Samuel Morris, Missionary to America
This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts.
These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries.  Samuel
Morris as a young man. Photo courtesy of Taylor University.
You have heard of missionaries who went to
Africa to tell the people about Jesus. But did you know that in the late
1800s an African man came to our country and showed Americans the love
of Jesus?
His name was Samuel Morris, or Kaboo, as he was known to his tribe. His
story is as amazing today as it was to those who met the young Samuel
Morris more than 100 years ago. Here is his story based on his own account.
Pay or Sammy Suffers!
The year: 1872
The place: My native country of Liberia, in Africa
"You must pay if you want peace," threatened the enemy chief. "We will
pay," thundered my father, "We will pay." As the oldest son, I was taken
as a hostage until my father, also a tribal chief, could pay off the war
debts. Each month, my father brought gifts to the enemy chief, but they
were never enough. The chief beat me daily with a poisonous, thorny vine
he used as a whip. The poisonous thorns infected the wounds on my back,
making me sick with chills and a fever.
A Bright Light and Broken Knots
After many whippings, I was so weak, I could no longer stand. I was tied
to a wooden cross to be beaten. My captors planned to bury me alive if
my father didn't bring enough goods next time. I actually began to look
forward to death. At least I would be released me from this unbearable
pain. As I hung over the grave they had dug, I could feel myself slowly
dying. Then suddenly a bright light appeared over me! The ropes miraculously
fell off my hands and feet! I heard a voice call my name, and it told
me to run! All of a sudden, I felt strong. I ran as fast as I could into
the jungle and hid in a hollow tree until night came. I now had time to
think about what had happened. What caused the bright light? Who had spoken
to me? How did I become strong so quickly? I didn't have any answers,
but I knew I must run far away. If I returned to my father, the enemy
chief would kill my entire tribe.
As I stepped out of the hollow tree into the darkness, I was amazed--the
bright light that shone on me earlier was still there. It guided me through
the night.
 My
Kneeling Friend
After walking for many days, I came to a farm. A young worker greeted
me and took me to his boss. The boss gave me clothes to wear and a job.
I noticed there was something different about the young farm worker. I
often saw him kneeling on the floor. He told me he was praying to God,
his Father in heaven. He invited me to go to church with him. I went and
found the presence of God there. It all began to make sense to me. I now
know it was Jesus who saved me from my captors. Jesus was the light who
guided me through the jungle and to my new home!
As I began to learn more about Jesus, I asked him to be my Savior. After
I was baptized, an American missionary who was teaching me gave me a new
Christian name: Samuel Morris.
 It
Really Did Happen
I know my story about the bright light seems impossible, but many months
later I met a young boy who had been a slave of the enemy chief at the
time I was a hostage. He said, "We did not know what had happened to you.
We saw the bright light flash over you. We heard someone call your name,
and then you were gone." After I told him about the miracle, he became
a Christian, too.
Who tried to kill Samuel Morris on the ship to
America? Find out in part 2 of this "Glimpses for Kids" children's
worship bulletin insert.
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