Filling a Little Space
The Susanna Wesley Story
Susanna Wesley was a simple wife and mother in the late 1600s. She birthed 19 children, but only 10 survived infancy. Her husband was gone often and the family never had much in the way of money. In spite of her materials struggles, Susanna maintained a strong faith in God and modeled that for her children.
Even as her children reached adulthood and left the home, Susanna continued to be a strong spiritual influence through letters of encouragement. The legacy of her faith is still remembered today, especially through the sermons and hymns written by her sons, John and Charles Wesley.
The Legacy of John & Charles Wesley
John Wesley
Charles Wesley
While Susanna’s ministry was primarily confined to her home and family, her legacy lives on even today through two of her sons: John and Charles. Susanna is sometimes called “the Mother of Methodism,” as these two men were principal leaders of the Methodist movement. John became a well-known ministry who preached numerous sermons, and Charles wrote over 6,000 hymns, many of which we still sing today! Learn more and read a sampling of each of their works at the link below.
Generational Faith
On her own, Susanna Wesley had a relatively small sphere of influence. She wasn’t sharing the gospel with crowds of people or traveling to far away places to reach the unreached. Yet, Susanna was faithful in the place where God had called her: her home. The Wesley family is one great example of generational faith. We see this modeled throughout the Bible! Deuteronomy 6 compels parents to make spiritual learning a part of daily rhythms, and 2 Timothy shares how Timothy learned about what it means to follow Jesus from the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother. Children are a mission field ripe for harvest, and the Lord used Susanna’s simple faith to raise up two men whose teaching and hymns continue to bless Christians today. What a legacy!
Resources for Further Learning
Want to learn more about Susanna Wesley and her life in England? Here are some additional resources to explore!
Profiles in Faith | The C.S. Lewis Institute
Interested in a deeper dive into Susanna’s life and her ministry of faith? This is a great profile to read!