Richard Allen: Freedom Without Equality Is Not Freedom at All
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. "You must leave this section now."
"Wait until the prayer is over and I will go," softly replied the black
man, kneeling in prayer.
 Richard
Allen earned his freedom from slavery and went on to start a new church.
"No, you must go now or I will call for aid and force you away," warned
the trustee. Hearing the commotion, black Methodist preacher Richard Allen,
a former slave, opened his eyes to see his friend, Absalom Jones, being
forced from his knees. For Allen this was the last straw. He could no
longer serve in a church that did not welcome his people as equals. Over
the months, the black members had been pushed farther and farther back
in St. George's Methodist Church. On a cold Sunday in November 1787, Richard
Allen and all the black church members stormed out of St. George's, vowing
never to return.
Life as a Slave
I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1760. Even though my family
and I were slaves, we enjoyed a fairly happy life. Our owner, the lawyer
Benjamin Chew, was a good man. My family worked inside his Philadelphia
home and was treated well. But when I was seven years old, our lives changed
without warning. Master Chew called us to the parlor. "You all know I
treasure each of you, but my business is failing and some changes must
be made." What followed was a blur. My family was being sold. Momma and
Papa tried to comfort me saying, "Child, it's gonna be alright," but I
could tell they too were scared. They had seen other slave families split
up, never to see each other again. We were all happy when a Delaware farmer
bought our whole family.
Working Master Stokeley's plantation was hard work, but he was also
a good man and we were happy to be together. Our worst fears came true
after about ten years, when Master Stokeley called us together for an
announcement. "The plantation is in deep debt. In order for it to survive,
I'm gonna have to sell off some of you." My momma, two of my brothers
and a sister were sold. As was often the case, we never saw or heard from
them again. My papa and the rest of us were heartbroken. In confusion
and grief I searched for answers.
The Secret that Could Not Be Hidden
We had to wait for the cover of darkness before finding our way through
the deep woods. No one must know of this secret meeting. I followed the
group, wondering what I would hear from the white preacher. When the clearing
came into view, I could hear his message about the evils of slavery and
how God would judge slave owners. Of course, that quickly got my attention.
He said that even when slaves were treated well, the very practice of
owning another human being was still evil. My thoughts swirled with the
idea of freedom--freedom to be and go and do as I pleased. But then the
preacher said something I had never heard before. He said that God loved
me so much He sent His Son to earth to die for me. In God's eyes, I was
a sinner, in need of forgiveness, just like the slave owners. The preacher's
message shook me to my very being. My soul agonized for days. Finally,
I wholeheartedly asked God to take over my life and use me as He pleased.
I would still serve Master Stokeley, but God would be the master of my
heart.
 Church
Will Make Slaves Lazy
"You let those slaves off from their work to go to church, and they will
become even lazier." Master Stokeley's neighbors had begun to spread this
warning. My brother and I decided to work extra hard to prove them wrong,
and it paid off. Master Stokeley was overheard telling his neighbors,
"My Christian slaves are my hardest workers." That being so, he agreed
when I asked him to let traveling preachers come to the plantation to
preach to the other slaves. Master Stokeley even came to hear one of the
preachers himself. He didn't know that the words of the preacher would
change his life, too. I will never forget Master Stokeley's reaction when
the preacher said that God was going to hold slave owners accountable
on Judgment Day. He did not know what to do. He was too deep in debt to
just let us go free. But after becoming a Christian, he knew he had to
find a way to set us free.
Find out how Richard Allen got free and his "first"
in part 2 of this "Glimpses for Kids" children's worship bulletin
insert.
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