Jay Milbrandt

Jay Milbrandt is a lawyer and author. Throughout his career, he has served as professor at Bethel University in Minnesota and Director of the Global Justice Program at Pepperdine University School of Law. Jay has traveled throughout the world, managing global initiatives in Africa and Southeast Asia, and consulting with organizations engaged in human rights and legal development efforts. He is the author of They Came for Freedom: The Forgotten, Epic Adventure of the Pilgrims, and The Daring Heart of David Livingstone. Learn more about Jay at his website, jaymilbrandt.com.

Remembering the Pilgrims’ Journey

Jay Milbrandt shares his research about the Pilgrims’ journey from England to North America as they fled religious persecution. As a descendant of two early immigrants on the Mayflower, Milbrandt was curious about what the true story was behind their ocean voyage. He describes the harsh conditions that the Pilgrims and Puritans endured, as they barely survived the first couple of years, with the help of an Indian named Squanto and the native Wampanoag tribe, explaining how festivals in Plymouth, Massachusetts became connected to our modern-day Thanksgiving. He also shares about the significance of the Mayflower Compact, which in some ways laid a foundation for the U.S. Constitution.

November 27, 2025