Historians trace the earliest church labeled Baptist back to 1609 in Amsterdam, with English Separatist John Smyth as its pastor. In accordance with his reading of the New Testament, he rejected baptism of infants and instituted baptism only of believing adults. Baptist practice spread to England, where the General Baptists considered Christ's atonement to extend to all people, while the Particular Baptists believed that it extended only to the elect. In 1638, Roger Williams established the first Baptist congregation in the North American colonies. In the mid-18th century, the First Great Awakening increased Baptist growth in both New England and the South. The Second Great Awakening in the South in the early 19th century increased church membership, as did the preachers' lessening of support for abolition and manumission of slavery, which had been part of the 18th-century teachings. Baptist missionaries have spread their church to every continent. COUNT 5
QSN1 Where was the earliest Baptist church founded? ANS1 Amsterdam QSN2 Who was the pastor of the first Baptist church? ANS2 John Smyth QSN3 Who believed that Christ's atonement was for everyone? ANS3 General Baptists QSN4 Who founded the first Baptist group in what is now the United States? ANS4 Roger Williams QSN5 Who has spread the teachings of the Baptists to each continent? ANS5 Baptist missionaries