Nikolaus von Zinzendorf

Nikolaus von Zinzendorf (1700–1760) was a German nobleman, pastor, and missionary leader whose life helped spark one of the most remarkable prayer and missions movements in church history. Born into wealth and privilege, Zinzendorf was raised in a deeply pietistic Christian home that emphasized personal devotion to Christ. From a young age, he showed a sincere love for Jesus and a desire to see the gospel spread.

As a young man, Zinzendorf opened his estate to a group of persecuted Christians known as the Moravians. What began as a refuge soon became the community of Herrnhut, a place marked by unity, repentance, and renewed spiritual passion. In 1727, after a period of division, the community experienced a powerful revival that transformed their fellowship and ignited a continuous prayer meeting that would last over 100 years.

Out of this prayer movement came a wave of missionary zeal unlike anything seen in Protestant history at the time. Moravian believers traveled across the world—to the Caribbean, Africa, Greenland, and the Americas—often at great personal cost, to proclaim the gospel. Zinzendorf encouraged ordinary believers, not just trained clergy, to go.