Cloud of Witnesses: Nicolaus Zinzendorf

Nicolaus Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) was a German religious leader, bishop, and founder of the Moravian Church. He was born into a noble family in Dresden, Germany, and was raised in a devout Christian household. He studied at the University of Wittenberg and later traveled to England and the Netherlands to study theology and religious practices. In 1722, he purchased a large estate in Saxony and established a religious community there, which later became known as Herrnhut. This community became a center for the Moravian Church, a protestant denomination that emphasized personal piety and mission work. Zinzendorf himself was a strong advocate for missions and traveled extensively to promote the Moravian Church. He also played a key role in the development of the liturgy and hymns of the Moravian Church. He died in 1760 in Herrnhut.