Organisation
Both John Wesley and George Whitfield were the spiritual giants of their day. Both were unusually powerful preachers, successful evangelists, prolific writers and both carried unstained testimonies.
Their greatest difference proved to be Wesley’s organising ability. He divided his followers into societies, and the societies into classes, each with a leader responsible for pastoral care. The societies were then formed into circuits, which were in turn grouped into districts under the supervision of a leader personally chosen by Wesley.
Like Whitfield, John Wesley preached two fundamental doctrines: the new birth and justification by faith. But he also encouraged his converts to aim at Christian perfection, arguing that believers should be free from ‘outward sin.’
Wesley delivered the eulogy at his old friend’s funeral when Whitfield died at the age of 56. John Wesley continued his ministry unabated through to his most senior years. At the age of 86 he set off for a nine week ministry tour of Ireland which included preaching 100 messages in 60 towns and villages, including a number of open-air meetings. In that same year his brother, Charles, and chosen successor, John Fletcher, both died.
Two years later he preached his last message, on February 25th, 1791. Too weak to continue, he rested for five days before his death on March 2nd.
Wesley preached more than 40,000 messages in his lifetime, and rode on horseback more than 400,000 kilometres, the equivalent of circling the globe ten times. He brought tens of thousands of souls to Christ and left behind an organised church numbering 79,000 people.
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