Meet the Black Church: Lulu Fleming

by | Oct 20, 2020

Meet the Black Church: Louise Cecilia “Lulu” Fleming

Louise Cecilia “Lulu” Fleming (1862–1899) was born on January 28th near Hibernia, Clay County, Florida. Born into a slave family, she would become the first African American to attend the Women’s Medical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1). Also, “In May, 1886, she was appointed by the Women’s American Baptist Foreign Missionaries Society to serve as the first missionary to the Congo. She also was the first African-American women [sic] appointed by the society (2).” Fleming has a list of “firsts” that gives hope and encouragement to all women, specifically to those of color preparing for gospel ministry. She is a model of one that has gone before them.

 

Fleming’s Education

Lulu came to faith at Bethel Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, a church that was made up of hundreds of slaves and a few Caucasians. It was there that she heard the true gospel of freedom despite the hypocrisy of being born to slave parents on a plantation by owners who professed to believe in Jesus. After completing her basic education, she taught in public schools in Florida. Encouraged to attend Shaw University in North Carolina (3), she did and earned the high honor of graduating valedictorian after four academically rigorous years. Fleming was the quintessential pupil. She then went to the Congo to spread the gospel, but she was forced to return to the States due to sickness. She then went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to earn her medical degree and then returned to the mission field in Upper Congo (Irebu station) to provide medical support for those in need.

 

Flemings’s Impact

Fleming is a classic example of a woman who not only shared the gospel with others but also demonstrated love for her neighbor. The missionary work she accomplished is impactful, inspiring, and encouraging to anyone who seeks to make an impact in their missionary context. Matthew 28:19–20 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”  I believe Fleming took this calling seriously for the glory of God.

 

Conclusion

God is the ultimate missionary. Christ came from heaven to earth to redeem His people and dwelt among them (Jo. 1:14). As God’s people, we have the privilege and honor to participate in God’s grand story of redemption. He has given us the message of the gospel to share with others may we embody the call we all have on our lives!

 


  • (1) Hazel Singer, “Louise Celia “LuLu” Fleming (1862-1899),” https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/fleming-louise-celia-lulu-1862-1899/.
  • (2) For further detail see Joseph Moss, “The Missionary Journey of Louise “Lulu” Fleming, M.D.,” http://floridabaptisthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/lulu_fleming.pdf.
  • (3)  Shaw University is the first historically Black institution of higher education in the South and among the oldest in the nation. It was founded in 1865 by Henry Martin Tupper, a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. Shaw was the first college in the nation to offer a four-year medical program and the first historically Black college in the nation to open its doors to women. See https://www.shawu.edu/ContactShaw/Contact_Shaw.aspx?id=1251.

 


Prayer Requests:

  1. Pray that the Lord will continue to send missionaries into the world to share his message of the gospel.
  2. Pray for men and women to be obedient to their missionary calling.
  3. Pray and praise God for the historical figures he has raised up over the centuries.

 

Recent POdcasts

Does Just Preaching the Gospel Kill Racism

Does Just Preaching the Gospel Kill Racism

Preach the Gospel Pastor Jared Torrence of Covenant Fellowship Church in Glenn Mills, PA joins Austin to talk about the relationship between fighting racism and preaching the gospel. Pastor Jared reminds Christians of the power of God for both salvation and...

read more
Apologetics, with Preston Perry

Apologetics, with Preston Perry

Author, evangelist, and apologist Preston Perry joins the show today to discuss his new book, How to Tell The Truth: The Story of how God Saved me to Win Hearts, Not Just Arguments (Tyndale, 2024). Preston Perry has much wisdom to share about how Christians should...

read more
The Sufficiency of Scripture with Dr. Nate Brooks

The Sufficiency of Scripture with Dr. Nate Brooks

Sufficiency of Scripture Dr. Nate Brooks, professor at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary joins Austin today to talk about a few important doctrines of the Christian faith. The first is the sufficiency of Scripture and the second is God's common grace. How...

read more

Upcoming Events

Isaac-Adams-United-We-Pray-speaking-at-an-event

Click Here to View Now

Recent Articles

Talking to Your Kids About Race

Talking to Your Kids About Race

When Isaac and I travel for United? We Pray events, we try to have a time for open Q&A at every event. I enjoy hearing from people and feel better informed to address their concerns once I know their particular questions. Sometimes we get new questions, but more...

read more
Repentance Is Your Superpower

Repentance Is Your Superpower

We’ve all seen the public non-apology apology. Whether it’s a college president, corporate executive, or government official caught in a misdeed or unpleasant situation, they all look the same. They acknowledge a less than favorable outcome, express wishes that things...

read more
Gospel Hope Creates Space for Lament

Gospel Hope Creates Space for Lament

I’ve noticed some strange behavior from some friends of mine. It has come up in several different relationships over the last few years. They are all intelligent, successful, and pretty happy people. I love them dearly. But these friends are not Christians.  The thing...

read more

We’d love to hear what you think about this article. Submit your feedback by clicking here to contact us.

Author

  • John Talley III

    John Talley III serves as the Executive Pastor of Mission & Vision at Roosevelt Community Church in downtown Phoenix. He serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the Surge Network, a movement of local churches putting Jesus on display in Arizona. He is an adjunct professor at Arizona Christian University. He is a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies and Phoenix Seminary with a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Biblical & Theological studies. He is married to his beautiful wife, Celeste and they reside in Phoenix, AZ with their daughter.

Related Articles

Stay Connected