John Wesley was born this day at Epworth England. Ordained in the Anglican church in 1728, he joined his brother Charles the following year in their "Holy Club," which developed methodical procedures in meeting, study, prayer and weekly communion. They and their like minded associates were mocked. However, it was not until he was 34 years old that he experienced the new birth, led to it by Moravians, a conversion that changed his whole life. Embarking on an evangelistic career, he was soon barred from preaching in Anglican pulpits. Although strictly speaking he never left the Church of England, his following spread widely, especially into the United States and became a separate denomination. Eighteenth century England, in moral decline, was greatly improved by the Methodist influence. Some historians believe the mass conversions spared England a revolutions such as took France.
Wilbur Chapman was born at Richmond, Indiana. He became a Presbyterian pastor and evangelist and the first director of the Winona Lake Bible Conference. He founded several other such conferences and authored the wonderful hymns "One Day" and "Jesus, What a Friend of Sinners!"
