Baptists in Australia

Baptists and Evangelism

‘Evangelism - the heart of all we do’

(this phrase was used once as the slogan of the Baptist Union of Queensland Evangelistic Department.)

Some gifted Baptist evangelists who have conducted missions across the country and beyond have included , Dr Wilfred Jarvis, Dr E.H. Watson, Brian Willersdorf, Rev. Reg Jarrott.

One of the best known was Rev John G. Ridley. It was his preaching about eternity that inspired Arthur Stace to chalk that word in copperplate lettering on the streets of Sydney over a period of many years. Mr Ridley said in a sermon, "I wish I could shout 'Eternity' trhough the streets of Sydney.

Mr Stace became known as "Mr Eternity" and it is estimated that he wrote the word at least 500,000 times before his death in 1967.
Inspired by this thought, the millennium fireworks in Sydney on Dec 31, 1999 featured this word on the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Rev John G. Ridley M.C.

(1896-1976)

Australia’s Beloved Evangelist

Converted at Burton St Baptist Tabernacle, Sydney
Served in France, awarded MC for bravery at Bullecourt
Became student pastor but ceased on medical grounds,
With regained health, and began wide ranging itinerant evangelistic work and convention ministry
Became extremely well known and respected for forceful preaching
Prolific author, poet & tract writer
Served as chaplain and welfare officer in World War II
Formed Australian Institute of Evangelism