John Wesley's Conversion

On this day (May 24) in history 1738, John Wesley was converted.  He later described it like this: "I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given to me that he had taken away my sins, even mine.”

The events leading up to his conversion were significant.  He was on board a ship with a group of Moravians.  They were holding a worship service when a terrible storm him.  John was very much afraid but the Moravians never missed a note. They were completely at peace.  Even the children were unafraid. This impacted John greatly.  When he was back in England he attended a Moravian meeting.  It was there he came to faith.

Wesley became a famous evangelist and social reformer, with the world as his parish. But he himself was won to Christ by the power of a small group whose commitment to Christ was strong enough to keep them unflappable in a storm.

St. Dunstan’s Day,

Today is St. Dunstan's Day.  St. Dunstan’s Day is named for the British politician who, having slighted the king, found himself banished to a monastery in Belgium. There he committed himself to Christ’s cause, eventually returning to England and becoming archbishop of Canterbury. Dunstan died May 19, 988. Three hundred years later another archbishop of Canterbury, William Courtenay, ruled. Courtenay was outraged by John Wycliffe, "We are saved," he said, "by faith in Christ, Scripture alone being our authority." He pre-Luthered Luther, and thus is called The Morning Star of the Reformation. Finally Courtenay summoned a special committee to examine Wycliffe’s teachings, to condemn and destroy the Bible teacher. They convened on St. Dunstan’s Day, May 19, 1382. While they were gathered a powerful earthquake hit.  The committee members were afraid and thought they better leave Wycliffe alone.  But the archbishop’s meeting has ever since been known in English history as the Earthquake Synod. Reminds me of the Scripture: "God is our refuge and strength, a well-proven help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2).

William Carey

Today is the day in history May 12, 1792, that William Carey wrote his book "An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians, to use means for the Conversion of the Heathens in which the Religious State of the Different Nations of the World, the Success of Former Undertakings, and the Practicability of Further Undertakings, are Considered". (Not a very catchy title!).  It was written in response to a rebuke given to him when he became concerned for lost people in other parts of the world.  The rebuke was, “Young man, sit down! When God pleases to convert the heathen, he’ll do it without consulting you or me.”

Despite its unwieldy title, this 87-page book became a classic in Christian history that deserves a place alongside Luther’s Ninety-five Theses in its influence on subsequent church history. It led to the formation of a missionary society and William Carey became the Father of Modern Missions,