Jarena Lee was an African American preacher and missionary, and the first woman to preach within the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the first independent Black denomination in the United States. Despite living in a time when both her race and gender produced significant limitations, Jarena’s spiritual conviction and resilience allowed her to break barriers.  

In 1783, Jarena was born in Cape May, NJ. Little is known about her early life, but by the age of 20, she felt a strong calling to ministry. Like the calling of The Salvation Army’s co-founder, Catherine Booth, Jarena’s journey to become a preacher, nearly a century later, was difficult. She faced substantial opposition from within the AME Church, which at the time did not allow women to preach. She remained undeterred and in time found support from the church’s founder, Bishop Richard Allen. He recognized her talent and encouraged her to continue speaking. 

Jarena’s deep commitment to her faith resulted from a dramatic conversion experience. She often suffered from intense feelings of despair and guilt, and turned to prayer for comfort. Following one of these episodes, she testified to a spiritual experience that overwhelmed her with peace and purpose. Soon afterward, she felt a divine calling to preach.  

In 1819, Jarena preached her first official sermon in an AME church, marking a historic moment as the first woman in the denomination to do so. Over the years, she traveled across the northeastern United States, often on foot, preaching to Black and white congregations alike. Despite facing criticism and prejudice, she was widely respected for her eloquence and religious insight. Her sermons resonated with people from all walks of life. 

In 1836, she published an autobiography titled “The Life and Religious Experience of Jarena Lee,” making her one of the first Black women to publish her own life story. The autobiography not only offered insights into personal struggles and her spiritual journey but also provided a rare glimpse into the experiences of Black women in the early 19th century. 

Jarena exemplified a life lived by perseverance against all odds. She worked within and beyond the limitations imposed by society to pursue her calling. She put feet to her faith! 

Today, Jarena is revered not only as a pioneering preacher but also as a symbol of strength for all Christian communities. Her legacy lives on in the lives of women who continue to struggle for equality, freedom, and the right to pursue their convictions, regardless of societal barriers they may face. 

So What?

Is your life showing courage, faith, and the enduring power of conviction? Are you putting feet to your faith?