Betsey Stockton: Educator and Influencer

“Betsey believed with all her coronary heart that it’s the sacred responsibility of Christians to supply themselves in humble obedience to God’s name to hold out His plan of salvation via Jesus Christ for the world.” Betsy’s life attested to the depth of this conviction. She grew to become the primary single girl to exit as a missionary within the trendy period.

Betsey Stockton was born in Princeton, New Jersey in 1798. She was given to Reverend Inexperienced, president of the School of New Jersey (now Princeton College), at an early age to work as a home slave. Dr. Inexperienced invited her to attend night courses on the faculty. She developed a love for each studying and educating.

In 1815, a revival broke out on campus and Betsey surrendered her life to Christ, then was baptized at Princeton’s First Presbyterian Church. It was the start of a brand new journey.

Quickly after deciding to comply with Christ, the Inexperienced’s had been decided to grant Betsey her freedom. Sadly, their want to launch her from service was hindered by a legislation requiring gradual emancipation – a legislation which didn’t go into impact till 1825. So, she grew to become a paid worker as an alternative. She stayed on with the Inexperienced’s and continued her training. Throughout this time, she sensed God calling her to take His Phrase to those that had by no means heard.

Betsey’s alternative got here when the American Board of Commissions for Overseas Missions supplied her a ministry place in Hawaii. Though the mission board paid most of the bills, missionaries had been anticipated to contribute their very own cash, as properly. Decided to go to Hawaii, Betsey saved her wages. The Inexperienced’s additionally contributed cash to assist her pursue God’s plan.

Betsey and her staff arrived in Hawaii in 1823, and he or she instantly started studying the native language. She satisfied her staff chief to permit her to create a faculty for the Maka’ainana – the frequent individuals. Her subsequent hurdle was serving to native chiefs perceive the worth of teaching the “frequent individuals.” A yr later, with permission from the chieftains, Betsey was educating historical past, English, Latin and algebra. She didn’t see her duties as “non secular” however the training she offered, significantly studying and writing, allowed individuals entry to God’s Phrase and non secular truths.

In 1825, one among Betsey’s teammates fell unwell they usually had been compelled to return to america. Earlier than leaving, she skilled Hawaiian academics to proceed education the youngsters. By 1826, 8000 Hawaiians had been educated due to her devotion.

After caring for her dying good friend, Betsey returned to educating – this time at Grape Island, Canada, the place she established a faculty for Native American kids. When she returned to Princeton in later years, she not solely continued educating however helped set up the primary African American Presbyterian Church (now often known as Witherspoon Avenue Presbyterian Church). This location grew to become an evening college assembly place the place she satisfied Princeton seminary college students to show African American historical past, English, literature and math.

Betsey Stockton died in 1865, abandoning many college students who admired her and had been influenced by her unwavering stand for Christ. This pioneer missionary modeled humble obedience and sacrificial love for individuals who knew her and all generations to come back.

“I at all times knew that the human coronary heart was a sink of sin, and that mine is crammed with it: bit I didn’t know, till now, that the sink was and not using a backside.”  

– Betsey Stockton

*Biographical data taken from “Missionaries You Ought to Know: Betsey Stockton” by Lesley Hildreth, imb.org/2018/04/24/missionaries-betsey-stockton/