Count Zinzendorf: Firstfruit

I have admired Ludwig Zinzendorf from afar for the last 20 years, but had never seen a biography before finding the Benge's children's version. (I have read Craig Atwood's, PhD Princeton Seminary, scholarly account of one of the missional towns that Zinzendorf's followers launched in the United States, which raised my interest in Zinzendorf, and so I was thrilled to find a biography suitable for children). Last night I just finished reading chapter ten to my six and four year old boys. If you don't know Zinzendorf, here are a few highlights the book will introduce: 1) A Passion for Prayer. The "Moravian" community Zinzendorf led started a 24-7 continuous prayer chain that lasted for over 100 years. 2) The Missional Life. Missions was almost non-existent among Protestants in the 17th century. Zinzendorf's Moravians played a central role in launching the Protestant missions movement. They were radically committed to Christ, and were willing to suffer greatly to proclaim the greatness of his name. The Benge's biography reports that 25 of the first 29 missionaries they died on the field. The Moravians are known to have sold themselves into slavery in order to share the gospel with the slaves...the Benge's biography describes in one chapter how a slave-owner had cut the ears off a slave who had been caught listening at the white slave owner's church. For these slave owners, Christianity was a "white man's religion." Dozens of Moravian missionaries died to destroy this lie. 3) A dangerous life. The Benge's have done an outstanding job of making Zinzendorf's story readable and interesting to kids. They are great writers, and weave in many of the exciting events from Zinzendorf's fascinating life. They do a good job with "scene selection;" the book begins with a flash-forward to a dangerous missionary negotiation with American Indians, who think Zinzendorf is an agent for colonial powers and are making plans to kill him. The next chapter begins with a scene of Zinzendorf as a six year old, studying the Bible and praying as his castle is invaded in a surprise raid by renegade soldiers. There are also stories about the "mustard seed" club he forms at age 12 with four other friends. This "band of brothers" took a vow to do whatever they could to take the gospel to the ends of the earth during their lives. They kept their vow. What an awesome challenge for today's youth! Overall, I give this book five stars. For parents looking for a book to read to their kids that will prompt good discussions after each chapter, I can't think of a better book to move to the top of your reading list...ok, I can... a children's version of Pilgrim's Progress should be at the very top this year and every year (try the Moody Press version). I may be slightly euphoric in my delight at finding a way to introduce my kids to Zinzendorf, but this is one of the best I have read to my kids. It will inspire you and your children towards the missional life and will introduce ki

This was my introduction to the life of Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf. I appreciate his love for the Lord, and he has written some beautiful hymns. His story was very interesting. When he came into his estates in Saxony, he allowed refugees from Moravia to establish a community, named Herrnhut, on his property. All the people agreed to work together for the good of the whole. Count Zinzendorf founded "choirs", groups of people who lived together and worked together. Single men, single women, married men, and so on. The count became an ordained Lutheran minister, and eventually also a Moravian bishop. He appointed women elders and preachers. These Moravians were actively sending out missionaries to many parts of the world. Zinzendorf went on to plant and oversee several such communities in different areas. One community in Pennsylvania agreed that all the members would own no property, and give all they earned to send others on missions. They also had a 100-year prayer meeting; people signed up to pray for an hour a day, and scheduled it so that someone was praying 24 hours a day, every day. No one was compelled to join these villages, but if they did, they were obligated to follow the many rules. Some Christians chose to come for a certain time period, devoting it to this work, and then return to their lives. Count Zinzendorf had twelve children, only three of which survived him. When his first wife died, he realized he had spent too much of their marriage away, and not putting her and the family first. It is so sad when we realize our misplaced priorities once it is too late. I think the count was fervent in his love for the Lord, and spent his energies to serve Him, not always effectively. There was a scandal during the time of his exile from Saxony in which he and his son were preaching a return to childlike faith. This resulted in and was applied to be a return to childishness, spending their time and resources in playing. Zinzendorf saw the error in this and repented, and tried to reverse it. I know he certainly loved the Lord, but many of his thoughts, ideas and teachings were misguided, probably influenced by the times in which he lived. This book was helpful in learning about the life of a hymn writer and man of faith. I think it is good to read about men who have influenced the Church and the world, whether or not we agree with all they thought and taught. The authors write to a young audience, and present the material as an engaging story. The facts are not related in such a manner as to touch the heart (as when a child dies, they comment that the count "was sad"), but to hold the interest, which they do throughout the life of count Zinzendorf.