The Moravians – Missionaries & Prayer Warriors

Summary

This script explores the profound impact of the Moravian missionary movement, which predates the modern Protestant missions often attributed to William Carey. Led by Count Zinzendorf, 300 young German radicals dedicated themselves to spreading Christianity through prayer and missionary work. Their 24/7 prayer meetings lasted for 100 years, sparking inspiration for future generations, including John Wesley and the Methodist movement. This prayer-fueled missionary work continues to influence modern global movements focused on prayer, missions, and fulfilling the Great Commission in the world's hardest places.

Takeaways

• 📜 The modern Protestant missions movement is often traced back to William Carey, a Baptist missionary to India in the 19th century.
• 🌟 Carey is known as the 'father of modern missions,' but his inspiration came from a group of 300 young Moravian radicals from Germany.
• 🔥 These Moravians were led by Count Nicholas Von Zinzendorf and were dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission, spreading the Gospel worldwide.
• 🙏 They were willing to sell themselves into slavery to reach those who had not heard the name of Jesus, demonstrating their devotion and sacrifice.
• 🕊️ Their motto was centered around the lamb who was slain, emphasizing the reward of his suffering as a model for their own sacrifices.
• 🌐 The Moravians' impact was not only in their missionary work but also in inspiring the next generation, including John Wesley and the Methodist movement.
• 🔮 On August 13, 1727, Zinzendorf described a day of the Holy Spirit's outpouring, which led to a commitment to continuous prayer among the Moravians.
• 🕰️ This commitment resulted in 24 men and 24 women covenanting to hourly intercessions, maintaining a prayer chain that lasted for 100 years.
• 🌟 The Moravian community's continuous prayer meeting is seen as the spiritual power behind their global impact and missionary movement.
• 🌍 Today, the Moravian movement is seen as a model for a worldwide prayer movement and missions, encouraging 24/7 prayer and the preaching of the Gospel to every nation.

Q & A

Who is commonly considered the father of the modern Protestant missions movement?

William Carey, a Baptist missionary to India at the beginning of the 19th century, is commonly considered the father of the modern Protestant missions movement.

What was the source of William Carey’s inspiration for his missionary work?

William Carey’s inspiration came from a group of 300 young radicals from Germany, known as the Moravians, who were dedicated to carrying out the Great Commission a generation before Carey.

Who was the leader of the Moravians, and what was significant about him?

The Moravians were led by Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, a wealthy young ruler who inspired his followers with radical devotion to missionary work, even encouraging them to sell themselves into slavery to reach unreached people.

What was the Moravian watchword that encapsulated their missionary zeal?

The Moravian watchword was: 'That the Lamb who was slain would receive the reward of His suffering,' expressing their passion to spread the gospel and fulfill the Great Commission.

What event on August 13th, 1727, was significant in the Moravian movement?

On August 13th, 1727, the Moravians experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which Count Zinzendorf described as their 'Pentecost.' This event led to a revival in their community.

What commitment did the Moravians make following their Holy Spirit outpouring?

Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 24 men and 24 women covenanted to intercede in prayer every hour around the clock, starting a nonstop prayer meeting that lasted for 100 years.

How did the Moravians influence John Wesley and the Methodist movement?

The Moravians had a profound impact on John Wesley, a young Anglican, which contributed to an unprecedented move of God through the Methodist movement on both sides of the Atlantic.

What modern movements find inspiration in the Moravians’ legacy?

Modern worldwide prayer movements, such as 24/7 houses of prayer and prayer watches, draw inspiration from the Moravians’ model of continuous prayer and missionary zeal.

What was central to the Moravian model of community life and mission?

The Moravian model emphasized community covenant love, unity, corporate fasting and prayer, and a strong commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission through missionary work.

What role did prayer play in the Moravians’ missionary efforts?

Prayer was central to the Moravians’ missionary efforts. They believed in the importance of continual prayer, which fueled their missionary outreach to the hardest and darkest places on earth.

Outlines

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🌍 The Birth of Modern Missions

The modern Protestant missions movement is often traced back to William Carey, a Baptist missionary to India in the early 19th century, who is regarded as the father of modern missions. However, Carey was inspired by a group of 300 Moravian missionaries from Germany, led by Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf. These young men and women were driven by the motto that 'the Lamb who was slain would receive the reward of His suffering.' They even went as far as selling themselves into slavery to reach those who had not heard the name of Jesus. Their commitment, sacrifice, and passion transformed some of the world's darkest places and inspired future generations to fervently pursue the Great Commission.

🔥 The Moravian Pentecost and Unceasing Prayer

On August 13th, 1727, a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred among the Moravian community, which Count Zinzendorf referred to as their Pentecost. This spiritual awakening led 24 men and 24 women to commit to around-the-clock intercessions, praying every hour continuously. The group soon grew to about 70 members, and this prayer meeting persisted nonstop for 100 years, becoming a significant source of spiritual power behind the Moravian mission's global impact. The unceasing prayer is seen as the driving force behind their success in reaching out to the world with the gospel.

🌱 Moravian Influence on Global Movements

The Moravian missionary movement not only had a profound impact on its own but also greatly influenced others, including John Wesley, a young Anglican who later led a transformative movement on both sides of the Atlantic through Methodism. Today, the Moravians are a source of inspiration for many, with a burgeoning global prayer movement characterized by 24/7 houses of prayer, prayer watches, and solemn assemblies emerging worldwide. Simultaneously, a new missions movement is being inspired to reach the most difficult and darkest places on earth, with the goal of completing the task of preaching the gospel to every tribe and tongue.

🕊️ Moravians: A Model of Prayer and Mission

The Moravians began their ministry rooted in continuous prayer for the nations. Their model, established by Zinzendorf, is now a source of inspiration for many prayer houses globally. The Moravian community exemplified covenant love, unity, corporate fasting, prayer, and a commitment to missions, making them a model for end-time movements of day and night prayer tied to the global mandate of spreading the gospel. Today, prayer and missions are seen as intertwined efforts, both critical in fulfilling the Great Commission. The Moravians' legacy lives on as a call to unite these two streams to complete the mission Jesus set for His followers.

🌎 The Legacy of the Moravian Missionaries

The Moravians were the pioneers of Protestant missions, dedicating their lives to a mission of prayer and outreach. They were driven by the belief in the power of united prayer and the call to go to all nations. This group's commitment to a lifestyle of prayer on a mission serves as a powerful legacy, inspiring current and future generations to integrate prayer and missions as the church seeks to fulfill its global mandate. The Moravians are seen as a model community, demonstrating how prayer and missions can work together to accomplish the task of making disciples of all nations.

Keywords

💡William Carey

William Carey is often referred to as the father of modern Protestant missions. He was a Baptist missionary who went to India at the beginning of the 19th century. While he significantly advanced the modern missions movement, the video highlights that his inspiration came from an earlier group of Moravian missionaries.

💡Moravian Missionaries

Moravian missionaries were a group of 300 young radicals from Germany, led by Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf. They dedicated themselves to spreading Christianity around the world, even selling themselves into slavery to reach unreached people. Their radical commitment and sacrificial lives are a central theme in the video, showcasing their role as pioneers in the modern Protestant missions movement.

💡Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf

Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf was a German religious and social reformer who led the Moravian missionaries. He is described in the video as a 'Rich Young Ruler' who didn't seek the traditional titles and prestige of clergy but focused on fulfilling the Great Commission through radical and selfless means. His leadership and vision were crucial in establishing the Moravian missions and the ongoing prayer movement.

💡Great Commission

The Great Commission refers to the instruction given by Jesus to his disciples to spread the gospel to all nations. In the video, it is the driving force behind the Moravian missionaries' work, as they dedicated their lives to fulfilling this command. Their actions, inspired by the Great Commission, influenced future generations of missionaries, including William Carey.

💡Hourly Intercessions

Hourly intercessions refer to the practice of continuous, around-the-clock prayer that was initiated by the Moravian missionaries. This began shortly after a significant spiritual experience in 1727 and continued non-stop for 100 years. The video emphasizes this practice as a key spiritual discipline that fueled their missionary efforts and impacted global Christian movements.

💡Prayer Meeting

The prayer meeting established by the Moravians is depicted in the video as a central and powerful element of their community life. This meeting, which continued for 100 years, is credited with providing the spiritual power behind their global missionary impact. It serves as an example of the profound connection between prayer and mission work in the Christian tradition.

💡John Wesley

John Wesley was a young Anglican who was deeply influenced by the Moravian missionaries. The video notes that their impact on Wesley led to an unprecedented move of God on both sides of the Atlantic through the Methodist movement. Wesley's transformation and subsequent work are shown as part of the ripple effect of the Moravian missionaries' dedication and spiritual practices.

💡Pentecost

Pentecost in this context refers to a day of outpouring of the Holy Spirit experienced by the Moravian community on August 13th, 1727. This event is likened to the original Pentecost in the Christian tradition, where the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. The video portrays this as a pivotal moment that sparked the 100-year prayer meeting and the missionary zeal of the Moravians.

💡24/7 Houses of Prayer

24/7 Houses of Prayer are modern-day prayer movements inspired by the Moravian practice of continuous prayer. The video links these contemporary initiatives to the historical model established by the Moravians, highlighting how their legacy continues to influence global prayer and missionary efforts today.

💡Spiritual Power

Spiritual power in the video refers to the strength and influence derived from dedicated prayer and spiritual practices. The Moravian missionaries' continuous prayer is seen as the source of their spiritual power, which not only sustained their own missions but also inspired other movements, such as the Methodist revival led by John Wesley.

Highlights

William Carey is often considered the father of modern Protestant missions, but his inspiration came from a group of 300 Moravian radicals a generation earlier.

The Moravians, led by Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, were willing to sell themselves into slavery to preach the gospel to unreached people.

Their motto was: 'The lamb who was slain would receive the reward of his suffering.'

The Moravians' sacrifice, love, and passion inspired the next generation to follow in their footsteps.

On August 13, 1727, Zinzendorf described a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit within their community, likened to their Pentecost.

Within two weeks, 24 men and 24 women committed to praying around the clock, leading to a nonstop prayer meeting that lasted 100 years.

The prayer meeting was seen as the spiritual power behind the global impact of the Moravian missionaries.

The Moravian movement profoundly influenced John Wesley, leading to the spread of the Methodist movement on both sides of the Atlantic.

Today, many look to the Moravians for inspiration in prayer movements, with day and night prayer rising through 24/7 houses of prayer.

A new missions movement is emerging, aiming to go to the hardest and darkest places on Earth to complete the task of preaching the gospel to every tribe and tongue.

The Moravians started their ministry in prayer, specifically praying for the nations continuously.

Their model of corporate prayer and fasting, along with a commitment to global missions, is seen as a powerful example for modern movements.

At the end of the age, there is a vision for night and day prayer combined with the global mandate to preach Jesus in every nation.

Missions and prayer are now seen as interconnected, working together to fulfill the Great Commission.

The Moravians' commitment to prayer and mission is a key inspiration for contemporary movements focused on prayer and evangelism.

Transcripts

when we think about the modern

Protestant missions movement it's

typical for historians to trace it back

to one William kery a Baptist missionary

to India at the beginning of the 19th

century Carrie has indeed been dubbed

the father of modern missions while

Carrie did much to advance the modern

missions movement Ker's own inspiration

was a group of 300 young radicals from

Germany who dedicated themselves to

carry out the Great Commission a full

generation before sent from Europe to

the furthest reaches of the globe these

young Moravian men and women led by a

Rich Young Ruler count Nicholas Von

zundorf didn't need the usual titles and

Prestige of clergy in fact they would

even sell themselves into slavery simply

to reach those who had not heard the

name of Jesus their watch word was that

the lamb who was slain would receive the

reward of his suffering their sacrifice

their love and their passion not only

changed the hardest and the darkest

places on the

Earth but they became an

inspiration to the Next Generation to

passionately fulfill the command of

their master and their story continues

to inspire thousands today but what

provoked and fueled such

devotion what was the fire behind their

missionary

abandonment on August 13th

1727 Zinzendorf enthusiastically

described a day of outpourings of the

Holy Spirit upon the community it was

its Pentecost within 2 weeks of this

Holy Spirit outpouring 24 men and 24

women covenanted to hourly intercessions

and thus pray every hour around the

clock they were committed to see that

the fire must be kept burning on the

altar continuously it must not go out

the numbers committed soon increased to

around 70 while relatively few in number

this prayer meeting would go nonstop for

the next 100 years the fire did not go

out as in the Moravian community of heut

for several generations for many this

continuous pray meeting is seen as the

spiritual power behind the subsequent

impact that the moravians had upon the

world for not only did the Moravian

missionary movement have profound impact

itself but the Moravian impact upon the

young Anglican by the name of John

Wesley saw an unprecedented move of God

on both sides of the Atlantic through

the Methodist movement today many look

to the moravians for inspiration a

worldwide prayer movement is beginning

to stir with day and night prayer being

raised up through 247 houses of prayer

prayer watches solemn assemblies and

days of prayer all across the globe

while at the same time a new missions

movement is being provoked to go to the

hardest and darkest places of the earth

to finish the task of preaching the

gospel to every tribe and tongue when

the moravians the first Protestant

mission

began their Ministry they began it in

the place of prayer praying for the

Nations 24/7 and I believe there that

model that God used Zinzendorf to

establish has been an inspiration to so

many houses of prayer across the Earth

even in this hour of History I believe

the Moravian movement is the model

Community Covenant Love living in unity

together corporate fasting and prayer

and loosing the great missions and

harvest but at the end of the age that's

what we're after we're after what Count

Zinzendorf did sing Night and Day prayer

connected to the global mandate to

preach Jesus in every nation what is

even more miraculous is that both

streams see themselves now as part of

the same movement missions and prayer

working together in concerts to finish

the Great Commission Jesus told us to

pray because the Harvest is great and he

told us to go and make disciples as the

church we must do both together and that

is why many at this hour of History are

looking to this group of 300 young

German

radicals who gave themselves to a life

of prayer and went into all the world

they lived a life of prayer on a mission