The Supernatural and the Circuit Riders

“With extensive research, Rimi Xhemajli provides important insight into one of the most fascinating and underserved topics in the history of Methodism and the period of the Second Great Awakening. This study, which provides valuable background for issues still alive in today's church, will be of great interest for students of both US religious history and modern religious experience.”


—Craig S. Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary





“Although historians have long known about Methodist ‘enthusiasm,’ Rimi Xhemajli has gone well beyond earlier work in documenting the centrality of supernatural phenomena among Methodist circuit riders in the United States’ early history. With thorough research in the works of the circuit riders themselves, this book shows the utterly pervasive presence of dreams, visions, angelic appearances, healings, exorcisms, power encounters with evil powers, extraordinary appearances of fire, wind, and light, slayings in the Spirit, and more. The book offers a needed historical corrective, but also a challenge for contemporary churches to learn from what has gone before.”


—Mark Noll, author of The Rise of Evangelicalism





“How does one explain the growth of Methodism in America to the point where it became the largest Protestant denomination in America by the mid-1800s? The Methodist theology of grace? The preaching ability of the circuit riders? Their targeting the poor and lower classes? Their organizational ability and class meetings? In his thorough research, Dr. Xhemajli shows that the American Methodist circuit riders themselves did not attribute that explosive growth to any of these factors . . . but to the supernatural power of God—the power of God that the circuit riders experienced in their personal lives and the power of God that broke out in their public ministries. When manifestations of the Spirit's power show up among Methodists today, often the accusation is made that such phenomena are Pentecostal, not Methodist. But Dr. Xhemajli shows these phenomena were Methodist 150 years before there were any Pentecostals!”


—Frank H. Billman, author of The Supernatural Thread in Methodism





“One hundred fifty years of religious and cultural ascendency have led many to believe Methodism to be among the ‘safest’ of religious traditions, about as exciting as a four-door family sedan or the overabundance of green bean casseroles at a church potluck. Thanks to Rimi Xhemajli we can see this is a gross misconception. By highlighting the interest in the supernatural among early Methodist preachers, Xhemajli shows how spiritually dynamic—and effective—this tradition’s roots are. Among religious traditions, early Methodism was closer to a souped-up sports car or a red hot chili pepper.”


—Lester Ruth, Duke Divinity School





“Through examining the accounts of the circuit riders themselves, Xhemajli shows that the presence and power of the Holy Spirit pervaded their ministries. He persuasively argues that the supernatural was not incidental to their work but essential, raising serious questions for contemporary Methodism in America. I hope this book will be widely read and deeply pondered.”


—Henry H. Knight III, Saint Paul School of Theology, Leawood, Kansas