Podcast Episode 17
Fundamental Orders of CT
with Dr. David Hall & host Nick Walters
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Episode 17 of This Week in Christian History continues our ongoing mission to spotlight the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the Christian story across centuries. Each weekly episode is produced by the students of Mississippi College in partnership with Blue & Gold Media and features conversations designed to help listeners understand the global reach of Christian history. The podcast is hosted by Nick Walters, founder and director of the Center for Christian History at Mississippi College, whose work centers on making the Christian past accessible and engaging for churches, students, and lifelong learners.
In this episode, listeners will hear another wide-ranging and engaging interview as Nick Walters welcomes a leading scholar for the weekly Deep Dive segment. This feature brings in a subject-matter expert to explore a particular topic in Christian history with clarity, accuracy, and perspective. For Episode 17, Walters is joined by Dr. David D. Hall of Harvard University, a distinguished historian known for his extensive scholarship on Puritanism, early New England, and the development of religious culture in the American colonies. Dr. Hall’s expertise provides a valuable framework for understanding how Christians in early Connecticut organized their society, articulated their values, and experimented with forms of governance that would later influence wider political developments. His presence on the episode underscores the podcast’s commitment to presenting historically reliable material grounded in serious academic research.
As always, the episode includes two historical highlights drawn from the same week in the Christian calendar. These highlights do not summarize the podcast’s discussion but provide independent historical touchpoints that illuminate the breadth of Christian experience around the world. The first highlight comes from June 2, 1901, with the death of George Leslie Mackay, the first missionary commissioned by the Canadian Presbyterian Church. Mackay devoted his life to ministry in Taiwan, where he intentionally demonstrated the love of Christ through acts of service and cross-cultural engagement. His marriage to a Taiwanese woman challenged conventional expectations of the era, and together they established a university to meet the needs of local communities. Mackay’s legacy remains so central to Taiwan’s cultural memory that in 2008 the government produced the nation’s first bilingual Taiwanese-English opera, Mackay: The Black Bearded Bible Man, retelling the story of his life and work.
The second highlight focuses on June 3, 1905, the date of death of Hudson Taylor, whose life left an enduring impact on global missions. Born in England to devout parents, Taylor initially rejected Christianity but later encountered Christ while in medical training. This transformation set him on a lifelong path of devotion to the unreached peoples of China. Taylor adopted traditional Chinese dress on his first missionary journey as a way to show respect for local culture and to remove unnecessary barriers to ministry. His commitment to cultural adaptation, prayer, and endurance laid the foundation for the China Inland Mission, which became one of the most influential missionary organizations of its time. His testimony continues to inspire Christians worldwide who believe in meeting people where they are with humility and love.
This Week in Christian History exists to provide historical grounding at a time when many people are rediscovering the value of understanding the Christian past. The program highlights leaders, movements, documents, communities, and cultural changes that continue to influence global Christianity today. The deep dives allow listeners to hear directly from respected historians and scholars, while the weekly highlights remind audiences that Christian history is both global and continuous. The partnership between Blue & Gold Media and the Center for Christian History at Mississippi College ensures that students gain hands-on experience in research and production while contributing to a project designed to serve the broader church.
Listeners, pastors, educators, and students alike will find This Week in Christian History to be a valuable resource. By offering scholarly guests, curated weekly highlights, and an emphasis on accuracy and accessibility, the podcast positions itself as a platform where the Christian past is not merely remembered but thoughtfully engaged. Episode 17 adds to this growing archive by featuring a respected Harvard scholar, a look at foundational developments in early Connecticut governance, and two global missionary stories that illustrate the lasting influence of faithful Christian witness.
Photo citation: Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Connecticut State Library, public domain.
