The Francis Asbury Society (FAS) was incorporated in the State of Kentucky on May 24, 1983, two hundred and forty-five years from the date of John Wesley’s experience at Aldersgate, with a purpose “to spread the message of Scriptural holiness to the ends of the earth in accordance with the Great Commission.” Dr. Dennis F. Kinlaw and Dr. Harold Burgess, our co-founders, initially combined two efforts to create the Francis Asbury Society: publishing and evangelism.

The publishing effort has been centered in the Francis Asbury Press (FAP), organized in May 1980 by Harold Burgess, Dennis F. Kinlaw and Richard Edwards, which preceded the organization of FAS. Pentecostal Grace, by Laurence Wood, was the first book published. From 1984 to 1991, FAP was an extension of Zondervan Publishing Company. Over the years, the imprint has been managed by Evangel Press and by Warner Press as well. In 2016, the imprint returned fully to FAS management.

More than 50 books of theological and devotional nature, as well as reprints of older holiness material, have been published through FAP. Thousands of pamphlets and books have been given away annually for the edification and encouragement of the body of Christ. Throughout its ministry, the Francis Asbury Society has made available to its members audio and video recordings, especially providing videos of FAS retreats and Bible studies.

As our membership grew, we started sending a bi-monthly publication, The High Calling, to exhort, enlighten, and encourage readers to live happy and holy lives, fully devoted to God. Though it was subscription-based for several years in the past, this popular, engaging publication is now a free expression of our ministry.

More recently, due to the popularity and lesser expense of emailed communications, FAS has sent Ministry Matters, at first monthly and now a bi-monthly electronic newsletter emailed in between issues of The High Calling. Intentionally a double entendre, this newsletter seeks to nurture our covenant relationships by informing our Society about ministry happenings as well as by inspiring and supporting those in Christian ministry, whether pastors or laity.

Thus, the Francis Asbury Press, as the publishing arm of the Francis Asbury Society, continues to produce material that is scholarly, ministerial, and popular.

At the time of its incorporation, FAS’s other substantial effort was in evangelism, initially focused on supporting Dr. Kinlaw’s speaking ministry and commitment to Christian education. The evangelistic ministry quickly expanded into a group of itinerant evangelists who conduct revivals, retreats, and pastors’ conferences, specifically calling the church, both laity and leadership, into a deeper commitment of Christian Holiness.

Understanding the need for discipleship ministry that follows evangelism, FAS expanded its ministry to give significant attention to Bible studies, mentoring relationships, and retreat ministries geared toward pastors, lay leaders, missionaries, and educators. Many Society members, especially the Covenant Fellowship, a recognized network of FAS supporters who fully subscribe to the discipleship essentials promoted by FAS, faithfully return every year to our annual retreat held at The Hemlock Inn in North Carolina. These retreats have become an essential and spiritually beneficial getaway for many.

Through the Francis Asbury Institute, FAS also has sponsored conferences designed for theological educators to encourage, edify, and address issues of the Christian life. FAS has been committed to taking the message of a pure heart to students in theological and undergraduate schools of North America, as well as internationally.

Our most recent initiative is Empower the Nations, a collaborative objective to start an international discipleship program to raise reproducing discipleship groups who covenant to live transformed, holy lives among the nations. The goal of this initiative is to train international covenant leaders to go throughout the world and start covenant discipleship groups among their own nations so that more lives are transformed by the self-giving love of God to be wholly devoted to God.

FAS is named after perhaps the most prolific shaper of the landscape of American Christian history. He traveled the American landscape by horse for more than a quarter of a million miles. He believed that the key to happiness is through faith which produces freedom. He authored and presented the first anti-slavery legislation in U.S. history. President Calvin Coolidge said that Bishop Asbury knew more Americans face-to-face than any American in our Republic.

Asbury’s watchword and cry was, “Be Wholly for God.” His 18th-century life and ministry is our model.