“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” — Mark 16:15

In the early years of the settlement of this area of Mississippi, there were men of great courage, determination, and commitment who gave themselves to the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of all mankind. These men were the “Methodist Circuit Riders” who established preaching points throughout the wilderness that was America in its early years. 

Their dedication to the great commission was as unswerving as was their faith in God. They served with meager financial support, if any, and without the possibility of promotion, without the recognition or gratitude of the world around them. They did not give themselves merely to preaching, but to God’s purpose.

 To say that they lived their lives surrounded by difficulty would be a gross understatement; yet live they did, and serve they did, and because of their undaunted spirit the wilderness of America was brought to the altar of God and the seeds of Christianity were planted on fertile soil. We, owe those men a great debt of gratitude for their sacrifice on behalf of the salvation of our ancestors, and the for being God’s instruments as they spread the Gospel. We stand on very broad shoulders indeed [Hebrew’s 12:1].

Where are the men, and women too, who are willing to take to the path of God armed and equipped with little more than His Word and His promise? Where is the determination and heart for God that men like Wesley, Asbury, Coke, Houston, Winans, Cartwright, Gibson and many others possessed?

Where is the spirit that the men and women of those times exhibited by establishing preaching circuits in the wilderness that became churches throughout this land? Walking and riding horseback through the woods and across the streams to hear God’s word proclaimed, they came and they stayed, they stayed the course with God. Today we have every convenience and yet we can’t be bothered with more than an hour or maybe two a week for our God. Where is the spirit of the Circuit Rider, and of his congregations? Where indeed?

I say it lies buried in the hearts of men and women like you and me, buried beneath decades of hearing “smooth things” from the pulpit that soothed our consciences and gave us false hope.

Rev. Bobby Thornhill is a retired pastor.