Class 4: History of CBC

April 13th, 2026
by Andrew Robinson

Covenant Baptist New Members Class

Class 4: History of CBC

Background

The Early Church

Two great struggles: Doctrinal Error and Persecution
Constantine (Became Emperor of Rome in 311)
Edict of Milan (313) granted toleration of Christianity
Edict of Thessalonica (380) made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire
The Great Schism (1054): East breaks with West

The Reformation

Martin Luther (born 1483)
- Experienced a long struggle with how he could be accepted by God
  - Romans 1:17
- Proposes to debate teaching by the church that was contrary to Scripture
- Tried before the Diet of Worms (1521) and convicted of heresy
Other Reformers began to spread all over Europe (Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, Martin Bucer, Thomas Cranmer, and more)

Baptists

Early Protestants composed of three groups:
- Lutherans
- Anabaptists
- Reformed Churches (where Baptists come from)
Late 17th century and early 18th century: nearly all Baptists shared a Reformed understanding of the faith
18th century: Baptist churches grow quickly in America
Late 19th century: rise of theological liberalism
- Almost every Protestant denomination splits
- Fundamentalist response: to withdraw
- Neo-evangelical response: to engage the culture while defending the Bible

Covenant Baptist Church

Covenant Baptist Church was birthed out of the First Baptist Church of Haynesville. FBCH is a 200 year old church where our Pastors, Matt Caporale and Andrew Robinson were on staff.
In 2020, the call to plant was put by the Lord on the hearts of Pastors Matt and Andrew.
From 2021 through 2025, the Lord stitched together a core team from FBCH whom He would use to bring His new work. God also used His sovereign hand to shape and mold Pastors Matt and Andrew during this time.
In early 2025, the door opened for Covenant Baptist Church to be planted thanks to FBCH, the Rehoboth Baptist Association, and the North American Mission Board.

The mission of Covenant Baptist Church is thus:

“Covenant Baptist Church exists to glorify God by faithfully proclaiming His Word and equipping the saints, so that Christ may be known, worshipped, and obeyed in all of life.”