Read Part One HERE
In this post I continue to focus on a woman named Amanda Berry Smith. She lived from 1837 - 1915.
After her husband's death, Amanda decided to try her hand at preaching in 1869, which met with some initial resistance from the African Methodist Episcopal clergy, but Amanda persevered. For the next nine years she preached in African Methodist Episcopalian churches, to gatherings of Methodists and at Holiness camp meetings in New York and New Jersey, becoming a popular speaker to both black and white audiences.
Amanda was a compelling speaker and singer, and wherever she travelled, people responded to her engaging personality and spiritual power. She became well known and opportunities to evangelise in the South and West opened up for her. Wherever she travelled, she wore a plain poke bonnet and a brown or black Quaker wrap, and she carried her own carpetbag suitcase.
By 1870, evangelism was Amanda's only vocation. By the end of the decade, she was known as far north as Maine and as far south as Tennessee. She received constant calls for her services at camp meetings, churches and gatherings.
Although Amanda was not ordained or financially supported by the African Methodist Episcopalian Church or any other organisation, she became the first black woman to work as an international evangelist in 1878. Friends suggested that she consider working with churches in England. She responded to this offer, and after a year in England, spent two years working with churches in India.
After returning to England in 1881, Amanda travelled to Liberia and spent almost eight years in West Africa.There she worked with churches and helped to establish temperance societies. Amanda emerged as one of the African Methodist Episcopalian Church's most effective missionaries and of the most remarkable preachers ever known. In the process she opened the way for other women to preach in the African Methodist Episcopalian Church.
Read Part One Hundred And Sixty-Five HERE
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