1. To Celebrate the 500th Birthday of John Calvin — the Most Influential Christian Thinker of the Millennium

On July 1-4, more than a thousand participants gathered in Boston to celebrate John Calvin’s 500th birthday through great orations, music, reenactments, a live debate between Calvin and Darwin, and more. Calvin’s transformational impact on the West was duly recognized in keeping with the widespread agreement among historians such as J.H. Merle d’Aubigne: “[T]he indisputable evidence of history places Calvin among the fathers of modern liberty.”

The Reformation 500 event placed another ‘rock of remembrance’ where John Calvin’s legacy had its most significant and lasting impact — the shores of New England in America. The message that sounded loud and clear from the Vision Forum-sponsored event was simply this: ‘We will continue to treasure this legacy. We will never allow it to fade away in our generations!’ —Kevin Swanson

2. To Rejoice with Our Children in the Glorious Work of God in the Life of This Nation and His Church

On the morning of July 4, hundreds assembled in Boston’s Public Gardens for an unforgettable Children’s Parade. Led by Gen. George Washington and a regal Fife and Drum Corps, the children marched, with historic flags in hand, over the garden green and into the Imperial Ballroom of Boston’s Park Plaza Hotel. The enthusiasm was palpable and infectious — a joyous testimony of gratitude to God’s glorious work through the lives of the Reformers.

...I watched my children march along with hundreds of other children of their generation to the flute and drum beat of the Almighty. I could not help but be impressed that they were these small seeds planted in the ground, which will grow up as great trees of Reformation under which future generations by God’s grace and providence will stand in their shadow. —Elijah B.

3. To Honor the Sacrifices and Lives of the Great Reformers and Their Spiritual Progeny

More than 40 reenactors — representing such Reformation characters as John and Idelette Calvin, John and Margaret Knox, Martin and Katherina Luther, and Pierre Viret, as well as American colonial figures such as Sam Adams, Priscilla Mullins, and Anne Bradstreet — engaged with guests over the course of the four-day celebration. Children who obtained 30 or more reenactor signatures were awarded a $10 coupon good toward the purchase of a 1-ounce troy silver commemorative coin of John Calvin that was minted specially for the event.

The definite highlight of [reenacting] was looking into the eyes of the young boys and girls, encouraging them to be faithful and uncompromising in the fight for truth as were the Reformers we had come to honor. Seeing the determined expressions on some of the children’s faces as we discussed fearing God and not man, and living according to God’s Word, is something I shall never forget. This experience was far more than simply dressing in period costume and knowing the life facts of the character I portrayed; it served as a special opportunity to bear witness of God’s amazing grace. . . . —Cara H.

4. To Inspire Our Children to Remember the Faithfulness of God in the Lives of Their Fathers by Visiting the Ancient Landmarks to Our Liberty

Families at the Reformation 500 relived the history of Colonial New England through more than 20 Faith and Freedom walking tours. Noted historians such as Dr. Paul Jehle, Dr. Marshall Foster, and Dr. Joe Morecraft led crowds to the ancient landmarks of liberty throughout Boston, explaining the remarkable work of Divine Providence in the lives of America’s Founding Fathers. From the Mather family grave at Copp’s Hill to the Bunker Hill Monument, the history of our nation’s Ebenezers was brought to life through these engaging outdoor presentations.

We ... were greatly blessed by the tours of Boston. We will never forget standing at the grave of the Mathers and seeing a legacy of four generations of faithfulness to the Lord. Every trip we took was unforgettable and a blessing. —A Grateful Family

Every day, tours were taken through the city of Boston, and brilliant men with years of research would walk through historic locations like Copp’s Hill, where the Mather family is buried, the old North Church, where the lamps were lit to launch Paul Revere on his midnight ride, the Boston State House, and the U.S.S. Constitution. As large groups of us moved together, reverently treading on the ground where our forefathers stood, preached, fought, and gave their lives, other tourists would occasionally stumble into our group, awestruck by the uncommon love for history displayed by even the youngest in the crowd. —John M.

5. To Explain the Centrality of ‘Sola Scriptura’ to the Health and Progress of Family, Church, and State

The Reformation 500 emphasized the powerful impact that the core doctrine of Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) had in transforming the institutions of family, church, state, as well as the broader culture, when God’s Word was unleashed on the world during the Protestant Reformation — and how that we must return to this principle again if we are to rebuild a thriving, godly civilization in the 21st century.

[Calvin’s] emphasis on Sola Scriptura led to his doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, stressing that all believers are priests and Jesus Christ is our great High Priest, so we need no priest or bishop to intercede on our behalf. But if, as Calvin taught, every plowboy should be able to read and interpret the Scriptures for himself, then every plowboy must be taught to read. This led to widespread literacy, which made republican self-government possible. —Col. John Eidsmoe

6. To Stand in Defense of All the ‘Solas’ of the Reformation

The speakers at the Reformation 500 issued this universal charge: that we must defend and advance the Solas of the Reformation if we hope to bring about God-honoring reform: Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Christo, and Soli Deo Gloria.

[W]e, as a family, sincerely believe that Dr. Joe Morecraft’s talk on the ‘Five Solas’ challenged us the most. His lecture charged us to be completely Christ-centered, to throw off the cares of this world, and to stand for Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Christo, and Soli Deo Gloria! Semper Reformanda can now be heard ringing through our home with great passion!
—The Allen Family

7. To Renew our Vision for ‘Semper Reformanda’

The Reformation 500 did not issue a call for a nostalgic, sentimentality toward the past, but a cry to build on the legacy of our forbears and go beyond them — to reclaim the doctrine of Semper Reformanda — always reforming.

The Reformation 500 Conference was far more than a celebration of our godly reformers in Europe. It was the spearhead of a movement to bring a new Reformation to the world in our time. I could see the anticipation in each of my lectures and tours. These families are determined to be self-governing under God and the Bible. These participants, grounded firmly in the faith and heritage of our ancestors, can permeate our entire nation in the years to come. May God be praised. —Marshall Foster

8. To Cultivate Strategic Friendships with Like-minded Families Committed to the Ongoing Work of Reformation

The Reformation 500 offered an opportunity for like-minded families from across America to rekindle old friendships and forge new ones. The families who came were reminded of this key proposition: that just as a small, but dedicated band of reformers in the sixteenth century changed the course of history, so too, close friends who share common cause for Christ can change the world today.

How refreshing . . . to learn that [Calvin] was much more than just a cold, theological ‘machine’, but was a real man who engaged in real, vital relationships with those closest to him. These strategic friendships were instrumental in fueling the fire of the Reformation, and serve as a model for us to follow in carrying on Calvin’s legacy in our day. —Ross S.

9. To Create a Written and Spoken Record for Our Children’s Children That Articulates and Defends the Most Important Histories and Theologies of the Reformation

Great care was taken at the Reformation 500 to record the messages given on audio and video, so that the critical histories and theologies shared could be preserved and passed on to a broader audience. To order your copy of The Reformation 500 Celebration Audio Collection — which includes 37 CDs and 2 MP3 CDs — click here.

For me the highlight of the event was the excellent speakers. . . . They have inspired me to carry on the legacy of Calvin and other great reformers of the faith. What hope, what purpose, what vision comes when faithful children honor the legacy of their godly fathers! —Sophia S.

10. To Show the Antithesis between the Worldviews of Christianity and Darwinism

Weighing in at five-hundred years old, the undisputed heavyweight Defender of the Faith, John Calvin, faced off in a lively debate against his two-hundred-year-old opponent and the reigning champion of modern and post-modern thought — Mr. Origin of Species himself — Charles Darwin. This memorable “Boxing Match of the Millennium” demonstrated the clear antithesis between the competing worldviews of Christianity and Darwinism.

[A] highlight was the ‘Boxing Match of the Millennium’ — a worldview debate between John Calvin and Charles Darwin. What a treat to see the ‘Gargantuan of Galapagos’ get annihilated by the ‘Gentleman from Geneva’ —Ross S.

11. To Sing the Ballads of Our Reformation Fathers and the Hymns of Thanksgiving to the Lord Jesus Christ

The Reformation 500 featured a cavalcade of both Reformation and American Musicana, as Celtic balladeer Charlie Zahm and the award-winning fiddler Tad Marks regaled attendees with the great Reformation hymns and anthems of freedom from the past. Young vocal talent Daniel Craig and the effervescent Mrs. Becky Morecraft also gave praise for God’s mighty hand through their soaring renditions of the stalwart hymns of old.

The music at the Reformation 500 was top notch. Daniel Craig is a fine singer, and the choice of songs were good. Mr. Zahm did an excellent job as usual, and the addition of fiddler Tad Marks was a very nice touch and a good compliment to Mr. Zahm’s typically outstanding choice of music. The fun addition of the ‘secret harmonica’ player was also very nice and sounded good. —Ryan S.

12. To Celebrate American Independence as Families

Many of the families at the Reformation 500 celebrated America’s Independence Day by witnessing the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular — a concert on the Esplanade with John Williams and the Boston Pops, featuring a synchronized fireworks display launched over the Charles River with over 20,000 pounds of explosives — a fireworks show without rival in America.

13. To Ring the Liberty Bell of Freedom Thirteen Times Which Proclaims That ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, There is Liberty.’

The Reformation 500 Celebration culminated on July 4 with the tolling of an exact replica of America’s Liberty Bell, which was rung thirteen times in honor of the principles of liberty that leaders of America’s original thirteen colonies drew from Calvin and other Protestant Reformers from the past.

. . . It was particularly meaningful for me to spend my first 4th of July as an American citizen in Boston at the Reformation 500 Celebration. I’ll never forget listening to the Liberty Bell being rung 13 times by some of my favorite friends and patriots. Throughout the week I was continually reminded of the gratitude we should have towards our forefathers who remained faithful to God, and even gave their lives to protect the liberties I now cherish as a new American. —Colin G.

Learn More About The Reformation 500
Celebration Audio Collection

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