Experience the American dream with today’s Patriots of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s December 18, 1778. I’m in front of the beautifully decorated chapel at Yale University with its president Ezra Stiles.
JG: “President Stiles, what is the mood on campus this Christmas season?”
ES: “John, a year ago, when I was pastor of Second Church in Newport, Rhode Island, the British came into our town and did not allow us to freely worship. This Christmas, as I run Yale University, my hope and prayer is for my students and their families to worship Christ in freedom.”
Ezra Stiles’ prayers were answered as the occupying British troops were kicked out of America. Freedom to worship, speak, and live freely was established throughout the land.
Read The Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles Volume I, Volume II, and Volume III.
John and Jan Gillespie are the founders of the Rawhide Boys’ Ranch; they have fostered 351 teenagers and wrote the book Our 351 Sons; they have also assisted numerous churches in developing youth programs and expanding their total church ministries. After running for U.S. Senate, John founded 1776 American Dream, which exists to demonstrate the vision of our founding fathers and help our generation of youth passionately embrace those values.
