Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Remembering the Pilgrims' Journey
Nov 27, 2025
Jay Milbrandt, an author and former professor with deep roots in Pilgrim history, dives into the remarkable journey of the Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution. He shares his family connection to the Mayflower and discusses the challenges they faced, including their perilous Atlantic voyage. Milbrandt explains the significance of the Mayflower Compact as a precursor to modern democracy. He also sheds light on the true origins of Thanksgiving, differentiating it from the later religious celebrations and highlighting the important role of Squanto and the Wampanoag tribe in their survival.
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Family Lore That Sparked A Journey
- Jay Milbrandt discovered family lore claiming descent from two Mayflower passengers but found they were an indentured servant and a hired protector.
- The personal search for truth prompted his deeper historical research and book.
Pilgrims Were Religious Separatists
- The Pilgrims were mostly separatists who wanted to worship according to their reading of the Bible rather than Anglican prescriptions.
- They resisted a church-state system that used services, fines, and jail to enforce conformity.
Puritans Versus Separatists Defined
- Puritans sought to reform the Church of England from within while separatists chose to break away and form their own worship communities.
- That difference shaped later approaches to church and state in America.
