The early church found in the book of Acts followed our Lord; this is who we seek to model ourselves after. But with the passing of time, the Church as a whole suffered from political corruption and an overrunning of wolves in sheep's clothing. The leaders of the Church were greedy for wealth and power, and so oppressed the people to achieve this end.

          But then the dawn of the Protestant Reformation came, where the Church was awakened with the knowledge of the gospel. Thus, she separated and purified herself of the corrupt leaders and teachings of her day. This reformation continued and spread to England. From England came the Puritan movement, from which the Baptists have emerged. Due to persecution, many of those Baptists came to the New World, where they could worship God freely according to their consciences.