Shubal Stearns
Encyclopedia
Shubal Stearns (28 January 1706 – November 20, 1771), was an evangelist and preacher who, though his name is seldom mentioned today, was to have a profound impact in planting the seeds for the spiritual direction of much of the population of the United States
. Stearns' highly successful ministry is inextricably intertwined with the rise and expansion of the Separate Baptist
s — especially in much the American South, where the Baptist
faith today remains that of the overwhelming majority of people.
. His family were members of the Congregational church
in Tolland, Connecticut
, when in 1745 he heard evangelist George Whitefield
. Whitefield preached that instead of trying to reform the Congregational church over doctrinal issues, it was necessary to separate from it; hence his followers were called the "New-Lights". Stearns was converted, became a preacher, and adopted the Great Awakening's view of revival and conversion. The "New Lights" also came to be called the "Separates", in part because they pointed to 2 Cor. 6:17 "be ye separate", ie, from the mainstream "Old Light" Congregational church.
Stearns' church became involved in the controversy over the proper subjects of baptism
in 1751. Soon, Stearns rejected infant baptism
and sought baptism at the hands of Wait Palmer, Baptist minister of Stonington, Connecticut
. By March, Shubal Stearns was ordained into the Baptist ministry by Palmer and Joshua Morse, the pastor of New London, Connecticut
. His church of "Separates", by becoming Baptists, were from then on to be known as the Separate Baptists.
In 1754, Stearns and some of his followers moved south to Opequon, Virginia
, at that time on the western frontier
. Here he joined Daniel Marshall and wife Martha (Stearns' sister), who were already active in a Baptist church there. During his brief time in Virginia, Stearns and Marshal preached the Gospel with great zeal and were even accused of being "disorderly ministers" by some stalwarts who complained to the Philadelphia Association
, but this charge was dismissed.
On November 22, 1755, Stearns and his party moved further south to Sandy Creek, in Guilford County, North Carolina
to build a new church. This party consisted of eight men and their wives, mostly relatives of Stearns. Stearns pastored at Sandy Creek until his death. From there, Separate Baptists spread in the South. The church quickly grew from 16 members to 606. Church members moved to other areas and started other churches.
The Sandy Creek Association was formed in 1758. Morgan Edwards
, a Baptist minister who visited Sandy Creek the year after Stearns' death, recorded that, "in 17 years, [Sandy Creek] has spread its branches westward as far as the great river Mississippi; southward as far as Georgia; eastward to the sea and Chesopeck [sic] Bay; and northward to the waters of the Pottowmack [sic]; it, in 17 years, is become mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to 42 churches, from which sprang 125 ministers." Based on the testimony of those who remembered him, Edwards described Stearns as fervent and charismatic preacher who was capable of inspiring the most powerful emotions in his congregation.
None of Stearns' sermons has survived in writing, but a central theme seems to have been the need for followers of Christ to be "born again" from within, which at first seemed strange to churchgoers in North Carolina who never thought of their religion as anything more than external. His style of preaching became the model for many other preachers who sought to copy his example, down to the minutest gesture or inflection of voice. Stearns believed that God pours his spirit like water upon a new believer, requiring no special learning or instruction; and this 'outpouring' swiftly became a flood that spread from Sandy Creek throughout all parts of the southern frontier.
Stearns was married to Sarah Johnson, but never had children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Stearns' highly successful ministry is inextricably intertwined with the rise and expansion of the Separate Baptist
Separate Baptist
The Separate Baptists were an 18th century group of Baptists in the United States, primarily in the South, that grew out of the Great Awakening....
s — especially in much the American South, where the 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...
faith today remains that of the overwhelming majority of people.
Life
Stearns was born in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. His family were members of the Congregational church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
in Tolland, Connecticut
Tolland, Connecticut
Tolland is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,146 at the 2000 census.Tolland was named in May, 1715, and incorporated in May, 1722. According to some, the town derives its name from being a toll station on the old road between Boston and New York. ...
, when in 1745 he heard evangelist George Whitefield
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
. Whitefield preached that instead of trying to reform the Congregational church over doctrinal issues, it was necessary to separate from it; hence his followers were called the "New-Lights". Stearns was converted, became a preacher, and adopted the Great Awakening's view of revival and conversion. The "New Lights" also came to be called the "Separates", in part because they pointed to 2 Cor. 6:17 "be ye separate", ie, from the mainstream "Old Light" Congregational church.
Stearns' church became involved in the controversy over the proper subjects of baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
in 1751. Soon, Stearns rejected infant baptism
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
and sought baptism at the hands of Wait Palmer, Baptist minister of Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
. By March, Shubal Stearns was ordained into the Baptist ministry by Palmer and Joshua Morse, the pastor of New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
. His church of "Separates", by becoming Baptists, were from then on to be known as the Separate Baptists.
In 1754, Stearns and some of his followers moved south to Opequon, Virginia
Opequon, Virginia
Opequon is an unincorporated community along Opequon Creek in Frederick County, Virginia. Opequon is located on Cedar Creek Grade at Miller Road and also known as Kernstown, Virginia. The community of Opequon was designated a National Historic District in 2002. Opequon School, which was in...
, at that time on the western frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
. Here he joined Daniel Marshall and wife Martha (Stearns' sister), who were already active in a Baptist church there. During his brief time in Virginia, Stearns and Marshal preached the Gospel with great zeal and were even accused of being "disorderly ministers" by some stalwarts who complained to the Philadelphia Association
Philadelphia Association
The Philadelphia Association is a UK "charity concerned with the understanding and relief of mental suffering." It was founded in 1965 by the psychiatrist and psychoanalyst R. D...
, but this charge was dismissed.
On November 22, 1755, Stearns and his party moved further south to Sandy Creek, in Guilford County, North Carolina
Guilford County, North Carolina
Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2010, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 491,230. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful...
to build a new church. This party consisted of eight men and their wives, mostly relatives of Stearns. Stearns pastored at Sandy Creek until his death. From there, Separate Baptists spread in the South. The church quickly grew from 16 members to 606. Church members moved to other areas and started other churches.
The Sandy Creek Association was formed in 1758. Morgan Edwards
Morgan Edwards
Morgan Edwards was a Welsh historian of religion, Baptist pastor, and notable for his teaching on the 'rapture' before its popularization by John Nelson Darby ....
, a Baptist minister who visited Sandy Creek the year after Stearns' death, recorded that, "in 17 years, [Sandy Creek] has spread its branches westward as far as the great river Mississippi; southward as far as Georgia; eastward to the sea and Chesopeck [sic] Bay; and northward to the waters of the Pottowmack [sic]; it, in 17 years, is become mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to 42 churches, from which sprang 125 ministers." Based on the testimony of those who remembered him, Edwards described Stearns as fervent and charismatic preacher who was capable of inspiring the most powerful emotions in his congregation.
None of Stearns' sermons has survived in writing, but a central theme seems to have been the need for followers of Christ to be "born again" from within, which at first seemed strange to churchgoers in North Carolina who never thought of their religion as anything more than external. His style of preaching became the model for many other preachers who sought to copy his example, down to the minutest gesture or inflection of voice. Stearns believed that God pours his spirit like water upon a new believer, requiring no special learning or instruction; and this 'outpouring' swiftly became a flood that spread from Sandy Creek throughout all parts of the southern frontier.
Stearns was married to Sarah Johnson, but never had children.