Essays on key Baptist leaders throughout history Baptists lack a single central figure in their orgins that lutherans, Reformed, Presbyterians, and Methodists have with Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and John Wesley. Additionally, Baptists focus so heavily on the Bible for authority and key beliefs or practices like religious liberty, social justice, missions, and preaching that sometimes Baptists and other Christians forget the significant role that people play in forging and promoting those ideas and practices. This book seeks to address this shortcoming by providing an introductory text of Baptist biographies. Certainly shorter than a full-length biography but definitely longer than an encyclopedia article, this sampling of key Baptist leaders through the years view the story of Baptists through a biographical lens while linking these women and men to a key Baptist distinctive. A short suggested reading list is added at the end of each chapter to enhance further study. Highlighted Baptist leaders include: Thomas Helwys, John Clarke, Benjamin Keach, Anne Dutton, Shubal Stearns, Isaac Backus, Dan Taylor, Andrew Fuller, John Leland, William Carey, Lott Carey, Adoniram Judson, J. Gerhard Oncken, I. T. Tichenor, Robert Cooke Buckner, Charles H. Spurgeon, Lottie Moon, E. C. Morris, E. Y. Mullins, Walter Rauschenbusch, Helen Barrett Montgomery, George W. Truett, William Owen Carver, James Henry Rushbrooke, Nannie Helen Burroughs, B. B. McKinney, Thomas Buford Maston, Herschel H. Hobbs, Henlee Barnette, and Gardner C. Taylor.

More Witnesses to the Baptist Heritage continues telling the story of the rich and often overlooked diversity of Baptist life. In this sequel to Witnesses to the Baptist Heritage, Williams focuses again on characteristics that represent Baptist key beliefs and ideals such as religious liberty, missions, and social justice. This volume introduces short biographies of twenty-four more Baptists that will challenge, encourage, and inspire Christians regardless of their denominational tradition. It will also help readers to realize that Baptists fill a much broader and deeper place in history than unfair stereotypical descriptions of Baptists of earlier years have given. At the same time, readers will not only find out more about Baptist ideals but also learn the stories of the diverse women and men who witnessed to the Baptist heritage. Written with students, pastors, and lay people in mind, scholars and historians will discover valuable introductions to significant Baptists who may be studied at greater length and in grander depth. A short, suggested reading list is added at the end of each chapter to enhance further study. Highlighted in this volume are Obadiah Holmes, Thomas Grantham, Anne Steele, Ann Hasseltine Judson, William Knibb, John Mason Peck, Emily Chubbuck Judson, William J. Simmons, Fannie Exile Scudder Heck, Henry L. Morehouse, Hannah Marie Norris Armstrong, Augustus H. Strong, John Clifford, Virginia Broughton, Leslie Lee Gwaltney, Clarence Leonard Jordan, Joseph Martin Dawson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Eric Charles Rust, Prathia Hall, Cora Anne Davis, Addie Davis, William J. Reynolds, and Glen Harold Stassen.