Biography shubal stearns

Shubal Stearns (sometimes spelled Shubael; 28 January 1706 – November 20, 1771), was a colonial evangelist and preacher during the Great Awakening. He converted after hearing George Whitefield and planted a Baptist Church in Sandy Creek, Guilford County, North Carolina.^[1] Stearns' highly successful ministry was related to the rise and expansion of the Separate Baptists^[1] — especially in much of the American South.

Life

Stearns was born in Boston. His family were members of the Congregational church in Tolland, Connecticut, when in 1745 he heard evangelist George Whitefield.^[2] Whitefield preached that, instead of trying to reform the Congregational church over doctrinal issues, members needed to separate from it; hence his followers were called the "New-Lights".

Stearns was converted, became a preacher, and adopted the Great Awakening's view of revival and conversion. The "New Lights" also came to be called the "