Biography
John Wright Follette was an American Pentecostal Bible teacher and author of the twentieth century. He was born in 1883 in the northeastern United States and was raised in a family with a strong Christian background. He came to faith in Christ in his youth and was drawn to the preaching of the holiness movement. In the early years of the century, he received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and became part of the Pentecostal movement. He was ordained in the Assemblies of God and served as a pastor and teacher for many years.
He was known for his gift of teaching the Bible, particularly on the subject of the deeper Christian life. He gave his attention to the themes of consecration, the cross and the life in the Spirit. He was a student of the writings of the mystics and of the Keswick teachers, and he blended their emphasis with the Pentecostal experience. He taught at Bible schools and conferences across the United States. His style was simple and poetic, and he spoke in a quiet and thoughtful manner.
His best-known work is Broken Bread, a collection of his messages and notes on Scripture, which was published in the 1950s. The book is made up of short meditations on biblical themes, and it has been used by many as a devotional guide. In it he wrote about the need to be broken before God, so that the life of Christ might be poured out. He also wrote on the gifts of the Spirit and on prayer. His writings have been read widely among Pentecostals and charismatics, and they have been appreciated for their depth.
He was a quiet man who did not seek publicity. He did not found a large organization and had no great following. He gave himself to the work of teaching the Word and to the care of those who came to him. His life shows that a teacher in the background can feed many, and that the best gifts are sometimes given by those who stay out of the spotlight.