John Stewart served in Ohio among the Wyandotte people

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Stewart was born in Virginia in the year 1786. It is stated that he was of mixed ethnic heritage—European and African. Stewart was the victim of a theft during a voyage. This event precipitated a period of depression and alcohol dependency. A Methodist camp assembly was happening in the city where he lived, and he was drawn into the service. There, he discovered the hope of Christ, which profoundly transformed his mind and heart.

DIVINE COMPULSION

He was admitted to membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1815, Stewart believed he was divinely compelled to spread God’s message among the Native Americans. John Stewart served in Ohio as a missionary to the Wyandotte Indians from 1815 to 1823. While there, he partnered with Jonathan Pointer. The Native Americans had taken Jonathan Pointer, an African American, captive. He acted as Stewart’s interpreter and served as his accessible point of contact within the tribe.

STRATEGIC IMPACT

Stewart effectively converted both chiefs and tribal members to Christianity. He encountered significant opposition from white missionaries who viewed him as a competitor and alleged that he was a fugitive slave. To facilitate the progress of his ministry, he returned home in 1819 to obtain full licensure from the Methodist Episcopal Church. On August 7, 1819, the Ohio Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church established the first official mission. The Native American populations were the target of this mission. His efforts to obtain licensing and formal recognition prompted the Methodist Church to establish the Methodist Missionary Society in 1820.

Stewart passed away on December 17, 1823, at the age of 37.