George Liele

George Lisle Liele, or Leile, or George Sharp (1750–1820) was an African American and emancipated slave who became the founding pastor of First Bryan Baptist Church and First African Baptist Church, in Savannah, Georgia (USA). He became the first American missionary, leaving in 1782 for Jamaica; this is thirty years before Adoniram Judson left for Burma. He became the first Baptist missionary in Jamaica.

Liele was born into slavery in Virginia in 1752, but was taken to Georgia.

As an adult he was converted by Rev. Matthew Moore of Burke County, Georgia, in 1777, and continued to worship in this white church for four years until Savannah was evacuated by forces loyal to Britain. His master Henry Sharp was a deacon in Rev. Moore's church and encouraged him in his preaching to other slaves.

Liele was freed by his master Henry Sharp, also a Baptist and Loyalist, before the American Revolution began. Sharp died in battle as a Tory major on March 1, 1779. Liele went to Savannah, Georgia, where he helped organize an early Baptist congregation.

Liele chose to leave with the British to ensure his freedom rather than risk reenslavement in the American South. He migrated to Jamaica with his wife Hannah and their four children. He preached at the racecourse at Kingston, Jamaica, where the novelty of a black itinerant ex-slave preacher attracted considerable attention. l. Lisle (as his name was spelled in Jamaica) was soon able to gather a congregation and purchase a piece of land about a mile from Kingston, where he gradually built a chapel.

To support his work, and expand it, George Lisle sought support from London. He was helped in this endeavour by Moses Baker, an Afro-European barber who arrived in Jamaica from the United States in 1783. He converted to Christianity and was baptised by Lisle. A Quaker invited Baker to live on his estate and instruct the slaves in 'religious and moral principles'. To expand this educational work, Moses Baker approached benefactors in Britain. He made contact with the Baptist John Ryland, who became interested in securing funds from British donors to meet such demand for missionary work. He was moved to helped instigate the non-denominational London Missionary Society to help provide for this.

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