Lott Carey history

Established in 1897, the Lott Carey movement is rooted in the dedication of African American Baptists to significant missionary work, particularly in Africa. Their conviction was that the church’s foremost task—propagating God’s mission globally—should remain unhampered. As the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society, our unwavering focus has been on global Christian missions.

Our namesake, Rev. Lott Carey, is a beacon of inspiration across generations. Enslaved at birth in 1780 in Charles City County, Virginia, he embraced discipleship under Jesus in 1807, secured his freedom by 1813, and in 1821, pioneered the first Baptist missionary journey from the United States to Africa. Settling in Liberia, he devoted himself to evangelism, education, and healthcare. Revered as a mission and civic leader, Rev. Carey also founded the Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, serving until his passing in 1828. His enduring legacy of dedication, leadership, vision, and resilience steers our course.

Historically, our 19th and early 20th-century identity was as a black Baptist mission-focused organization in Africa. Today, we’ve evolved into a multicultural, ecumenical, global Christian mission community, with African American Baptist roots, offering prayer, financial backing, and technical support to local communities worldwide. These communities are committed to evangelism, compassion, empowerment, and advocacy. Embracing a tapestry of ethnicities, Christian traditions, and faiths, we unite over shared values and goals to forge a better world. In concert, we extend life-altering love.