The Wesleyan Church

Our prayer journey brings us to a denomination whose leaders have walked alongside World Methodist Evangelism for many years as beloved partners in the gospel: The Wesleyan Church.

The Wesleyan Church traces its roots to 1843, when the Wesleyan Methodist Connection was formed at an organizing conference in Utica, New York, by ministers and laymen who separated from the Methodist Episcopal Church — primarily over their fierce opposition to slavery. From its earliest days, the church championed both the gospel of personal holiness and the call to social justice, ordaining women to Christian ministry and advocating for women’s rights long before either was common practice. In 1968, the Wesleyan Methodist Church united with the Pilgrim Holiness Church to form The Wesleyan Church as it exists today — a vital, growing, and globally engaged denomination.

The Wesleyan Church is active in nearly 100 nations, with approximately 1,731 member churches in the United States and Canada and nearly 5,000 congregations worldwide, claiming over 600,000 worshippers, including more than 194,000 in North America. Through local churches, church planting, education, disaster response, and global partnerships, the church continues to pursue its mission of “transforming lives, churches, and communities through the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ.”

The Wesleyan Church operates five colleges and universities in North America and many Bible colleges, ministerial institutes, hospitals, and clinics in other countries, and its publishing house distributes books, literature, and Sunday school curriculum in both English and Spanish. Its Global Partners mission organization has planted churches across the world, with 179 international church plants in a single recent year and more than 31,000 new believers outside North America coming to faith.

World Methodist Evangelism is profoundly grateful for the partnership of The Wesleyan Church. Over the years, leaders including Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, Rev. Kimberly Gladdon, Dr. Dave Smith, Rev. Zach Szmara, Rev. Chase Stancle, and Dr. Luigi Penaranda have served on the WME Board of Directors and provided teaching and leadership at our Order of the FLAME gatherings across the United States. Their faithfulness is a gift to the whole Wesleyan family.

A Prayer

Gracious God, we give You thanks for The Wesleyan Church — for its long history of courage, holiness, and compassionate witness that stretches back more than 180 years. We thank You for leaders who have stood for justice, proclaimed the gospel of entire sanctification, and carried Your love to nearly 100 nations of the world. We pray for every Wesleyan congregation — in small towns and great cities, in North America and across the globe — that each might be a community of grace and transformation. Bless their work as they plant churches, train leaders, and reach those who have not yet heard the good news. We are especially grateful for the Wesleyan leaders who have served alongside World Methodist Evangelism — may their investment in our shared mission bear fruit for generations to come. Amen.