They Came As Families
The Importance of America’s Birthday Party in the Words of Those Who Attended
July 18, 2007
Editor’s Note: For one beautiful, inspiring week dedicated to the glory of God, thousands of Americans stopped to rejoice in the goodness of the Lord and His many kind providences associated with the founding of our nation at Jamestown four hundred years ago. These families came to do what our government officials said should not be done —“celebrate”! And they did so with enthusiasm and gusto.
The following quotes — taken from event organizers, participants, adults, children, and onlookers — is provided to offer you the personal insights of those who not only celebrated history, but became part of it. Each quote is placed within the context of a key observation about the significance of the Jamestown Quadricentennial: A Celebration of Our Providential History.
1. They Came as Families
A family aboard the
Spirit of Norfolk dinner cruise
On the grounds of Fort Pocahontas
“We praise the Lord for families that come in diverse shapes, sizes, ages and colors. And that is precisely how they came to the Jamestown Quadricentennial: A Celebration of America’s Providential History. Some were small. Many were big. Others were in transition. But they came. They came from most of the fifty states as well as from a broad variety of Christian churches and denominations. In so many respects they represented the beauty and diversity of God’s church united under the banner of Christ. These families came to praise the name of God and to rejoice in His many mercies and providences on our nation. Many commented that (with the glorious blessing of the Lord) the event was a safe place for these families to rejoice and get to know others. Christians were respectful of others, patient with one another, and for the better part of an entire week, a spirit of celebration and charity governed the events and the people who participated in them.”
—Doug Phillips, president of Vision Forum Ministries and founder of the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“While we were at Ft. Pocahontas, it really felt like a big, happy family reunion. People that I had never seen felt like long lost friends, it was truly amazing!”
—Justin W., attendee
“Our hearts were refreshed spending time [at the Jamestown Quadricentennial] with so many Christian families who are standing firm for the cause of our Lord in a culture that is waging war against the Truth.”
—Katie V., attendee
2. Christian Community was Experienced
A lovely walk on the Tyler estate
The joys of sisterhood at Jamestown’s Jubilee
“People left their cars unlocked. There was no fighting, no drunkenness. It was a tremendous place of peace and orderliness reminiscent of a time in American history where families enjoyed this kind of community. It was a picture of Christian culture.”
—Geoff Botkin, Christian filmmaker, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“It was a special, precious time with the Lord and with like-minded brethren. I am nearly 50 years old, and my heart was greatly encouraged to see the many young people who love and serve our Sovereign God, who have embraced a Biblical worldview, and who will be faithful to raise up many generations of Godly children!”
—Teresa S., attendee
“My name is Melanie, and I am 13 years old, and I just recently attended the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. I just wanted to write and say thank you so much for doing the celebration. My family and I had so much fun, and I learned so much history there. We moved to Tennessee from Colorado a year ago, and I have still yet to find any Christian girls my age here.... it was so encouraging to see all those Christian young women and men gathered together to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the landing and beginning of our fathers...Thank you!”
—Melanie, attendee
3. There was Great Rejoicing and Celebration
All smiles on America’s 400th birthday
Fireworks close the festivities with a bang
“My oldest boys (ages 10, 8, and 6) had a week in Boy Heaven. Dressed in Colonial garb, they charged Redoubt #10 at Yorktown, capturing the flag and leading the American soldiers to victory; they participated in half a dozen impromptu fencing matches and tug-of-war games at Fort Pocahontas; they explored the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery ships at Jamestown Fort; they walked in the footsteps of John Smith at Historic Jamestowne; they eagerly watched reenactments and plays depicting America’s founding struggles; and they had the opportunity to meet thousands of other families from all over the map who shared their love of our country’s Christian heritage.
“My two girls dressed up in their Jamestown outfits and talked with Princess Pocahontas; they walked through Colonial homes, enjoying the comments of guides who loved seeing little ladies in period garb; they delighted in dipping their toes in the James River at Sherwood Forest and imagining the great ladies who may have walked along its banks in the past.
“All of our children rejoiced to march in the Children’s Parade on Saturday, feeling they were an integral part of this wonderful celebration. Capping it all off were the stunning fireworks Saturday night that had our little ones clapping their hands and jumping for joy.”
—a Grateful Mother
“It is hard to express the emotions and gratitude I and my family feel for the Jamestown Quadricentennial Celebration. My family and I have been blessed by God to have been a part of such a truly ‘Christian’ celebration honoring God and the proclamation of the Gospel. I want to personally thank you for honoring Jesus and giving of your time and resources to proclaim a message of hope and vision to our children and subsequent generations that will be impacted.”
—Richard, Linda, Rachel and Grace B., members of the ‘Final Fourteen’ treasure hunters
“It was great to have a celebration of America’s providential history that really honored God. Sometimes it seems like there is no way to get away from politically correct history. It was so wonderful to have a real celebration of God’s hand in the founding of America, and I was honored to be a part of it.”
—Justin W., attendee
4. Our Fathers were Honored
A prayer of thanks for our founding fathers
Interpreter Mark Beliles honors America’s past
“We praise God for Captain John Smith without whom Jamestown would have died in its birth. God used him to keep the original inhabitants of Jamestown from self-destructing from 1607 to 1609. He protected them from the Powhatan Indians. He established commerce with the Powhatans, obtaining food from them to keep the people at Jamestown alive.”
—Dr. Joe Morecraft, pastor of Chalcedon Presbyterian Church, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“When you walk the quiet ground of Jamestown, you are reminded that voices spoke there, voices that uttered prayers in thanksgiving to God even in times of trials and great tribulation. If their efforts are to mean anything, then their efforts must be embodied in their descendents.”
—Gary DeMar, President of American Vision and featured speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
5. Ebenezers were Raised and Gilgal Stones Placed
The dedication of the Children’s Monument
Grateful families surround the monument
“We have come here to reclaim an old landmark by celebrating and erecting a monument to declare to the world for generations the greatness of our God in the founding of Jamestown, Virginia.”
—Dr. Joe Morecraft, pastor of Chalcedon Presbyterian Church, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“As we dedicate this memorial, may we cultivate the fruit of the field and the fruit of the womb as John Rolfe and Pocahontas before us. As we consecrate this landmark, may we have hearts emboldened with resolve in light of God’s providence, even as John Smith had. And as we honor the faith of our fathers in laying this monument, may the Gospel light kindled by Hakluyt, Hunt, and others burn bright for 1,000 generations.”
—Wesley Strackbein, associate producer of The League of Grateful Sons and featured speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“The Jamestown Quadricentennial left a landmark for future generations to look back and say, ‘There was a remnant who gathered in 2007 who honored God in the founding of America.’”
—Stephen McDowell, president of the Providence Foundation and featured speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“The setting of the Jamestown Children’s Memorial and time capsule was...significant as it will ensure that our children one hundred years from now will be equipped to carry on the legacy of our founders. They, along with the many families who participated in the dedication last week, have been given a reminder of America’s godly heritage that, by God’s grace, will be passed down for generations.”
—Dr. Peter Lillback, author, George Washington’s Sacred Fire, president of Westminster Theological Seminary, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
6. Providence was Proclaimed
Professor Peter Lillback describes Washington’s unflinching trust in Providence
Becky Morecraft, the Poet Laureate of the Quadricentennial, presents her masterpiece
“The events of Jamestown are the embodiment of God’s providential faithfulness in history. It’s a constant reminder that God’s kingdom advances through the efforts of imperfect people led on by the Spirit and Power of God. Their graves and monuments are a silent and steadied witness that others preceded us and made our world possible.”
—Gary DeMar, president of American Vision and featured speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“The Jamestown Quadricentennial elevated the ideals that made our country great, and I don’t know what we would have done without it. If we do away with what made our country great, we are going to fall. I am thankful for Vision Forum for helping to restore the truth of America’s founding — for telling what really went on, for communicating important history that was neglected by others.”
—Tom Adler, Williamsburg resident and member of the state-sponsored, official Jamestown 2007 Committee
“The Jamestown Quadricentennial is significant because it demonstrated that many Americans still appreciate the wonderful accomplishments of heroism of our early settlers who brought British and English culture to the shores of the New World in 1607. It was wonderful to see that, four centuries later, Americans are still celebrating the Christian worldview of Jamestown’s founders. There’s been a great emphasis by others on the mercantile interests in Jamestown’s founding, but what came through loud and clear at the Jamestown Quadricentennial was the Christian worldview that under-girded the settlement. This celebration brought about a re-emphasis and rediscovery of this. It highlighted the foundations and brought back into the mind of many what made America great, balancing the story properly. Long term, this recognition that the founders had within their vision the advancement of Christian civilization will help us rightly steward their legacy.”
—Dr. Peter Lillback, author of George Washington’s Sacred Fire, president of Westminster Theological Seminary, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“On this our Quadricentennial, we purpose to note God’s providential blessings in our nation’s past, even as we ask God to prepare our children’s hearts for providential blessings in the days to come.”
—Wesley Strackbein, associate producer of The League of Grateful Sons and featured speaker at the
Jamestown Quadricentennial
7. Revisionism was Refuted
Michael Billings emphasizes America’s Christian heritage
Two boys take on "the enemy" on the grounds of Fort Pocahontas
“In an age where history is being rewritten in order to erase our Godly heritage, it was encouraging to hear the truth proclaimed. In fact, there was so much truth being proclaimed we are looking forward to listening to the CDs of the conference for months and years to come!”
—Phillip C., attendee
“The families who came were looking for and found a place of freedom, a place where they could interact with one another in an environment that was not oppressed by the stifling influence of political correctness.”
—Geoff Botkin, Christian filmmaker, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“The Jamestown Quadricentennial was important because it helped restore accuracy to our history and communicate the critical role that Christianity played in our nation’s founding.”
—Tom Adler, Williamsburg resident and member of the state-sponsored, Official Jamestown Quadricentennial Committee
8. Racism was Repudiated
The 1957 Jamestown Cross Monument
Princess Pocahontas, wife of colonist John Rolfe
“The glorious Anglo-Saxon ‘race’ has nothing inherently glorious about it except for the fact that it is a testimony to the mercy of God on a bunch of white-skinned, formerly demon-worshiping pagans that converted to Christ. The victory of the founding of America is not the glory of Europeans triumphing over natives, but the glory of Christian culture triumphing over the evil of paganism. It is the glory which occurs when Christ is proclaimed, His law is embraced, and His Scripture revelation is acknowledged as a foundation stone of liberty.”
—Doug Phillips, president of Vision Forum Ministries and founder of the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“It’s not that Anglo Saxons came to America. We want to make that very clear that America was not based on a racial base — people who were better than anyone else. The conception of the Scripture is clear that we are neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female we are all one we are all one in Christ. The conception of scripture and the knowledge of the way things are in God’s world is that he created us all in His image and wants us all to be saved....
“[T]he greatness of America [came about because of] the conversion of those English from the backwater of history to be a great Christian civilization....[W]e have become a part of that great adventure no matter what our [skin color], no matter what our denomination. If we love the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we obey his Word, we will see our nation rise again to greatness that will then humble us.”
—Dr. Marshall Foster, president of the Mayflower Institute, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
9. Repentance and Humility before the Lord was Preached
Pastor Joe Morecraft appeals for God’s mercy on America
Geoff Botkin reminds celebrants of their covenant vows
“Let us humble ourselves before the Lord this week. Yes, rejoice in the event. Yes, rejoice in what took place. Only by the Grace of God and the Word of God can we see these things transform the world.”
—Dr. Marshall Foster, president of the Mayflower Institute, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“May God have mercy on us for how we have neglected and despised [Jamestown’s] legacy. May He be merciful to us by giving us renewed dedication to the preservation and development of that legacy down through our future generations.”
—Dr. Joe Morecraft, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
10. A Vision was Cast for the Next One Hundred Years
The hope of the next generation
A monument to Jamestown’s visionary leader
“I charge you today as we leave Jamestown: be mighty. Be mighty with your children. Be mighty... in a fighting faith. Be mighty in your work with a fighting God as you stand by His side. And you will have a mighty hope for the future.”
—Geoff Botkin, Christian filmmaker, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“The Jamestown Quadricentennial was a watershed event because it drove a deep love for God’s deeds in the founding of America into the hearts of the future leaders of tomorrow.”
—Dr. Marshall Foster, president of the Mayflower Institute, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“There will always be a remnant, but our goal must be to maintain and increase this remnant — to be salt and light to the world. Salt adds life; it preserves. And the smallest bit of light can pierce a vast darkness. Through the Jamestown Quadricentennial, Vision Forum gave much-needed salt and light on America’s birthday and left an important testimony for future generations.”
—Tom Adler, Williamsburg resident and member of the state-sponsored, official Jamestown Quadricentennial Committee
“It is my hopeful prayer that what was declared at the Jamestown Quadricentennial will reverberate in the hearts and minds of future Christian generations, recalling them to the original Christian and Puritan vision for our nation. I fully expect the 450th celebration of Jamestown’s legacy to be a conscious and deliberate extension of the 400th celebration involving many thousands more people. For the next 100 years, students of Christian history will praise God...”
—Dr. Joe Morecraft, Faith and Freedom Tour guide, and keynote speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“What took place at the Jamestown Quadricentennial was more than a single event; it was a monumental epic of our generation. Many came out for a conference, others came for celebration, and still others came out to remember the past. However, what occurred at Jamestown was something so much greater then anyone expected. We raised our Ebenezer as we laid stones of remembrance in honor of the great things God has fashioned. As in the days of Ezra and the completion of the temple, this celebration turned into a solemn assembly as many remembered the glory of the days of our fathers and cried out to God for our future. As men of God raised their voices from the pulpit, the die was cast, and many, like me, will never be the same. As my children looked on, it gave me reason to hope like I have never hoped before. The Jamestown Quadricentennial was not just another celebration, conference, or history tour remembering the past. It was a revival of our nation. It was a call for the Holy Scriptures to be forever externalized in every area of life. It was hallmark of God’s providence extended to generations to come.”
—Elijah Brown, attendee
“We are today’s Jamestown. We embark on a similar mission of advancing the kingdom again in the midst of hostile forces. There were casualties then, and there will be casualties today. Like our predecessors, we will not give up hope. Where the remnants of their church and fort stood, God has blessed His church with edifices that ring the coastlines and traverse the cities of this nation from sea to sea. The men of Jamestown crossed an ocean in three small ships and laid the foundation for a nation in a wilderness. God has put so much more at our disposal. How can we despise these gifts and claim that future battles are hopeless to fight? We owe the people of Jamestown hundreds of years of faithful work to continue their once lost legacy.”
—Gary DeMar, president of American Vision and featured speaker at the Jamestown Quadricentennial
“Brothers and sisters, come to Jamestown. Come in 2057. Come to Jamestown. Come in 2107 — not you, but your great-grandchildren, the same grandchildren who sat on your lap and heard the stories and blessed God. Come to Jamestown, and see what wonderful things that the God of heaven and earth can do when we will be His people. Amen.”
—Doug Phillips, president of Vision Forum Ministries and founder of the Jamestown Quadricentennial