“First Lady of the Struggle”: A Tribute to Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune: God’s Ambassador to Education

“At Moody [Bible Institute], we learned to look upon a man as a man, not as a Caucasian or Negro,” said Mary McLeod Bethune. “A love for the whole human family entered my soul and remains with me to this day.” The fifteenth of seventeen children born to former slaves, Mary rose from the grips of poverty to become one of the greatest Kingdom ambassadors for education the world has ever known.

When her dream to become a missionary to Africa crumbled in 1895, Mary obtained a teaching position at the Haines Institute in Augusta, Georgia. Work at Haines fired Mary’s imagination of what she herself could achieve. She soon realized “that Africans in America needed Christ and school just as much as Negroes in Africa…. My life work lay not in Africa but in my own country.” She decided to commit herself to improving the education of young Black Americans.

In 1904, Mary arrived in Daytona Beach, where she had a prophetic dream of crossing a river. A man rode up to her on a horse as soon as she made it safely across the river. The man was Booker T. Washington, the country’s leading black educator. Washington took a soiled handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the sweat from his brow, then produced a glittering diamond and handed it to Mary. “This is for your school,” he told her. Inspired by her dream and her faith in God, Mary went on to found what later became the first fully accredited four-year college for Blacks in Florida. Students were instructed in spiritual matters as well as academics, often taking over the pastorates of the many mission churches Mary founded for migrant workers throughout the swamps of Florida.

The Lord continued to open doors for Mary, bringing her into contact with the wealthiest and most influential people of the early 20^th Century. Booker T. Washington, himself, became a friend and colleague. Sponsors of her school and mission work included the Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Guggenheims. Her voice advocating for Black education found an ear with President Calvin Coolidge and later President Franklin Roosevelt. She became the first African American woman to head a federal agency under the Roosevelt administration. Her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt greatly enhanced her status and gave her access to important political leaders. After Roosevelt’s death, President Truman named Mary Bethune to his Civil Rights Commission as the only African American woman consultant working to draw up the charter for the United Nations. She became known as the “First Lady of the Struggle” for her influence in early Civil Rights activism.

Mary often insisted that she had been blessed with a rich and wonderful life even though she had been born into poverty. At the end of her life, she wrote that she wanted to pass on the richness of her life’s experiences by inspiring acts of love and fellowship in others. Such a legacy, she hoped, would foster education and interracial cooperation. “Faith, courage, brotherhood, dignity, ambition, responsibility—these are needed today as never before,” she wrote. Truly, her words still ring true today.

~Linda Frederick

Celebrating Black History: Lucy Farrow

Let’s meet another one of God’s warriors as we continue to celebrate Black History Month…

Lucy F. Farrow

Lucy Farrow, niece of renowned black abolitionist Frederick Douglass, was serving as pastor of a holiness church in Houston in 1905 when Charles Parham engaged her to work as a governess in his home. She received the baptism of the Holy Spirit while working for his family. Farrow carried the Pentecostal embers back to Texas, on to Virginia, and later to Liberia. No evidence survives to tell us that she was a good preacher or a sound biblical expositor or even a caring pastor. But her aptitude for igniting the supernatural gifts among others was evident at a 1906 camp meeting near Houston when some 25 seekers stood lined up in a row in front of her. When Farrow “laid hands upon them…many began to speak in tongues at once.”

Celebrating Black History: Amanda Berry Smith

“The color line was washed away in the Blood.” – Frank Bartleman

Without a doubt, the United States has been the birthplace of the modern Pentecostal movement. As we continue our celebration of Black History month, it is important to note that our history, the history of the Church, has been shaped by the contributions of Black believers.

Amanda Berry Smith

Born a slave in Maryland in 1837, Amanda Berry was the daughter of a slave who was able to buy his freedom and that of his wife and five children. The Berry family moved to Pennsylvania where their home became a station on the Underground Railroad. After her first husband was killed while serving in the African Regiments in the Civil War, Amanda remarried and moved to Philadelphia. There, she was born again, joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and received her call to preach. In 1869, she began preaching in churches and at Holiness camp meetings in New York and New Jersey, becoming a popular speaker to both black and white audiences. By the end of the decade, she was known as far north as Maine and as far south as Tennessee. Although she was not ordained or financially supported by the AME Church or any other organization, she became the first black woman to work as an international evangelist in 1878. She served for twelve years in England, Ireland, Scotland, India, and various African countries. She emerged as one of the A.M.E. Church’s most effective missionaries and one of the most remarkable preachers of the age. In the process, she opened the way for more black women to preach in the A.M.E. church.

Check the Archives: Black History Month

We have some awesome articles on The Celebration in honor of Black History Month. We will be “reblogging” them over the next few days so that our new readers can find them more easily! Enjoy and Celebrate!!!

Why Do We Celebrate Black History Month?

I love Jesus and hope my life is a reflection of His life every day of the year… but I stop to celebrate His birth on December 25th. On that day, the whole world celebrates Him…even those who may not know Him or who may not know Him well. If it hadn’t been for the fact that Christians AND non-Christians celebrate Christmas, I would never have come to know Christ myself. I never knew Him, nor did I understand Him, but at Christmas my heart stretched out to try to find out more about Him. Eventually, that celebration took root so that it remains a part of my life 365 days a year. But, even though I celebrate my life in Christ every day, I still take time to join with the rest of the world to celebrate His birth at Christmas.

–

Recently, a dear friend of mine, who is an African American male, asked why we should make a big deal of Black History Month when we should celebrate the contributions, culture, and history of Black Americans all throughout the year. I answered him with this response… 

While I am not black, I hope that my daily life and character reflects the deeply felt respect and admiration I have for the intense struggle people of color have had to endure, and for the many amazing contributions to the world that have been made at great sacrifice and against all odds. I have that respect and love in me all the time, and I share it at every opportunity with my family, friends, and students. But it wasn’t always that way…I remember the very first Black History Month back in 1976… I didn’t know anything about Black History and didn’t understand why it was important, but I stretched my heart out to find out more. I think it’s important to celebrate Black History so that those who may not know anything about it (as I once did not) or may not know it well can stop and say, “That’s important. I have learned something of value. I have a deeper appreciation now for this history and how it has shaped my life.” Eventually, that celebration will take root in the hearts of people so that it remains a part of their lives, too… 365 days a year.

What are your thoughts?

Movers and Shakers

From Biblical times, Black believers have been instrumental in proclaiming, establishing, and defending the Kingdom of God.  Today, when thousands of Black Americans are turning to Islam, it’s critical that we lift up and magnify Black voices in the Church. These present-day movers and shakers are tearing down walls that divide races and are proclaiming the Truth of God’s Word to a new generation of Kingdom Believers.

John Eckhardt

(Retrieved from http://www.impactnetwork.net)

Apostle and Overseer of Crusaders Church Chicago with close to 4,000 in attendance weekly in several locations, John Eckhardt is gifted with a strong apostolic call and has ministered throughout the United States and overseas in more than 70 nations.  He is an apostolic reformer called to perfect the saints by imparting biblical truths, including deliverance and spiritual warfare, and activating the gifts of the Spirit in order to raise up strong ministries in the body of Christ.

Apostle Eckhardt founded the IMPACT Network (International Ministries of Prophetic and Apostolic Churches Together) in 1995.  Since that time, hundreds of churches, ministries and leaders in over 40 nations have affiliated with this network that God is raising up as a vehicle for global apostolic reformation.  As part of his calling as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, he is activating, commissioning and ordaining apostles and prophets around the world to facilitate this current reformation, along with conducting powerful apostolic breakthrough conferences in many nations.

Along with his apostolic responsibilities, John Eckhardt is a much sought after international conference speaker, has authored more than 35 books, produces a daily radio broadcast, and his television program “This Week with John Eckhardt” is seen throughout the United States on the WORD Network and Jones Broadcasting.  He is also founder of the Apostolic Institute of Ministry (AIM), dedicated to teaching present truth, and training leaders in apostolic and prophetic ministry, currently through workshops and seminars, but with a future vision for both and online school, and full and part time facilities to be established in many nations.

 

Frederick K. C. Price

When you think about boldness in proclaiming the Word of God, you must think about Fred Price. On the frontlines of the Word of Faith movement for more than 30 years, Fred Price has transformed the world’s image of what it means to be Black and Christian.

An unabashed Faith preacher, Price boldly proclaims that being Black is not an excuse to stay poor, uneducated, and downtrodden. He inspires Christians of all races to present a unified front in a skeptical and critical world. His most recent publications, a three volume series entitled Race, Religion & Racism, challenges Believers to tear down walls of racial segregation built over the centuries by vain religious traditions of men.

Desiring to reach Black America and the inner cities, Dr. Price founded the Fellowship of Inner City Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM) in 1990 to provide teaching, support, and discipleship for inner city congregations around the world. Always a pioneer, he became the first Black pastor to speak at Town Hall Los Angeles in the year 2000. In 1998, he received the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, honoring those who exemplify inspirational success. He has also received The Kelly Miller Smith Interfaith Award presented by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, honoring clergy who have made the most significant contribution through religious expression affecting the nation and world.

These men, along with many others, are voices on the rooftops crying out to the world, “You do not have to live in bondage to the things of the past.” Their message of abundant life in Christ is reaching around the world. We celebrate their diligence in proclaiming the truth of God’s word to all who will hear. We celebrate the stand they are making for the cause of Christ. We celebrate them and honor them as our brothers and co-laborers in the Kingdom.

 

~Linda Frederick

Celebrating Black History: George Washington Carver

Dr. George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was born the son of a slave during the Civil War. By the time of his death on January 5, 1943, this orphaned boy had become an internationally renowned chemist who discovered over 300 uses for the peanut in addition to hundreds of uses for many other southern crops. Many historians credit Carver for helping turn southern agriculture around after the Civil War. Through the Tuskegee Institute, Carver educated southern farmers about the need to grow plants like peanuts and sweet potatoes to help restore vital nutrients to the soil, which had been lost through years of cotton growth. In the 1930s, the dreaded disease of polio was crippling and paralyzing America. Dr. Carver developed a massage therapy using peanut oil, which proved to help many people suffering from polio recover the use of their legs. Carver was truly a gifted scientist and educator. What you may not know about George Washington Carver is that he was also a born-again believer who credited his Creator for all of his discoveries and successes.

In the book, George Washington Carver: His Life and Faith in His Own Words, by William J. Federer, Carver recalls:

Years ago I went into my laboratory and said, “Dear Mr. Creator, please tell me what the universe was made for?” The Great Creator answered, ‘”You want to know too much for that little mind of yours. Ask for something more your size, little man.” Then I asked, “Please, Mr. Creator, tell me what man was made for.” Again the Great Creator replied, “You are still asking too much. Cut down on the extent and improve the intent.” So then I asked, “Please, Mr. Creator, will you tell me why the peanut was made?” “What do you want to know about the peanut?” And then the Great Creator taught me to take the peanut apart and put it together again.

Standing before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in Washington D.C., in 1921, the Committee Chairman asked, “Dr. Carver, how did you learn all of these things?” Carver answered, “From an old book.” “What book?” asked the Chairman. Carver replied, “The Bible.” The Chairman inquired, “Does the Bible tell about peanuts?” “No, Sir,” Dr. Carver replied, “but it tells about the God who made the peanut. I asked Him to show me what to do with the peanut, and He did.’”

George Washington Carver is an inspiration to every believer. He was a man who walked humbly before both God and man and who allowed himself to be used mightily for God’s Kingdom. We thank God for providing us with such godly examples of Kingdom believers who changed the world forever with the help of our God!

Celebrating Black History: CH Mason

CH Mason

Charles Harrison Mason organized the largest black Pentecostal denomination in the United States, the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), now based in Memphis, Tennessee. Born to former slaves, Mason grew up intending to be a minister. In 1897, when Mississippi Baptists ordered him to vacate his pulpit for the offense of preaching holiness doctrines (sanctification), Mason received permission to use an abandoned gin house for a revival. Like other early Pentecostals, he sought and later found a deeper experience with the Holy Spirit at the Azusa street revival. During a night of prayer at Azusa, Mason saw a vision. “When I opened my mouth to say glory, a flame touched my tongue which ran down in me. My language changed and no word could I speak in my own tongue.” Early Pentecostals recognized Mason’s special powers of discernment and saw him as supernaturally gifted. Mason said of his experience that the Holy Spirit through him “saved, sanctified and baptized thousands of souls of all colors and races.” Mason led the COGIC until his death in 1961.

As Pentecostalism spread, division arose along racial lines. The enemy forged his way into the church to bring separation. As the separation deepened through the segregated early 20^th century, contributions of faith from Black American Christians became more and more obscured. It is our obligation to honor and celebrate these fathers and mothers in the faith. We give praise to our God for their lives, their sacrifice, and their great hope that the Church would one day “come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.” (Eph 4:13, NLT)

Celebrating Black History: William Seymour

William Seymour

William Seymour’s connection to our Pentecostal roots began when he became the interim pastor at Lucy Farrow’s Houston church when she went to work for the Parham family. When she returned to Houston, she shared her testimony of speaking in tongues with Seymour who promptly left Texas to sit outside Parham’s all White Bible school classes in order to learn what the Word had to say about the infilling of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Seymour’s hunger grew, as did his zeal to see the Body of Christ united across racial barriers. Having received an invitation by a Black woman pastor to preach in Los Angeles, Seymour traveled west to preach his conviction that the Holy Spirit manifestation of tongues was a gift for all believers. Although not received well by his host, many embraced Seymour’s message and joined him in a warehouse on Azusa Street to pray for an outpouring of the Spirit. When members of the Azusa street church began speaking in tongues in April 1906, word of a one-eyed Black preacher and his message of love, unity in the faith, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit spread throughout the world. At Azusa, Blacks, Latinos, Whites, and others prayed and sang together, creating a dimension of spiritual unity and equality almost unprecedented for the time. It allowed men, women, and children to celebrate their unity in Christ and participate as led by the Spirit. Surely, William Seymour was not only a father of modern Pentecostalism, but also a pioneer who blazed the trail for racial unity in the modern day Body of Christ.

Celebrating Black History, pt. 1

In honor of Black History Month, we want to give honor to Christian brothers and sisters of color who have helped lay the foundation of faith on which we now stand. As we celebrate contributions made by Blacks throughout the history of the church, let’s also acknowledge the amazing contributions of so many Black Americans to our present society and culture. Let’s not only celebrate Black History Month, but let’s also celebrate our amazing, multi-faceted God who created us all in His image!

Let’s begin our celebration of Black History by taking a look at some important Biblical figures who were black.

Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, was born to Sarah’s black, Egyptian handmaiden, Hagar. Abraham himself was born in Ur of the Chaldees, a land whose earliest inhabitants included blacks. The people of the region where Abraham came from can be proven historically and archaeologically to have been intermixed racially, leading scholars to believe that Abraham was of mixed racial descent.

Joseph’s Egyptian wife Asenath, a descendent of Ham, was mother to Joseph’s two sons, Manessah and Ephraim.

Moses’ wife, Zipporah, was from the historically black family of Cush. Her father, Jethro, was a key advisor to Moses, wisely encouraging him to distribute his leadership to more effectively meet the needs of the people.

The powerful and wealthy Queen of Sheba who visited King Solomon and marveled at his wisdom, was queen of Ethiopia and Egypt. Her role in scripture is to validate the wisdom and blessing of God on Solomon’s life. In doing so, she gave honor and tribute to God.

Solomon went on to write one of history’s most beautiful songs of love. The Song of Songs, metaphorically depicting Christ’s relationship with His church, is the love story of Solomon and one of his wives – a black woman.

Zephaniah the prophet and author of the prophetic book bearing his name, was an Ethiopian and a descendent of Cush, making him the only black author of a portion of scripture.

Ebedmelech, an Ethiopian eunuch saved the life of Jeremiah, the prophet. An unnamed Ethiopian Eunuch in the New Testament became the first non-Jewish convert to Christianity after speaking with Philip the Evangelist. Historians believe this man was responsible for establishing the Christian church in Ethiopia.

The New Testament includes several other important black figures as well. Simon the Canaanite was a convert to Judaism before he became one of Jesus’ 12 apostles. He is believed by most Bible scholars to have been a black man. Another black man, Simon of Cyrene, a country in Northern Africa, carried Jesus’ cross to Calvary. Additionally, Simeon called Niger and Lucius, both blacks, were amongst the prophets and teachers in the Antioch church.

Praise God for all of these powerful figures from Biblical history! It is clear that men and women of color have played vital roles in establishing the Kingdom of God. These saints now surround and exhort us in a great cloud of witnesses, encouraging us to continue running our race with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We celebrate the way in which our God continues to use many different cultures to build His Kingdom! Tune in tomorrow for part 2.

~Linda