Hello All. My name is Billy and in the early 1840's, when Christianity was outlawed by the Creeks, I taught the word of God to a Creek man by the name of Joseph Island. By 1842 he had converted.

If you read the Oklahoma Baptist Chronicles, LW Marks quotes, "During a wonderful awakening among the Creeks, a prominent Creek by the name of Joseph Islands was converted. Straightaway, he began to preach the Gospel. There was no one to baptize, and no competent teacher, so, without baptism, he took the bible and preached and exhorted for two years, in the meantime, praying to the Lord to send someone to baptize and lead him further into the light. At that time the principal men among the Creeks bitterly opposed Christianity to the point that if you ever were caught, you would be whipped for "praying". Joseph Island saw many of his converts and helpers whipped, but somehow, he escaped. He moved out of a good house into a small log cabin and fitted up the better house for religious services."

I'm telling you all, he went everywhere, day and night, warning men and women to flee from the wrath to come. The Indian Mission Board, being apprazed of his work sent him $50.00. He declined to accept, lest the knowledge of it might prejudice the Indians against his efforts to lead them to Christ.

During a visit by Rev. Sydney Dyer in 1844, the two men organized the North Fork Church with 26 members composed of 14 Creeks and 12 Negroes.

In 1847, The Indian Mission Association met in Nashville, Tennessee and the most interesting person in the group was Joseph Islands. Everybody wanted to meet him.

Before Rev. Islands death in 1848, he had appealed for help. The next year, Henry Frieland Buckner and his wife came to the Creek Nation as missionaries. Many of you may have met them. They too, were wonderful people.

I thank ya'll for your time and hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.