BGCT receives, displays ‘one of top 5 artifacts from American Christianity’

DALLAS—The Texas Baptist Historical Collection is displaying iconic preacher George Whitefield’s elevated pulpit, one of the top five artifacts of American Christianity and a key tool that helped unite the colonies as well as lay the foundation of the revolution against England, in the estimation of Alan Lefever, director of the collection.

Whitefield was one of the key preachers in the First Great Awakening, a spiritual revival that swept across the colonies and Britain in the 1730s and 1740s. He traveled the colonies with this pulpit and preached in open areas to crowds as large as 30,000 people. Some historians call Whitefield the colonies’ first celebrity.

As Whitefield traveled, newspapers covered his speaking engagements extensively, sharing information with each other about where he had been and where he was going. That exchange of knowledge helped create an information network that brought the colonies together and changed the way the way they thought of themselves, Lefever said.

Whitefield’s preaching also helped encourage the notion of a personal faith, one in which individuals were free and responsible for making their own decisions about God. This idea flourished throughout the history of the nation, he said.

“When you look at the pulpit, you’re not just looking at a piece of furniture that had to do with the spreading of the gospel, which is significant in and of itself. You’re looking at a piece of furniture that helped with the formation of the United States of America,” said Lefever, who recently received the piece when the American Tract Society gave its archives to the historical collection.

This pulpit has been called one of the top five artifacts of American Christianity and a key tool that helped unite the colonies, as well as lay the foundation of the revolution against England.

“Before Whitefield, the colonies all saw themselves as independents who answered to Britain. After Whitefield, they began to see each as together. They began coming together and seeing themselves as a group who had something to offer.”

The pulpit is being displayed in the historical collection’s offices temporarily, but eventually will be moved to the Dallas offices of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The display coincides with the launch of the convention’s Hope 1:8 efforts that encourage churches to share the Christian message locally, across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.

Lefever said the pulpit serves as an inspiration to Texas Baptists, reminding them God has moved in mighty ways in the past to bring large numbers of people to him. During the First Great Awakening, roughly one-sixth of the colonies’ population made of profession of faith in Christ. Such spiritual expansion can happen again as a result of Texas Baptists being willing to live out God’s calling in their lives, he said.

“As we talk about Hope 1:8 and try to share the gospel with all these people in Texas, sometimes we think this is such a daunting task,” Lefever said. “This pulpit is a reminder it’s been done before. One short, balding man sharing the gospel tied together the colonies. Imagine what God can do if a host of Texas Baptists are willing to be obedient like George Whitefield.”

Individuals and groups wanting to see the pulpit and the rest of the historical collection must make an appointment. Church groups already are calling to see the pulpit.

The historical collection’s offices are open, and the pulpit will be on display Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and there is no charge to see the pulpit. To schedule an appointment, call the historical collection at (972) 331-2235.