Welcome to five minutes in church history hosted by Dr Stephen Nichols, where we take a little

break from the present to go exploring the past. Travel back in time as we look at the people,

events, and even the places that have shaped the story of Christianity.

This is our story, our family history. Let's get started.

Welcome back to another episode of five minutes in church history.

Last week we were visiting Jonathan Edwards and young Phoebe Bartlett, the four-year-old

convert that Edwards used as a model in his book a faithful narrative of the

surprising work of God. This week we'd like to look at another young lady that

was minister to by Jonathan Edwards. This is Deborah Hathaway. Deborah Hathaway was not in

Edwards Congregation in Northampton. In fact, she is from Suffolk, Connecticut.

And in 1741, she writes a letter to Jonathan Edwards.

Now at that time, there was no pastor there at the Suffield Church.

George Whitfield had been through there to preach.

Even Jonathan Edwards himself had been there to preach, but they were currently without

a pastor.

And this young lady who may have come to Christ under either Whitfield or Edwards writes to

Jonathan Edwards and lets him know that there's no pastor there at the church, she's a new Christian,

and she would like his advice on how to live the Christian life.

Well, let's set the context here Edward's perspective. He's very busy.

It's the Great Awakening. His church is over 500 and growing on a weekly basis.

He is in demand as an itinerant speaker, not only up and down the Connecticut River Valley, but really

all across New England.

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