Power from On High: The Story of the Great Moravian Revival of 1727, by John Greenfield (thin TPB, 1977 edition of 1927 book, $2)
I think I have this right-
After being persecuted Moravian Christians were given sanctuary by a German count. In 1727, until they began to pray intently, the community had begun to splinter over doctrinal issues. Their praying continued until an August 13th communion service.
Something really strange happened that Wednesday at noon. "We saw the hand of God and His wonders, and we were all under the cloud of our fathers baptized with their spirit. The Holy Ghost came upon us and in those days great signs and wonders took place in our midst."
Nothing was ever the same for them. Great hymns were written, and great sermons preached. Meanwhile the community started sending people out into the world "to make Christ's Salvation known to the heathen".
Ironically, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was someone converted by them. He was on his way to America to "convert Indians" when the ship he was traveling on floundered in a storm. Everyone on board was terrified except for a group of Moravians. Realizing the weakness of his own faith, he turned to the Moravians for guidance. For a long while he and his followers (called Methodists because they methodically "set about living a holy life") worshiped together with the Moravians. Eventually, Wesley split from the Moravians, but he would never turn away from his conversion experience. Meeting the Moravians had shown him his need for a personal relationship with Christ. His journey to find that personal relationship would change "the political and religious destinies of English-speaking Protestantism... [and relight] the expiring fires of religion."
Wow!
This book was written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the "Moravian Pentecost". Look for it on the new non-fiction table. (L-r)
