Experience the American dream with today’s Patriot of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s November 2, 1786. I’m with the former Governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson.
JG: “Mr. Jefferson, why did you write the Virginia statute for religious freedom?”
TJ: “John, Almighty God has created the mind free, and the Holy Author of our religion and Lord of body and mind chose not to spread His Word by force, or by the power of the state.”
The genius of the Founding Fathers when it came to God and government was their belief and trust in Him, and their respect for God’s gift of free will for all people to worship as they wish.
Read more about Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia statute for religious freedom.
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.
