John Wesley

John Wesley (1703-1791) was an English theologian, evangelist, and founder of the Methodist movement. He was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, to Samuel and Susanna Wesley, both of whom were Anglican priests.

Wesley received his education at Christ Church College, Oxford, where he was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1728. After a brief stint as a curate, he joined his brother Charles Wesley in preaching the gospel to the poor and marginalized communities around England.

In 1738, Wesley had a life-changing experience that he later referred to as his "Aldersgate experience," where he felt his heart "strangely warmed" and received a profound assurance of God's grace. This experience deepened his faith and fueled his passion for evangelism.

Over the course of his ministry, Wesley traveled extensively throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, preaching to large crowds in open fields and public squares. He also wrote extensively, publishing sermons, hymns, and theological treatises that helped shape the Methodist movement.

Wesley's teaching emphasized the importance of personal faith and holiness, as well as the need for social justice and the care of the poor. He also believed in the doctrine of "Christian perfection," the idea that a believer could attain a state of perfection in this life.