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What would cause the passengers of the Mayflower to make a treacherous journey that lasted sixty-six days? After arriving in the new land, almost half of the passengers died that first blustery winter.  The captain of the Mayflower pled for those remaining to return with him to England on April 5, 1621. None went back. Why? Facing famine and tremendous grief, why would this weary band of travelers remain in an unknown land? William Bradford wrote in Of Plymouth Plantation,

"Lastly (and which was not least) a great hope, & inward zeall they had of laying some good foundation (or at least to make some way therunto) for ye propagating & advancing ye Gospell of ye Kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of ye world; yea, though they should be but even as stepping stones, unto others for ye performance of so great a work."

It was for the gospel of Jesus Christ that the pilgrims, known as separatists, came. In November 1621, the pilgrims along with almost ninety Wampanoag Indians gathered together to celebrate the first year. They read Psalm 100 from the Geneva Bible, 

“Sing ye loud unto the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyfulness. Know ye that even the Lord is God; he hath made us, and not we ourselves: we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with praise, and into his courts with rejoicing: praise him and bless his Name. For the Lord is good: his mercy is everlasting, and his truth is from generation to generation.”

This year marks the 400th Thanksgiving celebration.  May we be faithful to tell this truth to the next generation what God has done in our nation. For more resources to use this Thanksgiving season, use this link.  If you would like to learn more about how you can help train the next generation by diverting some of your tax dollars, we would love for you to attend one of our upcoming OSF breakfasts or lunches. Please RSVP with this link.