The Methodist Parson

The Methodist Parson

His life was an example of what God can do with one man.

FRANCIS ASBURY was born to a poor family near Birmingham, England, in 1745. His parents had been among the early converts of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. They had found God while grieving the death of their infant daughter, Francis’s only sibling.

Asbury’s mother surrounded him with prayer, Scripture, and hymns when he was a boy. She invited everyone whom she met who seemed “religious” to stay at her house. Young Asbury was a good boy. “I abhorred mischief and wickedness, although my mates were among the vilest of the vile for lying, swearing, fighting, and whatever else boys of their age and evil habits were likely to be guilty of. From such society I very often returned home uneasy and melancholy.” His peers often ridiculed him for his principles and because of the constant stream of religious folk at his home. They jeeringly called him “Methodist Parson,” which was a cutting insult because Methodism at that time was seen as a crazy new religion, and its advocates were often persecuted.

At the age of thirteen young Asbury began asking his mother questions about the Methodists. She arranged for a friend of hers to take him to a Methodist service in the town of Wednesbury so that he could see for himself. He was particularly impressed with the spontaneity and afterward said, “This was not the Church but it was better. The people were so devout, men and women kneeling down, saying ‘Amen.’ Now, behold! They were singing hymns, sweet sound! Why, strange to tell! The preacher had no prayer book, and yet he prayed wonderfully! What was yet more extraordinary, the man took his text and had no sermon book: thought I, this is wonderful indeed! It is certainly a strange way, but the best way.”

Soon thereafter, when Asbury and a Christian friend were in his father’s barn loft praying together, he trusted the Savior he had heard about for so long.

He was so excited about his salvation that he became a local traveling preacher at the age of seventeen, while also continuing his work as a blacksmith’s apprentice. By the age of twenty he was ministering full-time in various Methodist preaching circuits throughout England.

On August 7, 1771, at the age of 21, he answered John Wesley’s call for Methodist preachers to go to America. When Wesley announced, “Our brethren in America call aloud for help,” Asbury answered, “Here am I, send me.”

Once in America Asbury was chosen to be one of the first two Methodist superintendents in what under his leadership became a new denomination, the Methodist Episcopal Church. He subsequently changed the title to “bishop.”

Asbury defined the role of an itinerant minister. His motto was, “Go into every kitchen and shop; address all, aged and young, on the salvation of their souls.” He urged all Methodist ministers to do the same. He became a “circuit rider,” visiting camp meetings, revivals, and conventions on horseback.

Asbury traveled constantly for forty-five years, covering about three hundred thousand miles, mostly on horseback, and crossing the Appalachians more than sixty times. He literally had no home of his own in America but found shelter wherever he could.

When Asbury came to America in 1771, there were about 300 Methodists and four ministers, all on the Atlantic seaboard. At the time of his death in 1816, Methodism had spread into every state, and more than 214,000 people in America called themselves Methodists. Asbury himself had ordained more than 4,000 Methodist ministers and preached more than 16,000 sermons.

Reflection

Francis Asbury gave his entire life to his ministry, forgoing a home and a family in order to spread the gospel on horseback. To what ministry have you been called? What sacrifices is God calling you to make?

I will gladly spend myself and all I have for your spiritual good.

2 Corinthians 12:15