May 24th is an important day in the Methodist tradition, when people around the world remember and celebrate John Wesley’s spiritual experience at Aldersgate Street in London in 1738, during which he felt his heart “strangely warmed.” This was a profound awakening experience which had a tremendous impact on the whole movement of revivals around the world. In some places this day is called “Aldersgate Day,” in others it is called “Wesley’s Day,” and others call it “Day of Wesley’s Spiritual Experience,” and yet others define it as “Methodist Day,” among many other variants in different parts of the world. This same day is celebrated differently, but always with the same meaning!
Statue of John Wesley at the entrance of Aoyama Gakuin University (Japan)
The International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU) has been leading a process of “visibly affirming the Wesley tradition in education.” In partnership with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), many associations are celebrating John Wesley and the Methodist movement on this day, May 24th. To celebrate this special occasion, IAMSCU is sharing the video of students from Methodist schools around the world, singing the song, “The World is My Parish,” composed and mixed by Richard Mainwaring (England).