Head Held High: The Legacy of Richard Allen

READ: JOHN 4:24; GALATIANS 3:26-29; REVELATION 7:9-10

Richard Allen was born into slavery in 1760. As an adult, he put his trust in Jesus. He then asked his non-Christian slaveholder to invite preachers to come speak in their home, and he agreed. One of these sermons convicted Richard Allen’s slaveholder that slavery was wrong. So, he invited Allen to buy his freedom. Head held high, Allen purchased his liberty and began looking for work.

As he supported himself in various trades, Richard Allen said, “While my hands were employed to earn my bread, my heart was devoted to my dear Redeemer. Sometimes I would awake from my sleep, preaching and praying.” It was clear God was calling him into ministry.

He got off to a rocky start in Philadelphia, though, when leadership at St. George’s Methodist Church segregated their seating by color, cancelled Allen’s prayer meetings, and even tried to remove African Americans forcibly during prayer. Seeing no other choice, Allen and his ministry partner Absalom Jones resolved to build a place of worship for Black Christians. Allen reportedly told the elders, “You cannot seal up the scriptures from us and deny us a name in heaven. We believe heaven is free for all who worship in spirit and truth.”

This was the humble beginning of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, as well as the first African American benevolent society, and much more. Richard Allen would spend the rest of his life fighting for the church and for an end to slavery and racial prejudice—in court, in print, in practical service during the yellow fever epidemic, and in preaching. Through his work, many came to know the love Jesus has for everyone—and how He defends the marginalized and oppressed. • Abigail Aswegen

• When Richard Allen became a Christian, he said, “I went rejoicing for several days and was happy in the Lord…I was constrained to go from house to house, exhorting my old companions and telling all around what a dear Saviour I had found.” The grace and love of Jesus compelled Allen’s work for his whole life. Where have you seen Jesus’s grace and love in your life? What does it compel you to do?

• Revelation 7 gives us a glimpse into the throne room of God, and here we see people of all nations worshipping Him together. How should this truth affect the way we live now?

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high.” Leviticus 26:13 (NLT)