Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed a wonderful revival at Asbury College in Kentucky, USA. The college is named after Francis Asbury. What’s his story?
It has been a long day and there is much on John Wesley’s mind. The
Methodist Revival has continued for many years now and as the 1760s come
around, there is an increased need to support the new believers. As Wesley
dismounts, he can’t help but notice the friendly welcome here in Wednesbury.
‘Who is the boy?’, Wesley asks of the young man assisting with the horse
and luggage.
‘That’s young Francis Asbury’ is the reply.
The friendship between the statesman and the apprentice is formed.
Over the next years, Francis Asbury serves Wesley and the burgeoning Methodist
movement as a Circuit Rider, helping churches throughout his different circuits
in the Midlands and later, the south of England.
Despite leaving school as soon as he could, Asbury learned well
and read widely, as directed by Wesley. It was in this study that Asbury began
to hear the voice of the Spirit in relation to his later calling. The stories
from America he read of in books, and heard of in his interactions with John Wesley
and George Whitefield bore fruit.
Asbury records in his diary that he had felt ‘for a year and a
half, strong intimations in my mind that I should visit America, which I laid
before the Lord, being unwilling to do my own will or to run before I was sent.’
The Methodist gathering in Bristol in 1771 proved the turning
point.
John Wesley spoke of the growth of their movement, all that God
was doing, the many souls saved. He then spoke of a new circuit. This one was
somewhat bigger than those Asbury had served in thus far. America.
John Wesley spoke of his visits to America, Continuing, he said, ‘Our
brethren in America call aloud for help. Who are willing to go over and help
them?’
Within a moment, Asbury had responded.
Later that year, in October 1771, Asbury made landfall near
Philadelphia. His greatest Circuit Ride of all was to begin.
Ultimately John Wesley appointed the young man he had met so many
years before as his Superintendent for the whole of America. Asbury served
well, traveling on horseback or in a carriage an estimated 300,000 miles during
his time in America, delivering some 16,500 sermons. It was not always easy. He
never returned home to England. Over his 45 years in America, he suffered from colds,
coughs, fevers, severe headaches, ulcers, and eventually chronic rheumatism. Yet
he continued to preach. He suffered hardship, threats and accusations from
others and physical attacks from the indigenous Indian population on the
western borders of this new nation. Yet he continued to preach.
Wary of acclaim, his passion was for the gospel to be preached. His
journal when he first reached America records:
‘I will set down a few things that lie on my mind. Whither am I going?
To the New World. What to do? To gain honour? No, if I know my own heart. To
get money? No. I am going to live to God and to bring others to do so.’
He fulfilled his calling. The church that had been around 600 souls
at the time of his arrival was over 200,000 by his death at the age of 70.
The college named after him is in revival right now. He would
perhaps be embarrassed that his name was associated with the college, wanting
only Jesus to be named. But there would be no doubt to his genuine excitement
as to the revival itself, praying that the result would be that many more ‘live
for God and bring others to do so.’
Further Reading:
Francis Asbury Journal Online
Francis Asbury: Circuit Rider, Janet & Geoff Benge
