The logo of the Free Will Baptists incorporates four symbols
used by the earliest communities in Christendom: the ship,
the fish, the anchor and the cross.
In the four corners of the ship's sail, the symbols of earliest
Christianity are enhanced by modern emblems of a vital, living
faith - the Holy Bible, the Loaf & Cup, the Basin & Towel and
Clasped Hands - the symbols of Free Will Baptists.
The Ship symbolizes the Church and represents all the members
pulling in one direction, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Seeking to fulfill Christ's last command to the Church, Free Will
Baptists unite in one purpose with one priority to proclaim the
good news of the gospel throughout the world.
The Fish , represented in the symbol by the space between the
bottom of the sail and the top of the ship's body, is one of the most
popular symbols for Jesus Christ. Many believe that it was a secret
symbol which identified Christians during periods of persecution.
The word "fish" in the first century Greek (ichthus) is an acrostic
for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
The Anchor on the bow of the ship symbolizes the Christian hope
of salvation, "the sure, strong and steadfast anchor of the soul.
"The Cross forms the emblem in the mast of the ship. It is the
most familiar symbol in the history of the world. The Cross -
an instrument of execution and death turned into a worldwide
emblem of hope and love by the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
The Bible has always been at the heart of our life as Free Will
Baptists, the centrality of the scriptures. Free Will Baptists adopt
the Word of God as our only rule of faith and practice. We
believe the scriptures to be inspired, inerrant, infallible
and immutable.
The Loaf & Cup represent the Lord's supper, one of the gospel
ordinances. This ordinance commemorates the death of Christ
for our sins in the use of the bread which He made the emblem
of His broken body and the cup the emblem of His shed blood.
Participation in this ordinance expresses love for Christ, faith
and hope in Him, and serves as a pledge of perpetual
fidelity and faithfulness to Him.
The Basin & Towel historically symbolize the service and
outreach of the church, but for us it has an added significance
of representing our practice of washing the saints' feet.
The Clasped Hands symbolize many things to us: fellowship,
brotherhood and the warmth of our faith. Perhaps the most
important thing symbolized by the clasped hands is our
commitment to reach out to people around the world with
the good news.
