Planters, Waterers, and Harvesters
Today, most ministers get to enjoy that harvest, but many have forgotten that scores of people went before them, watering those seeds so that they could enjoy the fruit of their labor. The message for each of us is this: Don’t be discouraged if you are a “planter” or a “waterer”—and don’t be arrogant if you are a “harvester.” Someone planted and watered before you. Perhaps it was even a Moravian missionary!
Moravians Bring Christ’s Love to South Africa
Twenty-six-year-old George Schmidt left Herrnhut for the dangerous mission field of South Africa to minister among the native Khoikhoi people. The Moravians were appalled by news that the Dutch East India Company persecuted and often killed the South African natives, whom they disparagingly called Hottentots, which meant “stammerers.”
Schmidt traveled alone to South Africa to introduce the Khoikhoi to Jesus, hoping to replace the hatred they had experienced from earlier European colonists with the love of Christ. The Dutch government of South Africa opposed everything Schmidt did to spread the gospel. Eventually, he was forced to leave the country, but not before he had spent five years teaching the natives to read and write and to worship the one true God. He established a Christian settlement that was later named Genadendal.
A Harvest Seen Generations Later
It would be fifty years, in 1793, before the Dutch government permitted other Moravian missionaries to enter South Africa. When the Moravians finally returned to Genadendal, they helped to develop the small village into a hardworking, prosperous community, and a Christian sanctuary for African slaves.
Two hundred years later, on October 10, 1995, South African President Nelson Mandela visited the small village. To honor the Moravian community and their sacrificial work among the former black slaves, Mandela renamed the presidential residency in Cape Town Genadendal. The anointed Moravian missionary work was still blessing others from beyond the graves of those early Christian workers.
“You Are Sending Young People to Their Deaths!”
In spite of the spiritual victories of the growing Moravian community, the attacks against Zinzendorf’s character never let up. “You are sending young people to their deaths, but you won’t go yourself!” was the newest accusation Zinzendorf heard.
Even though the overseas Moravian work was flourishing, there were also tragic deaths in the tropical climates due to malaria and yellow fever; one of the first to die was young Tobias Leopold. Ludwig responded to this fresh accusation by humbly turning to the Lord in prayer and then through the lot.
To be continued…
Tale Tuesday 118
Date: 25th February, 2025
Title: : COUNT NIKOLAUS LUDWIG VON ZINZENDORF (The Founder of The Moravian Community) (Part 15)
Source: God’s generals- The Missionaries
Author: Roberts Liardon
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