Wesley, John (1703-1791)
Place of Birth: Epworth, England
Description: Founder of Methodism
Family Background: His father Samuel was a High Churchman, grandparents Puritan Nonconformists
Education: Educated Christ Church, Oxford
Occupations Before Conversion: Pastoral assistant to his father for two and one-half years; ordained priest in Anglican Church (1728); returned to Oxford, joined his brother and the “Holy Club” for spiritual improvement, became its leader; adopted methodical procedures for meeting, study of NT in Greek, prayer, Lord's Supper, charity; dubbed “Methodists”
Experience with Moravians and Conversion: Accepted invitation of Society for Propagation of the Gospel to go to Indians and colonists in Georgia (1735); on way was impressed with godly demeanor of Moravians during severe storm; returned to England after a failed mission; helped by Moravian, Peter Böhler, to realize his unbelief; in a Moravian meeting in London was converted; visited Moravian settlement in Herrnhut, Germany, and met Zinzendorf
Evangelism: With his brother (Charles Wesley) and George Whitefield set out to evangelize Great Britain (“to beget, preserve, and increase the life of God in the souls of men”); Church of England buildings closed to them so used open-air preaching to reach the masses, organized converts into societies, eventually formed the Methodist Church; did itinerant preaching around England traveling on horseback more than 250,000 miles, preaching over 40,000 sermons; extended work to Ireland, Scotland, Wales; Coke and Asbury sent to do work in America
Writings: N. Curnock, ed., Journal, 8 vols., 1909-16; E.H. Sugden, ed., Sermons, 2 vols., 1921
Biography: John Telford, The Life of John Wesley, 3rd ed., London: Epworth Press, 1910; Ole E. Borgen, John Wesley, Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1966
