George Lisle (Baptist)
Encyclopedia
George Liele Liele, or Leile, or George Sharp (1750–1820) was an African American
and emancipated slave who became the founding pastor of the First African Baptist Church
, in Savannah
, Georgia
(USA
). He became the first American missionary, leaving in 1782 for Jamaica
; this is twenty years before Adoniram Judson
left for Burma. He became the first Baptist
missionary in Jamaica.
As an adult he was converted by Rev. Matthew Moore of Burke County, Georgia, around 1774, and continued to worship in this white church for four years until Savannah was evacuated by forces loyal to Britain. His master Henry Sharp was a deacon in Rev. Moore's church and encouraged him in his preaching to other slaves.
Liele was freed by his master Henry Sharp, also a Baptist and Loyalist, before the American Revolution
began. Sharp died in 1778. Liele went to Savannah, Georgia, where he helped organize an early Baptist congregation.
to ensure his freedom rather than risk reenslavement in the American South. He migrated to Jamaica with his wife Hannah and their four children. He preached at the racecourse at Kingston, Jamaica
, where the novelty of a black itinerant ex-slave preacher attracted considerable attention. News of his itinerant-style preaching quickly spread. It was a rousing style similar to that used by Whitfield and equally successful. Lisle (as his name was spelled in Jamaica) was soon able to gather a congregation and purchase a piece of land about a mile from Kingston, where he gradually built a chapel.
barber who arrived in Jamaica from the United States in 1783. He converted to Christianity and was baptised by Lisle. A Quaker invited Baker to live on his estate and instruct the slaves in 'religious and moral principles'. To expand this educational work, Moses Baker approached benefactors in Britain. He made contact with the Baptist, Rev. John Ryland Jr., who became interested in securing funds from British donors to meet such demand for missionary work. He was moved to helped instigate the non-denominational London Missionary Society
to help provide for this.
Ryland's first missionary was funded by the Baptists rather than the LMS. His achievements were limited since he died early. Later, in the early 19th century, a trio of Baptist missionaries from Britain, Thomas Burchell
, James Phillippo
and William Knibb
, and slightly later still others such as Samuel Oughton
were more successful in supporting local African Baptist congregations and helping them develop their international links. They met fierce resistance from the planters who had great influence in the Jamaican House of Assembly and had provided adequately for their own spiritual needs with the Anglican Church. They opposed both education and the congregational governance ideas of the Baptists from being introduced among their slaves.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and emancipated slave who became the founding pastor of the First African Baptist Church
First African Baptist Church (Savannah)
First African Baptist Church, located in Savannah, Georgia claims evolution from the first black Baptist congregation in North America. While it was not officially organized until 1788, it grew from members who founded a church in 1773...
, in Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). He became the first American missionary, leaving in 1782 for Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
; this is twenty years before Adoniram Judson
Adoniram Judson
Adoniram Judson, Jr. was an American Baptist missionary, who served in Burma for almost forty years. At the age of 25, Adoniram Judson became the first Protestant missionary sent from North America to preach in Burma...
left for Burma. He became the first Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
missionary in Jamaica.
Early life
Liele was born into slavery in Virginia in 1752, but was taken to Georgia.As an adult he was converted by Rev. Matthew Moore of Burke County, Georgia, around 1774, and continued to worship in this white church for four years until Savannah was evacuated by forces loyal to Britain. His master Henry Sharp was a deacon in Rev. Moore's church and encouraged him in his preaching to other slaves.
Liele was freed by his master Henry Sharp, also a Baptist and Loyalist, before the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
began. Sharp died in 1778. Liele went to Savannah, Georgia, where he helped organize an early Baptist congregation.
Evacuation
Liele chose to leave with the BritishBritish people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
to ensure his freedom rather than risk reenslavement in the American South. He migrated to Jamaica with his wife Hannah and their four children. He preached at the racecourse at Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, where the novelty of a black itinerant ex-slave preacher attracted considerable attention. News of his itinerant-style preaching quickly spread. It was a rousing style similar to that used by Whitfield and equally successful. Lisle (as his name was spelled in Jamaica) was soon able to gather a congregation and purchase a piece of land about a mile from Kingston, where he gradually built a chapel.
Ministry in Jamaica
To support his work, and expand it, George Lisle sought support from London. He was helped in this endeavour by Moses Baker, an Afro-EuropeanMulatto
Mulatto denotes a person with one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry. Contemporary usage of the term varies greatly, and the broader sense of the term makes its application rather subjective, as not all people of mixed white and black...
barber who arrived in Jamaica from the United States in 1783. He converted to Christianity and was baptised by Lisle. A Quaker invited Baker to live on his estate and instruct the slaves in 'religious and moral principles'. To expand this educational work, Moses Baker approached benefactors in Britain. He made contact with the Baptist, Rev. John Ryland Jr., who became interested in securing funds from British donors to meet such demand for missionary work. He was moved to helped instigate the non-denominational London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
to help provide for this.
Ryland's first missionary was funded by the Baptists rather than the LMS. His achievements were limited since he died early. Later, in the early 19th century, a trio of Baptist missionaries from Britain, Thomas Burchell
Thomas Burchell
Thomas Burchell was a leading Baptist missionary and slavery abolitionist in Jamaica in the early nineteenth century. It is not uncommon for Jamaican parents to name their children 'Burchell'; indeed it is almost as popular a Christian name as Manley.Burchell, along with James Phillippo , William...
, James Phillippo
James Phillippo
James Phillippo was a Baptist missionary who campaigned for the abolition of slavery.-Early years as a missionary:...
and William Knibb
William Knibb
William Knibb , English Baptist minister and missionary to Jamaica, is chiefly known for his work to free slaves.-Missionary in Jamaica:...
, and slightly later still others such as Samuel Oughton
Samuel Oughton
The Rev. Samuel Oughton , Baptist missionary to Jamaica 1836-1866, and colleague of William Knibb was an ardent slavery abolitionist who became an outspoken advocate of black labour rights in Jamaica during the gradual abolition of slavery in the late 1830s and thereafter. He was briefly...
were more successful in supporting local African Baptist congregations and helping them develop their international links. They met fierce resistance from the planters who had great influence in the Jamaican House of Assembly and had provided adequately for their own spiritual needs with the Anglican Church. They opposed both education and the congregational governance ideas of the Baptists from being introduced among their slaves.
External links
- "George Liele", Africans in America, PBS
- "George Liele : America's First Missionary"
- News article "George Liele: Should be a National Hero" Jamaica Gleaner, April 8 2003
- Sermon, MP3 Audio Podcast: The Cross and Faithful Ministry As Seen In The Pastoral and Missionary Ministry of George Leile: First Baptist Missionary To The Nations - Galatians 6:11-18, 24 Aug 2010, Daniel L. Akin, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary