08/17/2026
A monument restored but may New England be!
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, a significant memorial has been restored in Enfield, Connecticut.
On July 8, 1741, 35 years before the Declaration of Independence, Jonathan Edwards stood in the Second Meeting House and preached “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”
As Edwards called people to recognize the seriousness of sin and flee to Christ, the congregation became overwhelmed by conviction. Eyewitnesses reported that people wept, cried out for mercy, and asked what they must do to be saved. The sermon became one of the defining moments of the First Great Awakening.
That awakening helped create a shared spiritual consciousness among people throughout the colonies. Before America became united politically, many of its people were being awakened spiritually.
The original memorial was placed at this location in 1931 by the Penelope Terry Abbey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Ninety-five years later, the restored monument was rededicated on April 25, 2026, as part of Enfield’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The weathered boulder remains, but it now rests upon a new granite foundation with a plaque that makes its testimony readable to another generation.
As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, we should remember that our nation needs more than political strength, economic prosperity, or military security. America needs spiritual awakening.
We are grateful that this historic site has been preserved. Yet restoring a memorial is not the same as experiencing another awakening.
We can preserve the stones, recount the history, and honor those whom God used. But only God can breathe spiritual life upon our churches, communities, and nation again.
The God who brought conviction to an Enfield meetinghouse in 1741 has not changed. He can awaken hearts, restore families, revive churches, transform communities, and bring thousands of people to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
May this restored stone become more than a reminder of what God once did. As America marks its 250th anniversary, may it become a call to seek God for what He desires to do now.
“Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?”
Psalm 85:6 NLT
Lord, do it again in New England.
Lord, awaken America again.
PC to Chris Phillips