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George Lisle (or Liele), sometimes called George Sharp, was born a slave in Burke County, Virginia in to parents Liele and Nancy.  He was sold to Slave master in Georgia, Henry Sharp, who was a British Loyalist that served as an officer during the American Revolution.  Sharp was also a deacon of Buckhead Creek Baptist Church.  It was there, in while listening to his pastor Matthew Moore preach, that George Lisle came into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

After being baptized, George found compassion amongst other slaves and began to read hymns and encourage them.  Upon noticing George’s zeal for God’s Word and his ministerial gifts, Buckhead Creek Baptist Church licensed George to preach , making Lisle the first Black licensed Baptist preacher in America.  Subsequently, in order to use his gift more freely, Henry Sharp granted George his freedom from slavery.  This propelled Lisle to also