George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and the Great Awakening
George Whitefield was born in Britain in 1714. He was an Anglican pastor who studied at Oxford. There, he worked in ministry with the Wesley brothers and became one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement.
In 1740, Whitefield trekked to North America to be a preacher. He was a powerful speaker who drew large audiences. During his lifetime, it’s said that he preached to nearly 10 million people at thousands of revival meetings – a significant catalyst for the First Great Awakening in North America.
Jonathan Edwards was another important figure during this period. Rooted in the Puritan heritage, Edwards was a Congregationalist preacher widely regarded as one of America’s most influential theologians. Along with George Whitefield, Edwards played a critical role in shaping the Great Awakening, writing pamphlets and leading revivals from his church in Massachusetts.
In 1741, just after Whitefield completed his revival tour of all 13 colonies, Jonathan Edwards delivered his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” which not only inspired a generation of Christians, but it went on to be a classic in American literature.
Many scholars have argued that without the fiery sermons of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, there wouldn’t even be a United States of America. Why? It turns out the Great Awakening came at just the right time. It unified the colonies and turned them to God just before the American Revolution. In fact, many clergymen led colonial fighting units and urged their men to fight for the glory of God.
George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and the Great Awakening
Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWater’s Drive Thru History® TV series and Drive Thru History® “Adventures” curriculum.
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