The Faith of George Washington Carver
Posted 01-30-2015 at 02:53 PM by NT Fellowship
George Washington Carver was born in Missouri toward the end of the Civil War. His parents, slaves owned by two neighboring farms, were lost to him in infancy. Moses and Susan Carver raised George and his older brother Jim.
Sickness weakened the body of young George Washington Carver, but not his mind or his spirit. The young boy was bright, sensitive and talented. He was artistic and eventually learned to paint. He also had a gifted voice, and loved to sing hymns of praise to the Lord. While “Aunt Susan” taught him the basics of reading and writing, he was given the freedom to explore and learn from the classroom of nature. More study was needed, so George left his home in Diamond to study in Neosho. There was a school for black children available there, and George lived with an black couple while he attended school. He did chores for others to help pay for his board. Over several years’ time, the young man finished high school, and went on to graduate from two colleges and Tuskegee Institute, where he later became professor of agriculture. He earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Science.
From his early life, the young scientist had a great love for Christ and His Word. This made George a stolid “Creation Scientist” — rejecting evolution completely. He prayed often throughout the day, and as he studied, asked the Creator (as he liked to call the Lord) for wisdom about plants. This prayerful pondering enabled Mr. Carver to discover over 300 uses from the peanut, which grew wild on the sides of the road. It was considered cattle feed, but George learned how to make wholesome, inexpensive meals for people from them. He also found numerous uses for pecans, the sweet potato and black-eyed peas; and other crops not appreciated by most.
It was Mr. Carver’s love for people that drove him to find ways to improve the overworked soil of the South. He wanted to help poor black and white farmers live healthier, better lives. Hitching a horse and wagon, the enthusiastic young man carried everything needed to hold free lectures for poor farmers. Cooking sweet potato pies, whipping up peanut butter and other foods, George presented a delicious free meal. Then he taught the women how they could use these plants to better feed their families. With growing interest, the farmers were eager to hear from George how they could improve their soil by growing these crops, and use them for cash.
One might think this busy man would have no time for anything else. But George Washington Carver was a faithful member of a Bible-believing church, and taught Sunday School regularly for many years.
Before he died, Mr. Carver’s fame went around the world. Called the Black Leonardo (Leonardo daVinci), his inventions and work to help mankind made him a hero respected by all.
Quotes from George Washington Carver:
"I was just a mere boy when converted, hardly ten years old. There isn't much of a story to it. God just came into my heart one afternoon while I was alone in the 'loft' of our big barn while I was shelling corn to carry to the mill to be ground into meal...A dear little white boy, one of our neighbors, about my age came by one Saturday morning, and in talking and playing he told me he was going to Sunday school tomorrow morning. I was eager to know what a Sunday school was. He said they sang hymns and prayed. I asked him what prayer was and what they said. I do not remember what he said; only remember that as soon as he left I climbed up into the 'loft,' knelt down by the barrel of corn and prayed as best I could. I do not remember what I said. I only recall that I felt so good that I prayed several times before I quit. My brother and myself were the only colored children in that neighborhood and of course, we could not go to church or Sunday school, or school of any kind. That was my simple conversion, and I have tried to keep the faith."
—G. W. Carver; Letter to Isabelle Coleman; July 24, 1931
“God is going to reveal to us things He never revealed before if we put our hands in His…The method is revealed to me the moment I am inspired to create something new. Without God to draw aside the curtain I would be helpless.”
“We get closer to God as we get more intimately and understandingly acquainted with the things he has created.”
“I am simply trying as best I can and as fast as God gives me light to do the job I believe He has given me in trust to do.”*
What an inspiration this man has been and is to me! Using what God had given him, George Washington Carver made a difference both physically and spiritually in the lives of those around him.
--Tamra Lee, wife of Pastor David Lee, NT Fellowship
Sickness weakened the body of young George Washington Carver, but not his mind or his spirit. The young boy was bright, sensitive and talented. He was artistic and eventually learned to paint. He also had a gifted voice, and loved to sing hymns of praise to the Lord. While “Aunt Susan” taught him the basics of reading and writing, he was given the freedom to explore and learn from the classroom of nature. More study was needed, so George left his home in Diamond to study in Neosho. There was a school for black children available there, and George lived with an black couple while he attended school. He did chores for others to help pay for his board. Over several years’ time, the young man finished high school, and went on to graduate from two colleges and Tuskegee Institute, where he later became professor of agriculture. He earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Science.
From his early life, the young scientist had a great love for Christ and His Word. This made George a stolid “Creation Scientist” — rejecting evolution completely. He prayed often throughout the day, and as he studied, asked the Creator (as he liked to call the Lord) for wisdom about plants. This prayerful pondering enabled Mr. Carver to discover over 300 uses from the peanut, which grew wild on the sides of the road. It was considered cattle feed, but George learned how to make wholesome, inexpensive meals for people from them. He also found numerous uses for pecans, the sweet potato and black-eyed peas; and other crops not appreciated by most.
It was Mr. Carver’s love for people that drove him to find ways to improve the overworked soil of the South. He wanted to help poor black and white farmers live healthier, better lives. Hitching a horse and wagon, the enthusiastic young man carried everything needed to hold free lectures for poor farmers. Cooking sweet potato pies, whipping up peanut butter and other foods, George presented a delicious free meal. Then he taught the women how they could use these plants to better feed their families. With growing interest, the farmers were eager to hear from George how they could improve their soil by growing these crops, and use them for cash.
One might think this busy man would have no time for anything else. But George Washington Carver was a faithful member of a Bible-believing church, and taught Sunday School regularly for many years.
Before he died, Mr. Carver’s fame went around the world. Called the Black Leonardo (Leonardo daVinci), his inventions and work to help mankind made him a hero respected by all.
Quotes from George Washington Carver:
"I was just a mere boy when converted, hardly ten years old. There isn't much of a story to it. God just came into my heart one afternoon while I was alone in the 'loft' of our big barn while I was shelling corn to carry to the mill to be ground into meal...A dear little white boy, one of our neighbors, about my age came by one Saturday morning, and in talking and playing he told me he was going to Sunday school tomorrow morning. I was eager to know what a Sunday school was. He said they sang hymns and prayed. I asked him what prayer was and what they said. I do not remember what he said; only remember that as soon as he left I climbed up into the 'loft,' knelt down by the barrel of corn and prayed as best I could. I do not remember what I said. I only recall that I felt so good that I prayed several times before I quit. My brother and myself were the only colored children in that neighborhood and of course, we could not go to church or Sunday school, or school of any kind. That was my simple conversion, and I have tried to keep the faith."
—G. W. Carver; Letter to Isabelle Coleman; July 24, 1931
“God is going to reveal to us things He never revealed before if we put our hands in His…The method is revealed to me the moment I am inspired to create something new. Without God to draw aside the curtain I would be helpless.”
“We get closer to God as we get more intimately and understandingly acquainted with the things he has created.”
“I am simply trying as best I can and as fast as God gives me light to do the job I believe He has given me in trust to do.”*
What an inspiration this man has been and is to me! Using what God had given him, George Washington Carver made a difference both physically and spiritually in the lives of those around him.
--Tamra Lee, wife of Pastor David Lee, NT Fellowship
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