In the sixth part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austinand Andrew explore the Wesley Brothers’ heartwarming experiences. They wereable to come to a place of assurance in their faith and accept God’s gracefully into their lives. The Wesleyan understanding of grace is one thing thatdefines the Methodist movement and makes it distinct from other denominations.

History reminds us that the Methodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion that felt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: a faith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared about personal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way to live out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

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In the fifth part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austin and Andrew explore the Wesley Brothers’ time in Georgia. Their mission was to minister to the English settlers and, if possible, work among the Native Americans in the region, particularly the Creek and Cherokee. This was a brand-new colony. Georgia had only been established a few years earlier. This wasn't like being appointed to a comfortable parish in England. There were no established churches, no familiar communities, no comfortable rectory waiting for them. They were going to a frontier.

History reminds us that the Methodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion that felt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: a faith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared about personal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way to live out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

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In the fourth part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austin and Andrew explore the John Wesly’s time at Oxford University, the formation of the Holy Club, and the first rise of Methodism. At its core, the focus of the Holy Club wasn’t just on doing good deeds or following rules. Their spirituality was about the inward renewal of the soul. They believed that if your soul was being reshaped into the image of God, it would show up in how you lived.

History reminds us that the Methodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion that felt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: a faith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared about personal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way to live out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

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In the third part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austinand Andrew explore the John Wesly’s childhood, his time at Oxford University,and his continuous endeavor to becoming an Altogether Christian. Wesleybelieved that outward holiness begins to reflect inward transformation, and thelife we live starts to echo the faith we profess.

History reminds us that theMethodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion thatfelt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: afaith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared aboutpersonal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way tolive out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

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In the second part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austin and Andrew explore the village of Epworth where John Wesley grew up, discuss how Wesley was raised, and talk about his parents, Samuel and Susanna Wesley. The Wesley brothers were greatly impacted by the early days of their childhood.

History reminds us that the Methodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion that felt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: a faith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared about personal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way to live out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

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In the first part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austin Byerly and Andrew Lay explore some of the background information and talk about what was going on in the world at that time leading up to the Wesleyan revival. We talk about the early Christian church under Constantine, the Reformation under Martin Luther, the English Reformation and rulers like King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen “Bloody” Mary, and Queen Elizabeth I, and the Enlightenment.

History reminds us that the Methodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion that felt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: a faith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared about personal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way to live out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

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He has been known as the “Saint Francis of the Wilderness” and as “Brother Bob.” Robert Sayers Sheffey didn’t fit the mold of a polished preacher. He came from the backroads of Appalachia, rode the rugged circuits of Southwest Virginia, and preached as a Methodist itinerant preacher whose ministry was unconventional and unforgettable. Today, he remains one of the most legendary figures in the history of Holston Methodism.

He was known for his peculiar and odd behavior, and he became a part of the folklore of Appalachian Methodism. Sheffey was also known as a man of deep compassion, conviction, and a relentless commitment to prayer. As the stories suggest, his prayers carried an unusual weight. Whether confronting injustice, calling sinners to repentance, or simply kneeling in quiet conversation with God, Sheffey lived with a kind of holy urgency that’s hard to ignore.

Over time, stories about Sheffey grew into a blend of history, testimony, and Appalachian folklore, making it difficult at times to separate documented fact from legend. For many within Holston Methodism, the name Robert Sayers Sheffey still carries an almost mythical quality. His ministry helped shape the spiritual imagination of Appalachian Methodism in this region for generations.

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She was one of the most influential voices in 19th-century Methodism—so influential, in fact, that many have called her the “mother of the holiness movement.” Phoebe Palmer was a wife and mother, a writer and speaker, and a devoted follower of Christ. Through her Tuesday Meeting for the Promotion of Holiness in New York City, she inspired countless pastors, missionaries, and laypeople to pursue a deeper life of faith. Her books and sermons spread far beyond her own community, shaping Methodist theology and fueling revival across the United States and beyond.

Phoebe Palmer believed that holiness was not a distant goal reserved for a select few but a gift of grace available to every believer. Her passion for evangelism and her tireless advocacy for women in ministry challenged the church to expand its vision of who could proclaim the gospel.

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