Aldersgate Revival Sunday or Wesley Day

Today is Aldersgate Sunday, a special day in the Methodist calendar. It is observed every May, close to 24 May, to remember John Wesley’s life-changing experience of spiritual renewal. This day is also known as Aldersgate Revival Sunday or Wesley Day. It marks the evening in 1738 when John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, was filled with the Holy Spirit and felt his heart “strangely warmed”.

This Aldersgate experience gave John Wesley deep confidence in God’s love and freedom through Jesus.

Wesley later wrote: “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
At the time, Wesley was going through a difficult season in his spiritual life. That evening, he reluctantly attended a Moravian meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. Around 8:45pm, someone read aloud from Martin Luther’s preface to the Book of Romans. As Wesley listened, he heard how the Holy Spirit brings faith and change to a believer’s heart. In that moment, he felt the Holy Spirit touch him—a deep, unexpected warmth filled his heart. He came to understand that salvation by faith is a free gift from God, not something we can earn.
Even though we are not worthy, God, in His great love, offers salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we believe in Jesus as Lord, we receive forgiveness of sins, are made right with God, and are given a new life. From that evening on, Wesley’s life was completely changed. His faith moved from knowledge in the head to trust in the heart. He encountered God not only as a concept, but as a living, present reality.
Wesley had grown up in a godly home and knew the Bible well from a young age. But Aldersgate was a turning point. His faith came alive. He knew for sure that he had been saved through Jesus and had become a child of God. He was not only God’s servant, but also God’s beloved son. With that came a renewed sense of purpose and mission.
This Aldersgate experience gave John Wesley deep confidence in God’s love and freedom through Jesus. It was an unforgettable moment that led him to spend the rest of his life preaching the gospel and helping others grow in faith.
Dear brothers and sisters, how is your walk with the Lord today? Have you ever had a moment when your heart was “strangely warmed”? Has God met you in times of doubt, fear, or dryness?
God still speaks to us in personal and unexpected ways—showing His presence, guiding us through His Word, and reminding us that He hears our prayers.
May the Holy Spirit fill us each day, help us stay ready to follow His lead, and shape us into vessels ready for the Master’s use.