George Whitefield Early Years

(1714 - 1770)
"...Some few mocked, but most for the present, seemed struck, and I have since heard that a complaint was made to the bishop, that I drove fifteen people mad, the first sermon." George Whitfield (More than 18 000 sermons followed)

It is said "his voice could be heard a mile away", and his open-air preaching reached as many as 100,000 in one gathering, the largest congregation before amplification.

Conversion
Whitefield like William Huntington had strong conviction of His sin to the point of sickness before the Lord did His work of salvation, He was only ~17 years of age.

Early Days
While his close friends Charles and John Wesley were in Georgia America urging him to join them. George Whitefield was in London and delayed the journey for a year where he often visited the prisoners in Oxford and travelled around London preaching so that no church was large enough to hold those coming to listen (Just think no advertising just word of mouth)

Finally he took to sea heading for Georgia for the first time. (He would spend another 782 days at sea during his life.) He loved Georgia and would preach many sermons yet had a deep concern for orphans and would collect funds and he also opened schools in Highgate and Hapstead as well as a girls school.

Upon returning to England he was not warmly received because of his connection with Wesley. Yet some did accept him and the crowds being drawn could not be contained which soon led to Whitefield being one of the first to embark on open air preaching in fields.

Open Air Preaching
His first sermon drew 200 people on Kingswood Hill but soon after some 10, 000 people would attend often standing in the rain. (After all this is England Not everyone enjoys Sunshine like Brisbane Australia :)

Although it must have been amazing for him to have so many people come to listen to him preach it was not all glorious.

"I was honored with having stones, dirt, rotten eggs and pieces of dead cats thrown at me."

The mornings attracted 20, 000 and evenings would attract 35,000 And he was my current age only 25 years old.

Only about 90 of his sermons can be found today and they fade in comparison to the likes of Charles Spurgeon yet it was said of him this.

"He could paint word pictures with such breathless vividness that crowds listening would stare through tear-filled eyes as he spoke."

While Preaching as many as 500 would fall prostrate, People were saved during his sermons as the gospel would bellow through the valleys. Yet there was no alter call.

Quotes from George Whitefield
"Man is nothing: he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go to heaven, till God worketh in him to will and to do his good pleasure"

George Whitefields Passion Continues Tomorrow