top of page

"Who preached the first Methodist sermon in America?" - by Rev. Weldon Bares

  • Jun 5, 2025
  • 1 min read

Have you ever heard of Philip Embury? He was born in Ireland and became a Christian when he was a young person. Shortly afterwards, he started preaching about Christ in the villages near his home. Several years later, he immigrated to America, arriving in New York on August 10, 1760.

Philip was a Methodist, but very few Methodists were in America at the time. In fact, none could be found in New York. He started working as a teacher and a carpenter. In the process, he neglected doing the Lord’s work.

But then one day an elderly woman by the name of Barbara Heck spoke to him. She told Philip that he needed to preach to those around him, because their eternal destiny depended upon it. He later said that her words fell on him like “the sound of the archangel’s trumpet.”

He responded to her that he had no place to preach. Barbara told him to use his own house. He decided to do that very thing.

Five people showed up on the first Sunday and Philip preached to them. Some people claim that this was the first Methodist sermon in America.

The story of Philip Embury reminds me that believers are called to share the good news of Christ with those around us, whatever the circumstances, wherever we might find ourselves.

The Apostle Paul encouraged us to “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season.” (II Timothy 4:2)

Philip Embury and Barbara Heck have shown us the way!

 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All
"Lost in Hanoi" by Rev. Weldon Bares

I recently spent a couple of weeks on a small group tour of Vietnam. In my sermon on Sunday, I told our congregation about an experience I had in Hanoi one day. I had left our group to do some explori

 
 
 

7 Comments


Sam Carter
Sam Carter
7 hours ago

I found the historical focus of this article really engaging, especially the discussion about who may have delivered the first Methodist sermon in America and the context surrounding those early gatherings. It’s fascinating how events that seemed relatively small at the time can end up playing such an important role in shaping a larger religious movement over generations. I also wondered how much of this history has been preserved through written records versus local traditions that were passed down over time. Looking back at the development of communities, institutions, and social networks from these early beginnings raises questions that extend far beyond religion and sometimes even touch on topics connected to Economics Dissertation Ideas, where the long-term influence of historical…

Like

Miller Jack
Miller Jack
May 29

I found this article quite engaging, especially the discussion about Robert Strawbridge preaching one of the earliest Methodist sermons in America from his home in Maryland. That detail made the history feel more personal and grassroots. While reading, I was also juggling some research and came across resources like Assignment Help Australia, including New Assignment Help Australia, which oddly connected to how people today still seek guidance in different forms. It makes me wonder how early religious gatherings shaped community learning compared to how we approach knowledge-sharing now.

Like

jopaxa1806
Dec 27, 2025

Top jewellers in Lajpat Nagar are known for certified purity, creative designs, and trusted service.

Like

Aniket Sharma
Aniket Sharma
Jun 12, 2025

What an inspiring story. If you're as intrigued as I am about solutions blog, I highly recommend checking out my latest blog post. Looking to enhance your health with trusted Ayurvedic solutions? You can buy Patanjali Divya Amla Rasayan, buy Patanjali Divya Dhara, and buy Patanjali Divya Eyegrit Gold right now to experience the ancient wisdom of India in modern, easy-to-use forms. Patanjali, a brand synonymous with Ayurvedic healing and holistic wellness, has become a household name for those seeking nature-based alternatives to conventional medicines, and these three products showcase the breadth and depth of what traditional Indian remedies can offer. Let’s start with Divya Amla Rasayan, a rejuvenating formulation that taps into the potent benefits of amla, also known as…

Like

Aniket Sharma
Aniket Sharma
Jun 12, 2025

Thank you, Rev. Bares, for sharing this powerful piece of history and encouraging us all to be bold in living out our faith! If you're as intrigued as I am about solutions blog, I highly recommend checking out my latest blog post. If you're exploring cutting-edge infrastructure solutions for temperature-sensitive or sterile environments, whether in manufacturing, storage, or healthcare, you’ll want to examine the role of small industrial shed, modular cleanroom wall panels, and the latest applications of PUF panels that are transforming the way we think about building materials. At the heart of this transformation is PUF (Polyurethane Foam) panel technology, which has evolved far beyond its initial utility to now support sophisticated, high-performance environments. For small industrial sheds, PUF…

Like
bottom of page