The first signs of Methodism are from the Vaasa region in the summer of 1859, when Gustaf Lervik, who participated in the revival at the
Bethel ship mission in New York, preached in the area. A revival was born from the sermon, but Lervik gave up preaching because of the opposition the movement faced. Gustaf Bärnlund and Wilhelm Bärnlund, who also participated in the Bethel ship, organized revival meetings in
Kristinestad from 1866. In 1882, Lindborg continued his activities in
Kokkola, which got its own congregation in 1883 and a church in 1890. The congregation in Kokkola also led the revival in the surrounding countryside and became the foundation congregation of the Methodist congregations in the
Oulu and
Jakobstad region. 1904. At the turn of the century, the congregation in Vaasa became the largest and most active congregation in Methodism. == References ==