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Baptist historian Dr. Tom Nettles joins Courier Conversations to share the story behind his newest book, "Baptist History for Kids" – a beautifully illustrated journey through Baptist heritage designed to help children understand their theological roots.

Drawing from over four decades of experience teaching at institutions like Southwestern Seminary and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Nettles brings his scholarly expertise to a format accessible for young readers. The book, featuring stunning artwork by his son Robert Nettles, covers fundamental questions: What does "Baptist" mean? How did Baptists begin? What do Baptists believe and do? Who are some significant Baptists throughout history?

During our conversation, Dr. Nettles shares how his earlier groundbreaking works "Baptists and the Bible" and "By His Grace and For His Glory" helped establish that Baptist commitment to biblical inerrancy and Reformed soteriology weren't recent innovations but reflected the denomination's historic foundations. This new book extends that mission to the next generation.

What sets this resource apart is its unflinching portrayal of the cost many early Baptists paid for their convictions. Through stories of figures like Obadiah Holmes, who was publicly whipped for his Baptist beliefs, children learn that theological distinctives like believers' baptism by immersion weren't held cheaply but represented deeply-held biblical convictions worth suffering for.

The book highlights familiar Baptist giants like Spurgeon and Bunyan alongside lesser-known figures such as George Lyle, a freed slave who became an effective missionary, and John Jasper, whose preaching gifts were so extraordinary that his master freed him to preach more widely. Dr. Nettles also discusses South Carolina's central role in Baptist history, from establishing the first Baptist association in the South to providing key leadership in forming the Southern Baptist Convention.

Whether you're a parent wanting to nurture your child's denominational identity or someone curious about Baptist roots, this conversation illuminates why understanding our theological heritage matters in an increasingly anti-denominational age. As Dr. Nettles reminds us, Baptist history represents not just cultural tradition but theological conviction worth preserving and passing down.

Ready to help your children discover their Baptist heritage? Find "Baptist History for Kids" at courierpublishing.com or on Amazon today.

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