Jack Voelkel
Amanda Smith: International Evangelist, Onetime Slave (part 2)
by Jack Voelkel
Part 2: Amanda Smith, International Evangelist.
See Foundations: Thankless Ministry; Overcoming Obstacles (Part 1)
Amanda’s call to preach began with a dream that she was speaking in a Camp Meeting. Then in a church she had a vision that included the words, “Go Preach,” which came as a great surprise to her (p. 148). She began to attend Camp Meetings. Leaders discovered she had a beautiful voice and asked her to sing. She also gave her testimony which made a great impact. And then she was invited to speak. However, she was very hesitant to do so. She remembers,
I took my Bible and went into the woods about a half mile away, all alone, to ask God about going to Martha's Vineyard, and there, as I prayed and told the Lord how I had been asked to go, that Brother P. was a good man, and he said he thought I had better not go, and I wanted He should show me His will.
"Lord," I said, "if Thou dost want me to take any message I will do it for Thee."
So it was whispered to me to read, and I opened my Bible to see what the Lord would give me. Mal. 14, 1st verse: "And the Lord said go speak as I command you." I was afraid and said, "O, Lord, I am a stranger and a colored woman, and the people are proud and wicked, as has been told me," and I wept and trembled, but he said, "Go, do as I command you" (p. 221).
As the months and years passed, more and more her time was taken up fulfilling obligations to speak until it became her full time ministry. Though she never received a salary, the Lord provided in remarkable ways for her personal expenses, her travel, and the education of her sole surviving daughter, Maize. Once the Lord told her to give all in her purse to the offering being raised for missions. Whether in speaking or in finances her testimony was, “I asked the Lord for everything I needed, direct” (p. 237). While in England, seeking to raise money for an orphanage, she wrote:
Up to this time no one had sent me any money from home, but God wanted to teach me a lesson that I must needs learn, so now on good faith I began to pray as I had always done, for I never tell people my need; I always make my needs known directly to God. I prayed the Lord to put it into the hearts of some of my friends (p. 336).
However, the lesson He wanted to teach her was not to depend on friends in America, but on Him. Later on the money came not from America after all, but from India and Ireland!
The impact of her preaching is illustrated by the moving testimony of a pastor who heard her. She relates:
The Spirit of God seemed to fall on the people; it took hold of this brother; I suppose I talked about fifteen minutes, and when I got through I had not more than taken my seat when this brother sprang to his feet, and holding up his hand he said: "Brethren, I have been a Methodist preacher for so many years; I was converted at such a time; I entered the ministry," etc. "I have had a great deal of prejudice against these brethren coming here, and I have fought this subject of holiness." And he went on with his confession. But such a confession! And he ended by saying, "This colored sister, who has given us her experience, God bless her." Then he came over and took hold of my hand and said "Lord bless you, sister." Then he finished his testimony, as follows: "When I heard this colored sister tell how God had led her and brought her into this blessed experience, the darkness swept away and God has saved me, and I see the truth as I never did before. Glory to God!" (p. 211).
Ministry Overseas
At the age of 41 she received an invitation to travel to England to speak. Planning to go for three months she stayed twelve years! Invitations kept her busy all over the British Isles, including the famous Keswick Spiritual Life Convention and “Broadlands” (attended by quite sophisticated gentry). Once she was surprised to see large placards outside a railway station announcing one of her meetings with the words, "Amanda Smith, the converted slave girl, will sing and hold gospel meetings in Victoria Hall"(p. 260). People were not accustomed to seeing a black person preaching in these places but she followed the Lord’s leading, spoke, gave her testimony, and sang – and the Lord used her powerfully. She appreciated the Scots Presbyterians’ knowledge of the Scripture, but observed, “they need to know the Holy Ghost to quicken the Word into life and power” (p. 267).
She was invited to minister in India, and once again her passage was provided, including the extra of traveling overland through Europe. In Italy she humbly exclaimed:
I, Amanda Smith, was really living, and at Florence, Italy? Many times while they were talking, and the man would be explaining things, I was lost in wonder, love and praise at the Lord's dealings in giving me the privilege to enjoy so much that I never expected could come to one like me. Surely it is His doings, and very marvelous (p. 288).
Reviewing her experience in Calcutta, India, Bishop J.M. Thoburn commented in the “Introduction” to her Autobiography:
She found opportunities everywhere for doing good, and during her two years' stay in the country where she went, she traced out a pathway of light in the midst of the darkness! As she left the country she could look back upon a hundred homes which were brighter and better because of her coming, upon hundreds of hearts whose burdens had been lightened and whose sorrows had been sweetened by reason of her public and private ministry.
She was invited to Africa, especially Liberia, and stayed eight years. The Lord poured out His Spirit with unusual power. Sometimes she spent a whole day in prayer. “I have gone to the church at six o'clock in the evening to hold a prayer meeting before preaching, and have never gone outside the door till six next morning. When we did go in for salvation we [are in earnest]…. God converted sinners, reclaimed backsliders, and sanctified and established believers” (p.443). Bishop Taylor risked exaggeration in his statement that Amanda Smith had done more for the cause of missions and temperance in Africa than the combined efforts of all the missionaries before her.
During her time in Africa she met Robert, an orphan with no family to take care of him, and wondered if she should adopt him.
Then a few moments' quiet, as I knelt before Him. And these words came to me, clear: "Is not Ethiopia stretching out her hands to God?" "Yes, Lord." "Cannot you help a little?" "Lord, Thou knowest I am very weak, and I don't know what I can do." Then these words came clear and distinct: "You do what you can, and where you leave off, God will raise up somebody to do the rest” p. 397.
She did receive Robert, provided for his education in England, and saw him return later to Africa as a missionary.
Returning to England, the Lord laid on her heart the needs of people of her own race in the United States. She went back home, wrote her Autobiography, and with the profits on its sale purchased a twelve room brick house in which she established the “Amanda Smith Industrial Home” for African American girls (Digital Schomburg…).
She counted her friends of both races by the thousands. A cottage fitted up with comforts and all her wants supplied by loving hands at Seabright, Florida, provided a place of retirement.
As a final statement, I quote the last paragraph of her Autobiography:
And now I close the last chapter of this little book, which has been such a task to one so unskilled in work of this kind. There has been no attempt to show a dash of rhetoric or intellectual ability, but just the simple story of God's dealings with a worm. If, after all, no one should be brought nearer to God, and to a deeper consecration, I shall be sadly disappointed; for my whole object and wish is that God will make it a blessing to all who may read it; and with this desire and prayer I send it forth to the world. And especially do I pray that many of my own people will be led to a more full consecration, and that the Spirit of the Lord may come upon some of the younger women who have talent, and who have had better opportunities than I have ever had, and so must do better work for the Master; so that when I have fallen in the battle, and can do no more, they may take up the standard and bear it on, with the inscription deeply engraved on heart and life, "Without holiness, no man [sic] shall see the Lord" (p. 506).
Reflection Questions:
1. What limitations did Amanda face in her life? (It would be helpful to list them)
2. What was the foundational secret of her effectiveness as she overcame them?
3. What lessons do you find in her life story that encourages you as a witness on campus?
Bibliography
(Unless otherwise distinguished, all quotations are from the Autobiography.)
Digital Schomburg African American Women Writers of the 19th Century. Amanda Smith (1837-1915).
Smith, Amanda. An Autobiography. The Story of the Lord’s Dealings with Mrs. Amanda Smith, the Colored Evangelist. Containing an Account of her Life Work of Faith, and Her Travels in America, England, Ireland, Scotland, India, and Africa, as an Independent Missionary. Chicago: Meyher & Brother, 1893, found on the Internet.
Christian History Institute. “A Hunger for Holiness; The Anguish and Joy of Amanda Smith” <http://chi.gospelcom.net/GLIMPSEF/Glimpses/glmps136.shtml>
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