OVOTC Service
February25, 2018
“Black’s in History Who Were Christians”
I Joshua 1:2-3 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.3Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.”
Rev. Andrew Bryan
Andrew Bryan was born in slavery and grew up as a slave on a plantation in South Carolina. In 1782, Andrew and his wife Hannah became Christians under the preachingof the Rev. George Liele. Nine months after his conversion, Andrewwas preaching to both black and white congregations while still a slave. Andrew Bryan shared the Gospel with slaves on neighboring plantations and on January 20, 1788, Bryanwas ordained as a Baptist minister.
Bryan’s church grew rapidly, bringing persecution fromnearby slave owners who feared a revolt if slaves heard the message of freedomin the Gospel. Many slaves whoattended Bryan’s church were flogged and severely punished. Rev. Bryan himself was whipped,beaten, imprisoned and hischurch was seized. (much like Paul and Silas in Acts 16:19-25)Andrew’s master, who supported his ministry, helped arrange his release from jail.
Instead of becoming bitter for this unjust treatment, Rev. Bryan exulted in his persecution, proclaiming that “he rejoiced not only to be whipped but would freely suffer death for the cause of Jesus Christ;” he also prayed for the men who had persecuted him. This Christ-like behavior in Andrew won the respect of many observers.
(Matthew 5:43-44)
After his master’s death in 1790, Rev. Bryan purchased his freedom and the freedom of his wife, Hannah. In 1794, several influential whites helped Rev. Bryan raise the money to purchase property to build a new church – the Bryan Street AfricanBaptist Church (the first black Baptist church in America). Rev. Bryan purchased a lot near the church where he built his home.
At that time in America’s history, Georgia was one of the most pro-slaverystates in America. Rev. Andrew Bryan preached in a region of the country where ministry by and to African Americans was extremely difficult. The ministry of Rev. Andrew Bryan brought thousands in Georgia to a personal relationshipwith God through Christ.
Richard Allen
Richard Allen was born as a slave to Benjamin Chew in Philadelphia in 1760. Allen was converted to Christianity by the preaching of the Methodists. His owner, known as“Stokeley,” was so impressed with Richard’s Godly lifestyle that he permitted the young Allen to conduct services in his home. In fact, Stokeley himself was converted during one of these services, after which he made it possible for Allen to purchase his freedom.
Allen traveled throughout eastern Pennsylvania and neighboring states, using every opportunity to preach the Gospel to both Whites and Blacks. At the meeting of the first general conference of the Methodist Church in Baltimore in 1784, Allen was accepted as a minister.
Allen began to preach regularly at the St. George Methodist Church in Philadelphia. Richard suggested that Blacks should have a separate place of worship apart from Whites.
In 1787, Allen led in the establishment of an organization known as the “Free African Society,” composed of
both Black Methodists and Black Episcopalians. Black churches in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and
Marylandseparated from traditional denominations to join this society. In 1816, these independent churches
merged to become the “Africa Methodist Episcopal Church” (the A. M. E. Church); Allen was chosen as its
First bishop.
Allen’s faith was evident in all of his accomplishments, and he openly proclaimed his gratefulness to God:
“I believe it is my greatest honor and happiness to be Thy disciple; how miserable and blind are those that live without God in the world, who despise the light of Thy holy faith. Make me to part with all the enjoyments of life; nay, even life itself, rather than forfeit this jewel of great price.”
Lemuel Haynes
Lemuel Haynes was abandoned by his parents when he was five months old. He wastaken in and apprenticed by the David Rose family. Haynes was given the opportunity for education – something rare for AfricanAmericans in that day. Haynes stated: “I had the advantage of attending acommon school equal with the other children. I was early taught to read.” He developeda passion for the Bible and theology, and even as a youth he frequentlyheld services and preached sermons at the town parish. Haynes also memorized massiveand lengthy portions of the Bible.
In 1774, Haynes turned 21, finished his tradesman apprenticeship and enlisted as a Minuteman in the local Connecticut militia. Haynes and the Connecticuttroops were part of the siege of Boston. Haynes became an admirer of George Washington andregularly preached sermonson Washington’s Birthday.
After the Revolution, Haynes continued his studies in Latin, Greek, and theologyand became the first African American to be ordained by a mainstream Christiandenomination (the Congregationalists, in 1785), to pastor a white congregationin Connecticut, and to be awarded an honorary Master’s Degree(by Middlebury College in 1804). Over his life, Haynes pastored several churchesin Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York
(often white churches), published a number of sermons, and was a confidant and counselor to the presidentsof both Yale and Harvard.
Lemuel Haynes died at the age of eighty, having written the epitaph for histombstone: “Here lies the dust of a poor helldeserving sinner, who venturedinto eternity trusting wholly on the merits of Christ for salvation. In thefull belief of the great doctrines he preached while on earth, he invites hischildren, and all who read this, to trust their eternal interest on the samefoundation.”
“Lemuel Haynes” Black History Month Issue-2004,
Wallbuilders, Inc., 2018.
“Rev. Andrew Bryan” Black History Month Issue-2005,
Wallbuilders, Inc. 2018.
“Richard Allen” Black History Month Issue-1998,
Wallbuilders, Inc. 2018.