George Leile served in Jamaica

George Leile was born a slave in Virginia around 1750. He was led to Christ in 1774 in the church where his master, Mr. Sharpe, was a deacon.

MINISTRY BEGINNING

In 1778, Liele went to Savannah, Georgia. There, he became the founding pastor of the First African Baptist Church. It was the first permanent church building in America “built by blacks, for blacks.”.

EMANCIPATION AND MISSIONARY BEGINNING

In 1782, George Leile left with his wife and four children for Jamaica mainly to avoid being enslaved again. He fled as an indentured servant. He began preaching the gospel as soon as he reached Jamaica. After two years – he had paid off his indenture and dedicated his life full-time to the gospel. His venue; is a race track in Kingston. He was soon capable of gathering a congregation, buying a piece of land and building a church. By 1791 the new church, comprised of blacks and whites, grew to over 350 members. One year later, Kingston’s First African Baptist Church grew to over 500 baptized converts. Three other congregations grew out of this body and a school for black children – both slave and free. As his influence and church grew, so did the persecution. In 1805 Jamaica enacted a law forbidding preaching to slaves. Because of George Liele, William Knibb and Thomas Burchell returned to England.

ACTIONS WITH IMPACT

They campaigned to end slavery in Jamaica. Liele would not live to see the resolution. He died in 1828. This was 10 years before slavery was eradicated in Jamaica. (some historical writings say he died in 1820)

RELEVANT LIFE IMPACT

George Leile is known as the first black American foreign missionary. He was the first black person in the US to be ordained a Baptist pastor by the Baptist Church. He is also believed to be the first American foreign missionary to contextualize the gospel.

Leile’s ministry is remarkable for a key aspect. He did not wait for the Emancipation Proclamation before taking the gospel to the world.