Brookhaven native Tex Sample has published his 11th book, “The Future of John Wesley’s Theology: Back to the Future with the Apostle Paul.”

     The book approaches the future of Wesley’s theology in terms of a preferred future by looking back to the Apostle Paul. The book was published in February and is available on Amazon.com.

     In Paul and Wesley, the founder of Methodism, Sample said the book is a comparison of two highly influential people.

     “What I do is look at John Wesley and compare him and his thoughts with Apostle Paul’s,” said Sample. “I do some comparisons and suggest some implications.”

     The book applies to a wide spectrum of people, not just Methodists, according to Sample.

     “It’s focused around some key issues important not only to Methodists but people from other religions as well,” he said. “The way the Methodist movement swept England was an extraordinary event in its own right.”

     Sample said the book was written for people with an interest in theology and thinking about the faith with some seriousness, but does not take someone with a theology degree.

     “It’s not an inspirational book in the sense of a lot of stories,” Sample said. “I would not recommend it to someone with no acquaintance to the Christian faith.”

     Sample finished high school in Brookhaven in 1953 and lived in the area until he finished college at Millsaps College in 1957. He furthered his education after that and is currently living in Phoenix, but he does return to his hometown occasionally.

     “I’m in Brookhaven two or three times a year,” he said.

     When he lived in Brookhaven, Sample was pastor at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Bude.

     Sample said he doesn’t intend to stop writing anytime soon.

     “I intend to keep on writing. I enjoy it,” he said.

     Sample is the Robert B. and Kathleen Rogers Professor Emeritus of Church and Society at the Saint Paul School of Theology. He is the son of A.C. and Helen Sample, and the brother of Mrs. Chuck (Patricia) Smith.