by Rev. Edith L. Gleaves

Rev. Edith L. Gleaves, Deputy General Secretary for Mission Personnel of the General Board of Global Ministries. Image by: GBGM Administration

Black History Month offers a wonderful opportunity to hear the story of the Holy Spirit’s working in the world through the contributions of black people in the history of missions in The United Methodist Church. If we happen not to be of black heritage, these stories offer an opportunity to hear our own story and to learn more about who we all are.

The gospel is central to black history and the African experience in the new world. The old, old story of Jesus and his love enlightened Christian slaves despite the efforts of slave holders and others who presented a perverted and sanitized version of the gospel. The Holy Spirit could not be quenched and the real gospel with its prophetic stance against the powers of oppression and injustice was borne by African Americans into the world. John Stewart’s ministry among the Native Americans is considered to be the actual beginning of Methodist missions. John Stewart, a free-born black man from Virginia, was converted at a camp meeting in Marietta, Ohio. He went to the Wyandot Indian reservation in Ohio where he met Jonathan Pointer, a black man who had been taken prisoner in his youth by the Wyandots. Pointer knew their language so he interpreted for Stewart. In 1818, Stewart’s successful ministry came to the attention of Ohio Methodists, who licensed him to preach.

The Women’s Foreign Missionary Society was formally organized in 1869 and the Women’s Home Missionary Society in 1880. Women, however, had been involved in the missionary effort devoted to home and foreign missions from Methodism’s beginnings. Black women were among these numbers. While societal restrictions of the day generally regulated them to roles of assistant missionaries in which they were given menial tasks, these women were also trained as teachers, nurses, social workers and deaconesses.

Today while there are African American General Board of Global Ministries missionaries, the numbers are low in proportion to the twelve percent U.S. black population. Historical obstacles to African-American involvement in missions leave a legacy of contemporary lack of awareness of general missions history, and of African American missions heritage and opportunities. The needs of the community and those ‘next door’, tend to overshadow the responsibility to reach the world with the Gospel.

Opportunities for mission education and outreach are close at hand. Black GBGM missionaries are available to speak at churches and to enter into Covenant Relationships of support with local churches. Short-term mission trips in the U.S., overseas and across cultures are additional avenues of education and outreach. Young Adults and others should be encouraged to explore their sense of call to missionary service.

Many African Americans have paved the way through great obstacles to take the Gospel next door and into all the world. Black missionaries today are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before them. Their stories are part of all our stories and United Methodists which we celebrate during Black History Month.

Rev. Edith L. Gleaves is a Deputy General Secretary for Mission Personnel of the General Board of Global Ministries.

	See Also... Topic: Christian love |  Missionaries |  United Methodist Church |  Methodism |  Geographic Region: World |  Source: Mission Personnel
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Date posted: Feb 16, 2005