Religious Experience and Journal of Mrs. Jarena Lee: Giving an Account of Her Call to Preach the Gospel

"Religious Experience and Journal of Mrs. Jarena Lee" by Jarena Lee is a personal account and memoir written in the early to mid-19th century. The text details the author's spiritual journey and her experiences within the African Methodist Episcopal Church, including her call to preach the Gospel. Through her reflections, Lee addresses profound themes of faith, redemption, and the role of women in the church, weaving in her struggles and triumphs along the way. At the start of the memoir, Jarena Lee recounts her early life, including the separation from her parents and her eventual conversion to Christianity. She describes a turning point in her spiritual journey while attending a missionary service, leading her to wrestle with feelings of guilt and a desire for redemption. Her narrative illustrates the struggles she faced with temptation, her profound moments of realization regarding her faith, and ultimately her call to preach—an endeavor that was met with both reluctance and divine encouragement. Lee's opening establishes a tone of deep introspection and a commitment to her faith, laying the groundwork for her subsequent experiences and growth as a preacher.