![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.calbaptist.edu\/cshb\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2022\/03\/gift-habeshaw-ZPNj0vbn0FE-unsplash-683x1024.jpg\")
This series explains how Christian persecution driven by slavery was the reason that the Baptist tradition flourished among Blacks in the American South, as well as on the island of Jamaica. While it is unfortunately true that many of our forefathers were introduced to the gospel as slaves, what they did with the message speaks volumes. The fact that these largely uneducated people could understand the redeeming and liberating love of God, in the midst of a culture that used the same Scriptures to enslave them, speaks to the actual condition of a saved soul. One of the great lessons the Black American church has shared with the world is that God often uses adversity to draw us closer to him. My hope is that through education, we can become more aware of the things we say and do in terms of our display of spiritual fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The overarching mission of this series is to recognize those little known Black American Christian leaders who have paved, and are paving the way for every Christian to worship God in spirit and in truth. We hope to accomplish this by drawing insights from Black American Christians who have had a consequential impact for God\u2019s Kingdom both in this nation, and around the world. In addition, it explores the dichotomy that exists within the overall American Christian experience. It highlights Christian persecution inflicted by other Christians on account of race. It begs us to ask \u201cHow?\u201d in hopes that what we derive from these exceptional Christian leaders will drive us all to be better disciples of Christ. As Armon Patrick and myself demonstrate through the profiling of the individuals in this series, the Black American Christian tradition has often been the pioneering force in church culture. In other words, Black Americans have always had a foundational place in American Christian history and continue to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.calbaptist.edu\/cshb\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2022\/03\/BHM-2022-Student-Bios-1-1024x577.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n_________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out the Student Contributions to this series here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rev. George Liele: Church Planter, Missionary, and Servant of God<\/a> by Hozell Francis II<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrew Bryan: Pastor, Church Planter, and Servant of God<\/a> by Armon Patrick<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. E. W. McCall: Innovator, Educator, Trendsetter<\/a> by Hozell Francis II<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lisa Fields: Apologist and Servant of God<\/a> by Armon Patrick<\/p>\n\n\n\n _________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also find 2022 Black History Month blogs authored by CBU faculty here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why Black History Month?<\/a> by Dr. Charles Lee Johnson<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why I Can’t Wait to Get my Ida B. Wells Barbie<\/a> by Dr. Krystal Hays<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remembering to Forget, to Begin Again<\/a> by Dr. Viola Lindsey<\/p>\n\n\n\n