Answering the Call
“Answering the Call” by Meg Lassiat, published by United Methodist Publishing House on July 15, 2025, is a detailed exploration of the origins of Methodist missions. This 192-page book delves into the historical context of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, and his complex relationship with world missions. While Wesley is often viewed as a proponent of spreading Methodism globally, this study reveals his initial reluctance to send missionaries overseas, challenging common assumptions about his role in the movement’s expansion.
Readers will discover how ordinary individuals—immigrants, merchants, and formerly enslaved persons—played pivotal roles in carrying Methodism to distant locations such as Antigua, Maryland, and Sierra Leone. The book highlights the stories of these laypeople, who, motivated by their faith, established Methodist societies without formal authorization from Wesley. It also examines the eventual shift in Wesley’s stance, as he recognized the need for missionary support after these grassroots efforts took root. Through this examination, “Answering the Call” provides insights into the challenges and successes faced by those who contributed to the global spread of Methodism.
Official synopsis Publisher
Learn how Methodism became a worldwide mission.
It is broadly understood that John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist movement that spread around the world in the eighteenth century. He is known for being a missionary in Georgia, his “heart-warming” experience at Aldersgate, field preaching, and the famous quote “the world is my parish.” It is also assumed that Wesley was a proponent of world missions and helped spread the Methodist movement around the world. This study examines this assumption and, after a closer look, reveals John Wesley’s reluctance to send missionaries overseas. The book uncovers several examples of Wesley’s rejection of world missions and occasions when he thwarted plans. Wesley undermined the efforts of Thomas Coke, the Father of Methodist Missions, who wrote an appeal to send missionaries abroad.
John Wesley and the Origins of Methodist Missions reveals that it was unheralded lay people, ordinary immigrants, merchants, planters, soldiers, enslaved persons, and former slaves, who carried Methodism with them to such far-off places at Antigua, Maryland, New York, Gibraltar, Nova Scotia, and Sierra Leone. Persons such as Nathaniel Gilbert, Sophia Campbell, Mary Alley, and Bessie started a multiracial Methodist Society in Antigua-the first outside of Europe. These lay people, and several others, were not officially commissioned or authorized by Wesley to plant Methodist societies. Rather they traveled on their own, motivated by the love of God and neighbor, to share their faith with others. It was only after these Methodist societies were established, and after multiple appeals, that John Wesley and the British Conference conceded to send missionaries to assist. John Wesley was not anti-mission. He was very missional in his context in England and his message of God’s grace was at the heart of the Methodist movement. Yet he was cautious and reluctant to send missionaries overseas. This book offers some reasons for his hesitancy and highlights the stories, challenges, and successes of these pioneer men and women who spread Methodism around the world.
Foreword by Natalya Cherry.
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