🌍

Catholic and Protestant Missionary Movements

Apr 28, 2025

Catholic Missionary Movements and Protestant Missions

Key Catholic Orders

  • Franciscans
    • Formed in the 13th century
    • Medieval movement
    • Still active today
  • Jesuits
    • Formed in the 16th century
    • Early modern period

Protestant Missions

  • Protestant Reformation
    • Started in the early 16th century
    • Few Protestant missionaries initially
    • Protestant missions began two centuries later than Catholic missions

Reasons for Late Protestant Missionary Activity

  1. Theological Reasons
    • Most early Protestants, including Martin Luther, believed the Great Commission was only for the original twelve apostles
    • Belief that God would redeem others through providence without human intervention
  2. Geopolitical Reasons
    • Age of exploration led by Catholic nations (Spain and Portugal)
    • Protestant nations (Britain and the Netherlands) joined later
    • Central European Protestant regions like Germany were landlocked

Catholic vs. Protestant Missions

  • Catholic missionaries were active globally, while Protestant missions took longer to begin
  • Protestant missionary activity gained momentum in the 18th century

Moravian Missionary Movement

Context

  • Began in the early 18th century
  • Ludwig von Zinzendorf: Key figure
    • Born into a noble family in Germany
    • Influenced by Pietism, a renewal movement within Lutheranism focusing on personal piety

Establishment of Hernhut

  • Moravian refugees from modern-day Czech Republic settled on Zinzendorf’s estate
  • Grew from 10 to 300 people over a few years
  • Diverse group, including separatists, Reformed, and Anabaptists

Challenges and Community Building

  • Zinzendorf moved into the community to help establish governance
  • A pivotal prayer meeting on August 13, 1727, fostered unity and mission purpose (known as their Pentecost)
    • Initiated a 24/7 prayer watch that lasted 100 years

Missionary Activity

  • First missionaries sent in 1732 to the West Indies
  • Unique approach: some sold themselves into slavery to reach enslaved populations
  • Subsequent missions to Greenland, North America, South America, Africa, and Europe
  • By 1760, 226 missionaries sent out

Legacy and Impact

  • High missionary-to-community ratio
  • Inspired later Protestant missionary movements

Reflection

  • William Wilberforce praised Moravians for their zeal and courage
  • Encouragement to emulate Moravians’ commitment to serving Christ

Prayer and final thoughts emphasize the enduring spiritual and missionary legacy of the Moravians.

Full transcript