The Methodist Church in the South had formed strong rules against slavery, and slaveholders. Slavery was deemed to be against the laws of God, man and nature, and hurtful to society." In about 1784, Methodists grew bold as to say that they "promised to excommunicate all Methodists not freeing their slaves within two years." By 1820, however, the Methodist church in the South was increasingly on one accord with its culture on the issue of race, and was advocating a "Mission to the Slaves." Many slave owners used this as a weapon to encourage slaves to turn the other cheek and accept their lot in life. And built praise houses, and recruited black preachers to proclaim the Lord's name, although, with a white monitor to "keep them in line." Today you see many African Methodist Episcopal Churches.
I believe that although slave owners had underlying intentions for encouraging slaves to Christianity, something else happened far greater.
Our enslaved ancestors developed a personal relationship with the One True Living God. They had conversations with their Heavenly Father and He revealed to them mysteries and secrets that only one communing with Him would be told. They worshipped Him and cleaved to Him daily and were empowered by the Holy Spirit to intercede for their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who attempted to endure the pain of slavery in their own strength. They did not endure the abuse of slavery in their own strength, but by the strength..the power of God. The Word of God was engraved in their hearts, so they didn't need man to interpret who God was, they knew God for themselves.
I'm reminded of Romans 8:28 (King James Version)
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
