John Oxtoby (

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

d "Praying Johnny") (1767–1830) was an English

evangelist Evangelist may refer to: Religion * Four Evangelists, the authors of the canonical Christian Gospels * Evangelism, publicly preaching the Gospel with the intention of spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ * Evangelist (Anglican Church), a c ...

and Primitive Methodist preacher.

Life

The Primitive Methodist movement strove to return to the

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

as taught and practiced by

John Wesley John Wesley (; 2 March 1791) was an English people, English cleric, Christian theology, theologian, and Evangelism, evangelist who was a leader of a Christian revival, revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The soci ...

. Sixteen years after Wesley's death, the English Methodist Conference found itself divided. A group of zealous ministers were eventually expelled from the Conference for holding camp meetings and open-air services. The Primitive Methodists thought that, like the Wesley brothers, they followed the pillar of fire, rather than rational tradition, and favoured prayer. Chief among the Primitive Methodists' praying men was John Oxtoby, affectionately known as "Praying Johnny". Praying Johnny was not known for his culture or great intellect, he possessed neither. What he possessed was the

faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people often ...

that moves mountains. He was of average height, sharp features, light brown hair and brown eyes. His speech and words were not considered eloquent to the ears of men, yet they were always sweet to the Father's ear. "Six hours each day he usually spent on his knees, pleading with God, in behalf of himself, the Church and sinners." The Primitive Methodists loved to preach, pray, sing and shout. John Oxtoby was certainly no exception to this rule. "When travailing in anguish for a revival in the neighborhood in which he was laboring and when deeply anxious to see the glory of the Lord revealed, he spent many hours in secluded retirement; and has sometimes in this manner devoted whole days and nights to God."

References

* Leigh, Harvey & King, T.; ''The Life and Labours of John Oxtoby - Primitive Methodist Minister'', Conference Offices 1857, London, England. * Oxtoby, John; "Praying Johnny" (his autobiography) * Ritson, Joseph; ''The Romance of Primitive Methodism'' * Shaw, S.B.; ''Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer'' * Whittaker, Colin C.; ''Great Revivals'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Oxtoby, John 1767 births 1830 deaths Methodist evangelists English Methodist ministers 19th-century Methodist ministers Methodist Church of Great Britain people