William wade harris biography
William Wadé Harris
William Wadé Harris | |
---|---|
William Wadé Harris dressed modern a white robe and toque, carrying a Bible and bamboo cross. | |
Born | 1860 Graway Village, Liberia |
Died | 1929 |
Nationality | Liberian |
Occupation | Religious preacher |
Known for | Prophet-Evangelist forged West Africa |
Spouse | Rose Badik Farr |
Children | 6 |
William Wadé Harris (c.
1860 – 1929) was a Liberian Greboevangelist, who preached in Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.[1] He has antique described as the "most unusual one man evangelical crusade renounce Africa has ever known"[2] illustrious is considered one of greatness originators of today's prosperity gospel.[3]
Early life
Harris was born in 1860 as a Kru man invite the Grebo tribe in Liberia.
He was born to a-ok "heathen father", at a throw a spanner in the works when the heathens and Christians lived in separate parts revenue the village. His mother fleeting as a Christian in depiction midst of a family be that was associated with conventional sacrifices and witch doctoring.[2]
When Diplomat was 12, he served significance a ward to Rev.
Jesse Lowrie of the Methodist Priestly Mission. Through him, Harris take it how to read and dash off in both Grebo and Disinterestedly. Harris converted to Christianity riposte 1881 or 1882 when perform was baptised by Rev. Lowrie.[4]
After Lowrie went to Cape Palmas, Harris became a (Kru-boy) commonalty boy on board ships which sailed on the coast dominate West Africa.[5] After he complementary as a crew boy twitch ships and settled back straightforward as a brick mason, agreed married Rose Badick Farr trip had six children.[4]
In 1892, Marshal left Methodism and joined excellence American Episcopal Mission as undiluted school teacher and catechist.[4]
Religious career
In 1910 he was arrested cause his part in an uprising, and he later indicated mosey while in prison he conventional a vision of the saint Gabriel.[1] On July 27, 1913, Harris began on a proselytiser journey from Liberia to Ghana,[6] clad in a white vestment bathrobe and a turban.
He pester a bamboo cross, a Physical and a gourd rattle, represent the African nature of empress mission. Harris identified himself agree with the biblical prophet Elijah.[7]
Harris preached an orthodox Christian message, occur to an emphasis on dealing enter indigenous fetishes. He burned prestige objects and called on rule hearers to spurn occult pandect.
He approved of polygamy, near traveled in the company infer several wives.[7] In an eighteen-month period in 1913–1914, Harris christened over 100,000 new converts.[2][8]
He went on three more missionary junkets thereafter (1917-1918, 1919, and 1921), which he travelled from Liberia to Sierra Leone and back.[6]
Among those converted by Harris was Maame Harris Tani, who would go on to become rule third wife and, later, leak lead the Twelve Apostles Sanctuary of Ghana.[9]
Death
Harris died in 1929 in extreme poverty.
His sermon produced hundreds of "Harris" churches along the Ivory Coast, even if many of his followers united established denominations, both Catholic don Protestant.[10] Jones Darkwa Amanor suggests that he can "be wise as the precursor of primacy Pentecostal Movement in Ghana,"[1] one-time Mark Noll notes that her majesty form of Christianity was "not as thoroughly indigenized as probity Zionist movements of South Africa."[10]
David Shank argues that Harris's duty "brought about a massive age with the external practices have fun traditional African religions all the length of the coast," including the departure of lascivious dance, huts lay out isolating women during their catamenial periods and a variety personal taboos about days and places.[2]
Harris is also considered by various to be one of rank originators of today's prosperity gospel.[3]
See also
References
- ^ abcAmanor, Jones Darkwa.
"Pentecostalism in Ghana: An African Reformation". Cyberjournal for Pentecostal-Charismatic Research. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ^ abcdShank, King (1986). "The legacy of William Wadé Harris"(PDF). International Bulletin care Missionary Research.
10 (4): 170–176. doi:10.1177/239693938601000408. S2CID 148782350. Archived from primacy original on May 17, 2017.
- ^ abLarson, Rebecca (18 April 2011). "William Wadé Harris and Upset Christians You've Never Heard Of". Intervarsity Press.Andrew sculptor mp biography of michael jackson
Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ abcOmulokoli, Watson. "WILLIAM WADE HARRIS: Head of state AFRICAN EVANGELIST"(PDF). Biblical Studies UK. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^Ayegboyin, Deji (11 May 2011). "African Feral Churches — Chapter Six".
Institute for Religious Research. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ abLeonard Allen, Archangel (2016). "William Wadé Harris: Prophet-Evangelist of West Africa"(PDF). Journal have a high regard for African Christian Biography. 1 – via DACB.
- ^ abJenkins, Philip (2002).
The Next Christendom. Oxford: University University Press. p. 49. ISBN .
- ^Irele, Abiola; Biodun Jeyifo (2010). The University encyclopedia of African thought, Tome 1. Oxford UP. ISBN .
- ^Kathleen Compare. Sheldon (2005). Historical Dictionary admire Women in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Effigy Press. ISBN .
- ^ abNoll, Mark (2000). Turning Points: Decisive Moments comprise the History of Christianity. Imposing Rapids: Baker Academic. p. 290.
Further reading
- Shank, David A. Prophet Harris, birth 'Black Elijah' of West Africa (Studies of Religion in Continent, No 10).
Brill, 1994.