Count Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf was born in Dresden, Germany in 1700. He was a child of a wealthy, noble family. His family were part of the Pietist movement.

Even as a child he was personally committed to spread the Gospel. Late, in 1722 when a group of Moravians wanted to live on some of his land, the course of his life was then set.

Zinzendorf became heavily involved with the Moravians and left public life in 1727 to spend all of his time with them. The Moravians are like a thread woven through the tapestry of the Protestant Reformation. Their origins were from the followers of John Huss. The Hussites were known as the Taborites and later became the Bohemian or Moravian Brethren. They are in the background of many of the events of the Reformation and they are in the foreground during the life of Zinzendorf. Their emphasis on education has kept their influence alive to modern times.

The Moravian's (including the work of Count Zinzendorf) influence on the world was and still is) great. For example, the two Wesley brothers both spent a long time trying to earn salvation by works. But their salvation came after a Moravian appeared at a critical point and explained the Gospel to them!

William Carey used the Moravians as an example of a Christian Church at the meeting that established Baptist Missionary Society.

In 1731 Zinzendorf met with a Christian slave from the West Indies. This resulted in the first of the Protestant missionary works, with two Moravians sent to live amongst the slaves and to preach the Gospel to them. They established many other missions throughout the world.

Zinzendorf travelled widely throughout the world. He made a number of journeys to America where he met with native Indians.

Count Zinzendorf considered education to be of great importance and established many schools.