Dorothy Ripley’s journey from England to Washington reshaped my understanding of early American Methodism. Through her narratives, I discovered a movement that was far more radical, mobile, and socially disruptive than I ever imagined. Ripley crossed the Atlantic in 1801 to meet President Jefferson and plead against slavery. She hoped to minister to enslaved communities and even proposed founding a school for young African American girls in Washington. In 1806, she became the first woman to speak before Congress, driven by her belief that God called ordinary people—including women—to speak with authority. She traveled thousands of miles to preach in fields and camp meetings, sought out enslaved communities, and walked into the homes and offices of powerful men. Learning her story revealed that Methodists weren’t simply another denomination; they were actively shaping the moral direction of the early republic.