Two Young Moravian Missionaries
Two young Moravians sold themselves into lifetime slavery to spread Christianity to the land that was slain, the slaves.
This sermon tells the powerful story of two young Moravian missionaries who willingly sold themselves into slavery to reach 3,000 slaves on an island in the West Indies who had never heard of Christ. Their sacrificial act of becoming slaves themselves to share the Gospel became the core of Moravian mission, emphasizing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for humanity.
Full Transcript
Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies where an atheist British owner had 2,000 to 3,000 slaves. The owner had said, no preacher, no clergyman will ever stay on this island. If he's shipwrecked, we'll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave, but he's never going to talk to any of us about God.
I'm through with all that nonsense. 3,000 slaves from the jungles of Africa bought to an island in the Atlantic, and there to live and die without hearing of Christ. Two young Moravians heard about it.
They sold themselves to the British planter and used the money they received from the sale, for he paid no more than he would for any slave to pay their passage out to his island, for he wouldn't even transport them. And as the ship left the river at Hamburg, left its pier in the river at Hamburg and was going out into the North Sea, carried with the tide, the Moravians had come from Hernhut to see these two lads off in the early 20s, never to return again, for this wasn't a four-year term. They'd sold themselves into lifetime slavery, simply that as slaves they could be as Christians where these others were.
The families were there weeping, for they knew they'd never see them again. And they wondered why they were going and questioned the wisdom of it. And as the gap widened and the houses had been cast off and were being curled up there on the pier, and the young boys saw the widening gap, one lad with his arm linked to the arm of his fellow raised his hand and shouted across the gap the last words that were heard from them.
They were these, May the land that was slain receive the reward of his suffering. This became the core of Moravian mission. And this is the only reason for being, that the land that was slain, the reward of his suffering.
Okay, let's get this unloaded here. Escobar. Chef.
Is that him? That is him. Wow, finally. Okay, here it is.
This was one of the two young Moravian missionaries, him and Leonard Dover. Went to St. Thomas, the first Maymarian mission. He was also, now this one, by the way, he had also been the one on the boat with John Wesley.
And he also then was the leader up here. Fascinating man. Wow.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Two Young Moravians
- A. Background on the island in the West Indies
- B. The challenge of spreading Christianity to the slaves
- II. The Moravians' Decision to Become Slaves
- A. They sold themselves to the British planter
- B. Their motivation: to be Christians among the slaves
- III. The Moravians' Departure
- A. The emotional goodbye with their families
- B. The Moravians' determination to spread Christianity
- IV. The Moravians' Legacy
- A. The core of Moravian mission: spreading Christianity to the land that was slain
- B. The Moravians' sacrifice and reward
Key Quotes
“May the land that was slain receive the reward of his suffering.” — Dean Taylor
“They were these, May the land that was slain receive the reward of his suffering.” — Dean Taylor
Application Points
- We can learn from the Moravians' sacrifice and determination to spread the message of God's love.
- We should be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of spreading Christianity to those who have not heard.
- The Moravians' legacy reminds us that our actions can have a lasting impact on the world.