Students called him “Rabbi.” His eulogists called him “The Father of Preachers” for having taught and prepared in his day at least up to 90 percent or more of African American pastors and evangelists for Seventh-day Adventist pulpits.
If you ever knew the man, you surely became conscious of
connecting with a life rich in honor, homiletics, humanitarianism, heroism, and
humor. You also knew that he was all about holding aloft the gospel banner of
Jesus Christ and being a “voice crying in the wilderness” preparing “the way of
the Lord” and making “His paths straight” (Matthew 3:3)
The first African American chair of the Religion Department
at Oakwood College, now University, and first pastor of the Oakwood College
Church, Elder Mosely shaped an entire generation of preachers and believers.
Later serving at the General Conference, this man of God continued to impact the
Adventist Church throughout his life, providing leadership at a crucial time in
its history.
Some interesting things I learned about Calvin Mosely
through reading this biography are:
He was born in Demopolis, Alabama. His father worked at the
plastering trade. Calvin learned it too. When he was 15 years old he enrolled
at Tuskegee institute. Calvin came to
know, Dr George Washington Carver as much more than a scientist who discovered
more than 300 uses for the peanut but also as a man of God. Calvin attended Dr Carver’s
Bible study group which proved crucial in a religious way of enhancing and
advancing Calvin’s appreciation for Bible and things spiritual.
Later he attended a series of Seventh Day Adventist Church meetings
and subsequently became a member. He felt God telling him: “You will preach for
me” and eventually he did become a preacher.
While at Emmanuel Missionary College, now Andrew’s
University, his experience as a plasterer came in handy and he was able to do a
major plastering job that needed to be done. It is an interesting story. He
chose to work late one night rather than waste an extra batch of mortar that
his helper had mixed up and later that evening the president of the college
came by and found him working late. When he learned what had happened he went
home and had his wife fix a nice dinner and invited Calvin over for the meal.
This was in the days when generally blacks and whites did not eat together—even
at the cafeteria at the college which was segregated.
One needs to read the entire book but in the mean-time click
here
to read the entire first chapter for free.
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