This Week in Christian History: John Wesley Comes to America, Martin Luther Earns His Doctorate

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, October 14, 2018

John Wesley Sails for America — October 14, 1735

This week marks the anniversary of when John Wesley, founder of Methodism, set sail for the Georgia colony in America along with his brother Charles.

Coming at the invitation of colony founder James Oglethorpe, Wesley brought with him other members of the "Holy Club" established at Oxford University to which he belonged.

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Despite the high hopes, Wesley's ministry efforts in Georgia were widely regarded as having been a failure, according to the United Methodist Church's General Commission on Archives and History.

"[Wesley] was at times unpopular with the colonists, and a disastrous love affair with Sophy Hopkey only made his situation worse," noted GCAH.

"John Wesley sailed for England on December 2, 1737, discouraged and uncertain about his future. He later said that he was only 'beating the air' during his time in Georgia."