The German Count Zinzendorf one day saw a painting, “Ecce Homo”, with Christ on the cross and the words below: “I gave my life for you; what will you do for me?” He was greatly impacted.
So in 1722, he gave shelter on his estate to a group of 300 believers who had fled persecution in Moravia. However, rather than work together they all fought a lot about theology and differences. Then some of the more mature begin to pray all night regularly.
On August 13, 1727, God visited the community with power, repentance, and presence. The Moravians were radically transformed. They didn’t know where they were, heaven or earth.
After this visitation:
1. They were very hungry for God and started 3 services a day.
2. The Moravians made a covenant to start a 24-7 hour prayer vigil that has continued for over a hundred years!
3. God began to give a strong zeal for the gospel and missions based on the cross. This church sent out an incredible 226 missionaries before Zinzendorf’s death in 1760 and literally changed the world, including being influential in the conversion of the great revivalist John Wesley.
So what lessons can we learn from this community?
1.They lived every believer is a missionary
They believed the Biblical idea that we are ALL called to be missionaries because of Christ’s command of Mt 28:18-20:
“Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
2.They lived by faith
Today the majority of missionaries raise all the money they need to live on the field before they leave.
However, the Moravians received from their community just enough money to get to the port and to buy a ship ticket to their country of destination! Then they worked together in community to support themselves on the field , like Paul was a tent maker.
3.They lived a life of self-sacrifice
The movement having been birthed by a revelation of the cross, they lived the same self-sacrificial spirit.
So many died in the field, but this did not stop them.. For example, on the island of Saint Thomas, 22 out of 29 Moravians died. Then one more set out from Germany to the island to help and thought he would die too!
4.They didn’t try to reach everyone
They lived on the fringes of society. They identified with those who suffered. They ministered to the outcasts of society, for example slaves. They looked for souls already prepared.
5.Those that stayed behind also helped
Unlike today where just a few help support missionaries from a church, all the people at the base in Germany supported the work in prayer and in giving money towards the missionary work.