George Liele facts for kids
George Liele (born around 1750, died 1820) was an African American man who was once enslaved. He became free and then founded important churches in Savannah, Georgia, USA. These churches were the First Bryan Baptist Church and the First African Baptist Church. Later, he became a missionary in Jamaica, sharing his faith with others.
George Liele was born into slavery in Virginia in 1752. He was later moved to Georgia. In 1777, he became a Christian through Rev. Matthew Moore. Liele continued to worship in a church with white members for four years. His owner, Henry Sharp, was a deacon in that church. Sharp encouraged Liele to preach to other enslaved people. Before the American Revolution began, Sharp, who was also a Baptist and supported the British (a Loyalist), freed Liele. Sharp died in battle in 1779. After this, Liele went to Savannah, Georgia. There, he helped start an early Baptist church. He later became one of the first Baptist missionaries, working in Jamaica. He founded the Ethiopian Baptist Church of Jamaica. Liele is also known for writing the Church Covenant for the Ethiopian Baptists. This document became very important to Baptists around the world.
Starting the First African Baptist Church
George Liele was given permission to preach by Baptists in Georgia in 1773. He was the first African American to receive this permission.
Liele played a big part in starting the First African Baptist Church. After he was freed, he taught and baptized many enslaved people outside Savannah. One person he converted was David George. David George was one of the first eight members of the Silver Bluff Baptist Church in South Carolina.
During the Revolutionary War, Liele went to Savannah. The British Army occupied the city and offered protection to enslaved people who escaped. Liele's preaching helped many people become Christians there. One of them was Andrew Bryan. Bryan became a leader in the church and sometimes preached too. In 1782, the British left Savannah. They took many enslaved people with them, mostly to Nova Scotia. However, Liele traveled to Jamaica. Later, Andrew Bryan helped found and lead the First African Baptist Church. Many of its first members were people Liele had helped become Christians.
Moving to Jamaica
Liele decided to leave with the British when they evacuated Savannah. He wanted to make sure he stayed free. He did not want to risk being enslaved again in the American South. He moved to Jamaica, which was a British colony at the time. Jamaica was also a society where slavery existed. Liele went with his wife, Hannah, and their four children.
In Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, he preached at the racecourse. People were very interested in a Black preacher who used to be enslaved and traveled around. Liele soon gathered a group of followers. He was able to buy some land about a mile from Kingston. There, he slowly built a church building.
His Work in Jamaica
To support and grow his ministry, Liele looked for help from London, England. Moses Baker, an Afro-European barber, helped him with this. Baker came to Jamaica from the United States in 1783. He became a Christian and was baptized by Liele. A Quaker (a type of Christian) invited Baker to live on his property. Baker's job was to teach the enslaved people there about religion and good behavior.
To expand this teaching work, Moses Baker contacted people in Britain who might help. He connected with a Baptist leader named John Ryland. Ryland became interested in raising money from British donors for missionary work. This led him to help start the London Missionary Society. This group was not tied to one specific church type.
Later, in the early 1800s, several Baptist missionaries from Britain came to Jamaica. These included Thomas Burchell, James Phillippo, and William Knibb. They were more successful in helping local African Baptist churches grow. They also helped these churches connect with others around the world. However, they faced strong opposition from the White Jamaican plantation owners and slave owners. These powerful people had a lot of influence in Jamaica's government. They already had their own Anglican Church. They did not want enslaved people to be educated. They also opposed the Baptists' ideas about how churches should be run.
In 1792, Liele wrote the church covenant. This document had two main purposes for the Ethiopian Baptists of Jamaica. First, it was a teaching tool. It helped Baptists learn common principles from the Bible. Second, it made slave owners feel more comfortable. It promised that their enslaved people would follow the law. The church covenant was shown to government leaders, magistrates, and judges. This helped them approve of enslaved people becoming church members.
