Rev. Lott Carey 1780-1829

The Lott Carey movement was founded in 1897 by African-American Baptists who were committed to a substantial foreign mission thrust – especially on the African continent. They believed that nothing should distract the church from executing its primary objective of advancing God’s mission throughout the world. Since the founding, Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention has single-mindedly invested in Christian missions around the world.

We bear the name of the Rev. Lott Carey, who was one of the first American and Baptist missionaries to West Africa. Born enslaved in 1780 in Charles City County, Virginia, Lott Carey purchased his freedom in 1813. He led a pioneering missionary team to Liberia in 1821 that engaged in evangelism, education, and health care. Rev. Carey became a well-respected and gifted governmental leader as well as missionary until his death in 1828/9. He was also the organizing pastor for the first Baptist church in Liberia – the Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia.