The Revival Preacher - Mark

Religious men of great influence have come and gone, leaving the world better informed about the religion they sought to promote. The New World was a place of religious freedom creating great numbers of hearers open to new ideas. Evangelists saw this as a great opportunity to spread the Christian faith in the New World. George Whitefield was one of these evangelists; his fame was seen early in his preaching career, in America and also in Europe.

From the start of his preaching ministry George Whitefield captivated audiences. After graduating from Pembroke College he set his mind to the New World to preach his new found Methodist faith. The voyage was delayed so while he waited the Anglican Church ordained him a deacon. He soon after began preaching in London and was surprised that wherever he preached large crowds gathered and listened closely to every word he spoke. These sermons were not the type London was accustomed to. Part of his success was due to his energetic preaching style in which he often danced around the pulpit, cried and screamed to make his point. Whitefield was able to captivate hearers’ imagination by portraying the lives of biblical characters with realism.

George Whitefield took his preaching style to the New World in 1739. The churches in the New World could not hold the large crowds, often larger than the population of the town in which he spoke, so Whitefield began preaching outdoors. Whitefield’s preaching reached all classes of society, though not in abolitionist he sought to reach the black and poor population of the New World.

Though George Whitefield was famous in America he never neglected his home continent of Europe. He was especially active in Scotland, making a total of fourteen trips in his life to the country. George was pleased with the same results as in the New World. Large crowds flooding into the small towns he would preach in. His sermons often went late into or even through the night. One morning after Whitefield had preached to approximately twenty thousand people he remarked that everywhere in town you would have heard people praying to and praising God.

George Whitefield’s affect on the New World and Europe was enormous. He was a large part of the Great Awakening that happened in the New World during his preaching career. Whether in London or Scotland, his preaching sparked revival wherever he traveled in Europe. Though he was often opposed by many who despised his preaching style he reached millions with the Gospel. Many preachers of his day aspired to match his preaching. Even today many look back to him for inspiration and knowledge in the Christian faith.

-- Mark (grade 10)