Faithful Heroes: John Wesley

John Wesley is considered the father of Methodism. However, his religious training began as a young child under the tutelage of his mother, Susanna. John Wesley was born on June 18, 1703 in Epworth, England. He was the fifteenth child born to Samuel and Susanna Wesley. His mother is described as “She was a woman of deep piety and brought […]

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Faithful Heroes: Charles Wesley

If you enjoy reading my hymn stories, you will recognize the name Charles Wesley. He wrote hymns such as Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Love Divine All Loves Excelling, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Jesus Lover of My Soul, And Can It Be that I Should Gain?, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus and Christ the Lord is Risen […]

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Faithful Heroes: Susannah Wesley

Susanna Wesley is considered the Mother of Methodism. John Wesley and Charles Wesley are two of her 19 children {9 of whom died in infancy}. Susanna Annesley was born on January 20, 1669 in England. She was the 25th child of 25 children born to Dr. Samuel and Mary White Annesley. Dr. Samuel Annesley was a dissenter of the established […]

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Hymn Story: Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness

Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness was written by Count Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf, the founder of the religious community of Herrnhut and the apostle of the United Brethren. He was born at Dresden , Germany on May 26, 1700. He resigned all his public duties of his noble birth and devoted himself to missionary work. His motto became “I have but […]

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Hymn Story: O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing was one of the more than six thousand hymns that was written by Charles Wesley. In May 1738, Charles Wesley was suffering from pleurisy, while studying with his brother, John, in London. During this time he was plagued with extreme doubts regarding his faith. After taking to his bed, he attended a Bible […]

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Faithful Heroes: George Whitefield

George Whitefield was an English Anglican cleric and evangelist. He worked closely with the Wesley brothers {Johna nd Charles} and together the trio founded Methodism. Whitefield was born on December 27, 1714 in Gloucester, England. He was the seventh and last child of Thomas and Elizabeth Edwards Whitefield, who were inn keepers. From a young age, he had a passion […]

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Behind the Hymn: I Surrender All

Surrendering it all to God is not easy.   As I’m sharing my Rebel to Redeemed story, I am sharing my struggle to surrender it all to God over the course of my life. Many of us have struggled with this same decision.  The author of this beautiful hymn, Judson Wheeler Van DeVenter, definitely struggled.  However, from his struggles came a […]

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Hymn Story: Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Breathe on Me, Breath of God was written by Edwin Hatch. Hatch was an English theologian born in Derby, England on September 4, 1835. He eventually became Bishop of Manchester and noted for his strong mental independence and extreme study habits. By the 1880s, he was a well-known lecturer. Hatch published the song privately in 1878 in a pamphlet titled […]

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Hymn Story: Bring them In

Robert Raikes is known as the “founder of the modern Sunday School”.  He had a driving desire for the spiritual and social conditions of the poor illiterate children in 18th Century England.  This was a time when education was reserved for the wealthy and four out of five children received no education.  Child labor was also heavily exploited during this […]

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Faithful Heroes: William and Catherine Booth

William and Catherine Booth founded The Salvation Army. William Booth was born on April 10, 1829 in Nottingham, England. He was the son of Samuel and Mary Moss Booth. William was fourteen years old when his father died and was already working as an pawnbroker’s apprentice to help support his family. He completed a six year apprenticeship as a pawnbroker […]

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Behind the Hymn: Love Divine All Loves Excelling

Love Divine All Love Excelling was written by Charles Wesley. Charles Wesley was born in 1707 Lincolnshire, England to Samuel and Susannah Wesley. He was the youngest of eighteen children {although nine of his siblings died as infants}. Charles and his brother, John, were founders of the Methodist movement. Often John would edit his brother’s lyrics and words. It is […]

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Hymn Story: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is Risen Today celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the conquering of death, when Jesus rose from the grave. Christ the Lord is Risen Today was written by Charles Wesley in 1739.   The original version had eleven stanzas, but did not have the alleluia’s we know today.  The hymn was first sung […]

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Behind the Hymn: Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages was written by Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady in 1763. The song was first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775. Rev. Toplady father died when he was a child. He was sixteen when he accepted Christ while on a trip to Ireland, however he’d already been preaching for four years and writing hymns for two years. His […]

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