Sunday Memoirs
Preachers from the Past: Civil War Preachers
James W, C, Pennington (First Black Student at Yale University-1930s)
American Minister, Anti-Slavery Orator, and Civil Rights Activist
A reading from BH365: An Inclusive Account of American History textbook on the Black Church.
Sunday Memoirs takes a look back in the past to find inspiration for the future. We will take time to share great inspiring accounts and building moments of the Black Church and others, depicting religious traditions and spiritual awakenings that contributed to the foundation of the church and our faith today. At times we will share inspirational words to educate and encourage individuals on their journey of faith in God.
This Sunday we will introduce a series called "Preachers from the Past", focusing on the preacher, James C. W. Pennington, a well-known orator, writer, teacher, activist, and the first black student at Yale University. He was an abolitionist minister who worked to overcome slavery through escaping and continuously educating himself at any cost. Although denied his hard-earned educational degree at Yale during his time, he still fought to become one the most influential black ministers fighting for civil rights. From slave to fugitive to Yale, Pennington is a history maker in his own right.
These preachers did what they could during the 1700-1800's to help the community of the enslavement. Although it had been through some hard changes and some endured harsh times in history, the black church and the preacher himself has always been a safe haven for people of African descent during the unrelenting onslaughts of enslavement, racist bigotry, Jim Crow and other forms of oppression and suppression from before the Civil War all the way through and past the Civil Rights Movement. Even today, it still rings true of some preachers and their churches being a pillar in the community. Although, preachers today must ask, are we still influential to our communities and making sure that they are taken care of any every way possible? Can we look back at some of the preachers during enslavement and learn from their relentless faith in God and apply this to today? Its a challenge, but we must ask and face the truth.
This Sunday We Ponder:
Preachers from the Past: James W. C, Pennington
Pages 548-549
Order a copy of the book at https://www.blackhistory365education.com/joannescaife
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Music By: Kirk Whalum, Title Song: Wade In the Water
Edited by: Juels N. Evans, Sound Engineer
Picture: WP
Other resources include: WP, blackpast.org, and BET