Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal

by Richard F. Lovelace

For three years after its founding in 1724 the different factions among the settlers quarreled as constantly as their parent denominations in the church at large, putting the community periodically on the brink of disruption. Zinzendorf’s response was to set up the famous round-the-clock prayer watch in which Moravians prayed for the revival of the church for one hundred years. In August 1727, the community experienced a “baptism of the Holy Spirit” climaxing in a communion service. From this point on unity prevailed. Within the larger community Zinzendorf organized smaller cells, the prayer bands, in which lay people were encouraged to confess their faults to one another, counsel together and support each other in prayer.