A Children's MUST READ for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just a week away, but here's a book (Banner's #31 from the last six months) that is just perfect for you to gather some children together and read aloud during this next week. "Voyage To Freedom: A Story of the Atlantic Crossing 1620," by David Gay is a historically accurate telling of the nine week voyage of the Mayflower crossing the Atlantic, written especially for children. Read the introduction below, then click here or call 800-263-8085 and buy the book. It lists for $10, but that would be only $7.50 if ordered via the web or $8.00 if you call (plus shipping). I have spent many Thanksgivings looking for something to share with my children to make the holiday appropriately significant. This is that something! Feel free to tell others about it in the next couple of days. Sadly, the time is pretty short to get the word out for this year.
Grace & Peace,
Steve
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VOYAGE TO FREEDOM
A Story of the Atlantic Crossing 1620
by David Gay - Published by Banner of Truth

The Introduction

You are standing on a narrow quayside waiting to board a small ship. You are about to make an exciting but dangerous and uncomfortable voyage. I want you to pause, just for a moment or two. There are a few things I want you to know about the story of the voyage you are about to take. I want you to have a look at the little ship, its passengers and crew, and I want you to know the reason for making such a journey.

The first thing I want you to know is that the story is true. That is, it is based on historical fact. It tells the exciting story of the historic voyage of the 100 or so Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic ocean in 1620. Master Reynolds, John Howland and William Butten all existed. It is a true story.

But, of course, we do not have a detailed record of all that went on during the voyage. We do not know all that was said. I have tried to weave a story around four imaginary characters - the Lovelace family - to show what the voyage must have been like. It happened very much as I have tried to show it.

The voyage was hard - very hard and very, very dangerous. I have tried to show you how hard a time the Pilgrims had. The ship was very tiny. The QE2, for example, is 66,000 tons. The Mayflower was only 180 tons. If you can imagine 6 or 7 family cars parked nose to tail - that is how long (or short) she was - and only about 4 cars wide! And yet she carried 100 passengers and 20 or so crew. A crossing of the Atlantic in recent times would only take a few days - the Mayflower took 9 weeks! The passengers were crammed into a very tiny wooden ship without proper rooms, food, air, beds or sanitation. It must have been horrible! They passed through storms. They were cheated and abused. They were blown off course.

Nor must we forget that it was a tremendous risk to take. They left their familiar and friendly homes and crossed the ocean to a new, unknown and dangerous land. Remember, the longest journey most people undertook in those days was less than 30 miles from their homes - and at the speed of a horse. The Pilgrims sailed 3,000 miles!

Why did they do it?

The Pilgrims were Puritans. They wished to worship God simply - no special buildings - no special robes - no candles - no altars - no prayer books. They wished to worship God according to the way he had told them in his Word, the Bible. To do this, they had to leave England. The laws of the land, at that time, would not allow them to worship God according to the Bible and their conscience. They put God and his Word first in their lives - before their comfort or safety. They would endure anything and everything to obey God's laws.

God did not fail them. He protected them and took them safely to their new home. In such a voyage in those days, it was very common for many of the passengers to die. Not one of the Pilgrims died. In fact, one - Oceanus - was born during the crossing.

And now, the story is in front of you. I hope you enjoy it. I hope you feel something of the fears and hopes of young Justice and Prudence. I hope you learn of the God the story speaks of. May we all be true Pilgrims!

Fare you well, as you embark on this great adventure.