dates Julia's minister.
• Sanford And Son, Fred Sanford's (Redd Foxx) former sister-in-law, Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) is a devout baptist who often annoys Fred with her constant bible-thumping.
• The Jeffersons, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is revealed to be a Baptist during the third season in "The Christmas Wedding"^[106] episode where his son Lionel (Damon Evans) weds Jenny Willis (Berlinda Thomas). The wedding is held up because George wants a Baptist minister to conduct the service while the Willis' want a minister of their denomination. Jenny and Lionel quickly marry when a minister (Robert Sampson) (who happens to be Baptist, though white to George's chagrin), is going door-to-door with a group of carolers.
• Gimme a Break!, Nell Harper (Nell Carter) is the daughter of a Baptist minister.
• Golden Girls, Blanche Deveraux (Rue McClanahan) is a Southern Baptist^[107]
• The Grady Nutt Show, Rev. Grady Williams (Grady Nutt) is a minister in a short-lived sitcom on NBC who balances family and ministry as he does in the pilot episode where he must preach the funeral of a universally disliked man while coming to terms with his teenage daughter's foray into dating^[108]
• LA Law, Jane Halliday (Alexandra Powers), fundamentalist Baptist and an attorney, as well as an alumna of Bob Jones University. She was introduced to the series in the eighth season premiere of the show when she revealed she was a virgin and intended to remain one until her wedding night^[109]
• The Waltons, almost all the principal characters were Baptists or attended the Baptist church. In the fourth season episode "The Sermon", Rev. Matthew Fordwick (John Ritter) asks John Boy (Richard Thomas) to deliver a sermon while he goes on his honeymoon. In the fifth season episode "The Baptism", John Walton, Sr. (Ralph Waite) refuses to attend a tent revival or be baptized.

Film

• Arachnophobia Coach Beachwood, his wife, daughter (Becky) and son (Bobby). After boasting he taught his son to throw a football before he could walk, Molly Jennings jokingly asks, "Nepotism?". Mrs. Beachwood replies, "Actually, we're Baptist."
• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd says that he was raised a Baptist, to which Miss Mona says she never stayed in the same place long enough to become anything.
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Pete Hogwallop and Delmar O'Donnell are baptized by a Baptist minister^[110]
• The Preacher's Wife, The pastor Rev. Henry Biggs (Courtney Vance), his wife Julia (Whitney Houston), his mother-in-law Margueritte Coleman (Jenifer Lewis), his son Jeremiah (Justin Pierre Edmund) and many other supporting characters who were members of Saint Matthews Baptist Church.

Music

• "Preachin Blues" (Son House) contains the lines

Yes, I'm gonna get me religion, I'm gonna join the Baptist Church.

You know I wanna be a Baptist preacher, just so I won't have to work.

• "Cowboys Days" (Terri Clark) contains the lines

I was third alto on the second row of the First Baptist church choir

I was keeper of the minutes for the Tri Delts, in charge of the homecoming bonfire

I was a straight 'A', straight laced, level-headed as they come

And parked at the Sonic, isn't that ironic, when my whole world came undone

One slot over was a calf roper giving me his George Strait smile

And before I knew Miss Good-Two-Shoes was two-steppin', runnin' wild.

• "Guilty" (The Statler Brothers) contains the lines

If she seems bitter of other ways,

Seems to have lost her Baptist ways,

If the truth comes harder than a lie,

If she's guilty, so am I

• "Lonely Lubbock Lights" (Aaron Watson), a singer in a Broken Spoke (a honkeytonk) reveals that a love interest is the daughter of a Baptist minister who is keeping them apart (because he sings in bars).
• "Southern Baptist Heartbreak" (The Warren Brothers) contains the lines

Somewhere in the middle of "Have Thy Own Way,"

She left an empty pew;

She said 'I think that's what I'll do.'"

• "Uneasy Rider" (Charlie Daniels), a hippie is stranded in a bar in the deep South and the locals start making trouble when the fast-thinking hippie accuses one of the locals of being a spy sent to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. The local replies that he's a "faithful follower of Brother John Birch and a member of Antioch Baptist Church."

See also

• List of Christian theologians
• List of preachers
• List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people

References

External links

• Christian Hall of Fame
• Famous Baptists