"Jarena Lee"(1783-?)

Was a 19-century woman who left behind an eloquent account of her relgious experience.She was

was also the first woman authorized to preach by Richard Allen,founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1819.Despite Richard blessing,Jarena contributed to face hostility to her ministry because was black and a woman.She became a traveling minister,traveling thousands of miles on foot.In one year alone,she traveled two thousand miles three hundred and twenty-fivel miles,and preached one hundred and seventy-eight sermons.Jarena importance is threefold.First,she exemplifies the 19-century American relgious movement's focus on personal holiness and sanctification.Second,she left a detailed account of her life to faith that serves as a valuable primary source.Third,she she became and eloquent witness to her faith and a pioneer for women seeking license to preach in the Methodist traditions.Jarena was born in Cape May,New Jersey and went to live as a servant maid at a young age.She states her parents did not provide relgious instructions,she was later exposed Christian teachings and felt herself to be a "wretched sinner."She strugged with sudcidal thoughs and fantasiized about drowning herself on at least several occasions (per account).Through prayer,she finally felt justified and was baptized.After three months of constant prayer,she felt she had been fully sanctified by the Holy Spirit.Jarena soon started hearing voices telling her to "Go preach the gospel;I will put words in your mouth."She soon told Richard that god had spoken to her commanded her to preach,but he said that there was no provision for women preachers in the Methodist Church.."This did not stop her from pursuing her call."If man may preach,because the Savior died for him,why not the woman,seeing he died for her also?Is he not a whole Savior,instead of half of one?"Richard still refused,but eight years later during a Sunday service at the Mother Brothel the preacher seemed to loose spirit.Jarena stepped up and began to preach,the crowd was very intrigued to what she had to say.Relgious belief,especially in god's divine protection,became a source of self empowerment for Jarena.She came to Philadelphia as a teenager and was changed when she heard a passionate sermon given by Richard Allen.She married Joseph Lee in 1811,seven years later since joining Philadelphia's Mother Bethel.Joseph was a pastor of a Society at Snow Hill.Snow Hill was six miles from Philadelphia.Jarena moved to Snow Hill with her husband,but was unsure because she knew no one there besides her husband.She found at Snow Hill that she did not find the same closeness that she had in Philadelphia.During their marriage her husband did not want her to preach,so she felt forced to put her spiritual needs on hold for her marriage.It is said that by her not fully committed to her spiritual needs resulted in her becoming ill and sense of discontent.Joseph passed away six years into their marriage.Soon after Jarena was fully devoted to relgious concerns,but her ill health never recovered.