Harry Hosier Barren Fig Tree Sermon Read

Harry Hoosier, or Black Harry as he preferred, is one of the greatest preachers ever forgotten.

Hoosier was the showtime African-American religious figure to proceeds national prestige. One Announcement of Independence signatory called him "the greatest orator in America." Likewise, after hearing Black Harry preach several times, John Wesley's right-hand man, Thomas Coke (1747–1814), journaled: "I actually believe he is one of the best preachers in the world. At that place is such an astonishing power attends his preaching."

Black Harry preached during the 2nd Great Enkindling to both black and white congregations, bringing many to Christ. He was admired across racial lines for preaching the already-not-all the same kingdom, only served within a church that treated him as virtually-but-non-human.

Because of this treatment, his story is well-nigh unknown today.

He was admired across racial lines for preaching the already-non-even so kingdom, but served within a church who treated him every bit most-but-not-human.

We should honor this prolific revivalist who served faithfully fifty-fifty when he was not honored. Salvation and ministry success should always be credited to the Holy Spirit, but if George Whitefield and Dwight Moody are to be recognized for their contributions, nosotros should know Harry Hoosier.

His Life

Hoosier was born in North Carolina around 1750. After beingness converted in the Methodist tradition, he discovered an immense preaching souvenir. Freed from slavery, he eventually became the "servant-preacher" of Bishop Francis Asbury, the "Father of American Methodism." Asbury answered the call of John Wesley to advance the Methodist movement in America, and Hoosier was his traveling partner. Eventually Hoosier himself started preaching, often to groups of slaves.

The typical social club of service featured Asbury preaching to the white congregations, and Hoosier speaking to fellow African Americans. Soon, withal, requests for Hoosier to also preach to the white congregants became routine. Information technology became clear that God's Spirit was at piece of work in Hoosier, as he saw many converted. Asbury wrote in his periodical that to describe large crowds he would announce Hoosier equally the headliner.

The Second Smashing Enkindling was a fourth dimension of rapid growth in Methodist and Baptist churches. Twenty percent of the Methodist movement's early growth (1790–1803) was due to African-American membership, which overlapped with the height of Hoosier'south circuit preaching.

Upon his decease in 1806, a large crowd of both African-American and white followers ushered Hoosier'southward body to his resting identify in Philadelphia. He was eulogized with the name "African Wonder," which unintentionally represents both the heroism and adversity of his identity and ministry building.

His Preaching

One account of Hoosier's preaching marveled, "His voice was musical, and his tongue as the pen of a ready writer."

Hoosier skillfully used melodic speech to extol the glories of God in salvation, while demonstrating a rare ability to bring hearers to moments of emotional tension. He ministered with zeal, prayed with power, and often dramatized biblical stories to proclaim the urgency of conservancy. At a almost unexpected time, he arrested the hearts of mixed-raced audiences all over the E Coast.

Some 18th-century Quaker communities idea Hoosier spoke by "immediate divine inspiration." This portrayal of his preaching captures the impressive voice and incredible memory Hoosier put on brandish as he expounded long passages of Scripture.

Unlike his white contemporaries, Hoosier couldn't read or write. Only while illiterate African Americans were sadly normative, Hoosier's preaching power was not. To the surprise of many, whiteness wasn't a prerequisite for Spirit-filled Bible announcement; withal, many questioned whether such a talent could come from Africa and assumed he must accept "Anglo-Saxon blood mixed in his veins."

Barren Fig Tree

Yet despite his influence and partnership in the gospel, white Methodists never treated Hoosier every bit an equal due to his race. He was never ordained or formally recognized by the Methodist Church.

Into this hostile climate of racial inequality, Hoosier winsomely spoke of freedom and justice. His most notable (and just) documented sermon, "The Barren Fig Tree," was a clarion call from Luke 13:six–7 for Christians to bear fruit past attending to the diplomacy of the oppressed negro, "lest they perish." With grace and poignancy, he managed to preach to the hearts of prejudiced white listeners without provoking antagonism, but instead producing the fruit of repentance.

One eyewitness account tells of a time Hoosier overheard a white hostess at a preaching engagement declare "she would not hear 'The Black'" preach. Rather than lose heart in despair, he only prayed all afternoon in anticipation of the evening service. As Hoosier stood in the pulpit later on that evening, he spoke nigh how all people are suffering from sin, merely that God has sent a gospel remedy via a physician—a black doc—to heal sinners from their condition. He boldly challenged his white listeners to consider why they would pass up God's physician-messenger merely "because his hands were black." That night God used Black Harry to convict the hostess and many others every bit they responded to the gospel and repented of their bigotry.

Subconscious Figures

Historian William D. Piersen makes a strong example that the origins of Indiana'southward nickname can be traced to followers of Harry Hoosier. While the jury is nevertheless out on this claim, information technology's often the case that the hidden figures of history turn out to be pillars on which nosotros stand.

Although nosotros lack many primary sources and manuscripts documenting Hoosier's legacy, may the remnants of what we have challenge united states of america to bring other stories like his to lite in these troubled times.

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For further written report:

• The African Wonder 'Blackness Harry' Hoosier: A Gospelizer of Distinction by Walter McCray
• History of the Negro Church building past Carter G. Woodson
• Introducing Black Harry Hoosier: The History Behind Indiana's Namesake by Stephen Webb

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Source: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/black-harry-one-of-the-greatest-preachers-ever-forgotten/

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