When I grew up, I had two Christian heroes: Corrie ten Boom and Mary Slessor. I enjoyed reading about their daring lifespan to others. Their strong and fearless faith has been mine from an early age, and I enjoyed each new piece of information about the two of them. When a little girl, when I saw two women being used so powerful by God, it gave me the feeling that I could take the world. I have no less affection for ten boom or slessor some thirty years later. In recent years it was a privilege to add even more dynamic men and women to my list of heroes. I enjoy the thought that a young man or woman will find their hero on these pages.
Representation is important in the Christian faith, not because we want to make many of our differences, but because we want to make a lot of a savior who created every person for his glory. The more we see people from every tribe, tongue and nation represented in the amazing story that God tells through His creation, the more we are able to visualize a little how heaven will be like. When bringing together fifty-two black heroes of the belief professionals, teachers, missionaries, musicians, medical professionals, fugitives of slavery, children of privileges and children of poverty, I tell a story about the beautiful diversity of God’s Kingdom. Keep learning. Keep stretching. Keep adding stories yourself. They all – each and everyone – are committed to our Creator.
George Liele
Missionary of Jamaica
(1750-1828)
George Liele and Lemuel Haynes are often known as the first black men in America to be arranged. They have similar life stories – both George and Lemuel were contractive servants. This means that both young men were without payment during their youth for a certain amount of time and were then released to pursue their own interests. Once their service was over, both George and Lemuel were revolutionary war soldiers. Although Lemuel was a patriot, George was a loyalist – someone who fought for England in the revolutionary war. Many people made slave previously fought for England because the British slaved soldiers to their freedom.
Some information George became an orderly minister in 1775 – five years before Lemuel. Although the consecration date is an estimate, George is still considered the first black missionary of America! He traveled to Jamaica in 1782, ten years before William Carey went from England to India, although it is William who often gets the honor as father of modern missions.
As a young servant in Savannah, Georgia, George helped to start different churches for slaves made in the state. As an older minister, he continued to plant his calling by planting Baptist Churches in Jamaica. He worked with both slave and free Jamaicans and formed connections with their masters and supervisors to get permission for church members made to attend his services.
George died in 1828 and left an inheritance in both Savannah and Jamaica as a dedicated man of God. Although many Adoniram Judson reminds themselves as the very first Baptist Missionary from the United States, George’s rich ministry in Jamaica began almost thirty years before Adoniram’s in India.
George paved the way for so many other black missionaries to take the gospel of Jesus abroad.
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Throughout history, stories about brave black believers and their incredible contributions to the Christian faith and our nation have overlooked. Strong and fearless faithThrough Jasmine HolmesBrings 52 remarkable stories of black Christians to life for readers of middle grade. The tests and triumphs of activists, predecessors and missionaries who have formed the history of our nation will inspire children from all backgrounds to express their faith in bold ways.
Read more about the book and how you can buy here.