GREETINGS,
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 Being born in Indiana, and living here all my life, I guess I'm a "Hoosier". Though I never knew what a "Hoosier" was. We know what a "Buckeye" is, but what is a "Hoosier". Over the past couple of weeks, I have discovered an interesting story to shed some light on this handle we have been tagged with. Harry Hoosier was born a slave in North Carolina, but toward the end of the American Revolution he obtained his freedom, converted to Methodism, and became a preacher. In 1781, he delivered a sermon in Virginia entitled “The Barren Fig Tree” – the first recorded Methodist sermon by an African American. Despite the fact that Hoosier was illiterate, he became famous as a traveling evangelist and was considered one of the most popular preachers of his era; leading thousands of blacks and whites to the Lord. In fact, after hearing Harry preach in and around Philadelphia, Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745-1813), a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an evangelical Christian, declared that accounting for his illiteracy, Hoosier was “the greatest orator in America.” Early in his ministry, Harry became a close associate of Bishop Francis Asbury (1745- 1816), "The Leader of the American Methodist Church", who after coming to America to preach the gospel, traveled some 250,000 miles on horseback. Harry began traveling with Asbury, and though Asbury preached to enormous audiences, he said Rev. Hoosier drew ,still yet, greater numbers to hear him. Both preached against slavery, to blacks and whites, plus the Methodist were armenian in there theology. These two facts made Harry less popular in the south, and the Virginia Baptist began to describe those from the north who were against slavery, and were armenian, as "Hoosiers". That was not intended to be a compliment, but I am one "Hoosier" who will receive it that way. "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." James 2:1 May our Lord Jesus bless you today, and remember that you are loved!!! Henry
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Henry DeatonHenry D. is from Southern Indiana and writes these wonderful daily devotionals to encourage those at the Dogwood Community Church located in Paoli, Indiana. Henry has graciously agreed to share these wonderful devotionals here at Without Excuse Ministries to encourage you our valued guest! Archives
January 2013
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