Yes, there are a lot of different kinds of Baptists. Not really 32,235, but a bunch.

So, using my week as a guide, I have been talking about three groups. First, I spoke to two Southern Baptist state conventions. Second, I "almost" spoke to a fine group of Independent Baptists. And, finally, I just returned from a meeting the Baptist General Conference (BGC) in Indianapolis.

The folks in Indianapolis had such an amazing screen for data presentation, I had to share it with you:

Why can't I get that screen whenever I am on the road?

Anyway, as I mentioned, I spoke earlier today in Indianapolis at the biennial meeting of Converge MidAmerica. They asked me to speak three times on three subjects: church planting, church revitalization, and then on reaching the younger unchurched from my new co-authored book, Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and Churches that Reach Them.

So, who are these folks?

Well, first, they are not really the Baptist General Conference. But, it lined up so well: SBC, IFB, BGC. The denomination changed its name recently to Converge Worldwide-- dropping "Baptist," "General," and "Conference" from their official name. Wow. And, this is not the first time they changed their name. The denomination was originally the Swedish Baptists.

Here is some history from Wikipedia:

The Baptist General Conference (BGC) is a national evangelical Baptist body with roots in Pietism in Sweden and inroads among evangelical Scandinavian-Americans, particularly in the American Upper Midwest. From its beginning among Scandinavian immigrants, the BGC has grown to a nationwide association of autonomous churches with at least 17 ethnic groups and missions in 19 nations. The current president of the BGC is Dr. Jerry Sheveland. In 2008 the Baptist General Conference adopted the new movement name of Converge Worldwide.

So, they are no longer the BGC, but many people still make that mistake (like I did, on purpose, just so it would fit with the others!).

But, they have been making other changes, recently reorganizing the denomination, moving the national headquarters to Orlando, and retooling the way their foreign / home boards relate. (I was privileged to work with them on that move to "one mission" as a consultant to their leadership.)

But, what I find uniquely interesting is that Converge Worldwide was originally a regional Swedish denomination that has remade itself though a strong focus on church planting and missions. Here's some more history from Wikipedia:

I have written before that I believe that Converge Worldwide is the leading mid-size church planting denomination in America today. Just a few months ago, I was in California training their church planters. Today, it seemed like most of the attendees at the meeting had planted the churches they pastored. They ooze church planting-- and it has changed their denomination for the better.

In denominational life, as in so many areas of life, what you celebrate, you become. Meetings in some denominations are "celebrating" everything BUT church planting. But, by celebrating church planting, the folks at Converge Worldwide have created a momentum that has transformed their movement.