John Wesley

Introduction

Have you considered the influence of your family history (or how you frame your family history) on your vocation and daily life? In Personal Foundations in Ministry, one of my assignments will be to complete a genogram. Have you completed a genogram? If so, what does it reveal? If not, what do you think it might reveal?

When preparing a class presentation on the The Incarnational Stream/Tradition, I could not resist delving into my family’s Moravian roots¹ and drawing connections with my present vocation and daily life. Below are a few reflections. I look forward to the genogram project in the fall not only to learn about the past, but also to prayerfully consider my legacy.²

A brief look at the Moravians

According to Smith and Graybeal (1999),

In the 18th century Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf allowed remnants of the persecuted Moravian Church (Unitas Fratum) to build the village of Herrnhut on his estate. Initially divided, the group became unified when they experienced a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit after Zinzendorf led them in daily Bible studies and in formulating the “Brotherly Agreement.” The Moravians joyfully served God – praying, evangelizing, and helping others – in the midst of baking, teaching, weaving, and raising families. This is an example of an incarnational movement (28).

Drawing from the framework provided by Smith and Graybeal (1999) and Richard Foster (1998) ³, Count Zinzindorf and the Moravians of his time were incarnational because their life together made “present and visible the realm of the invisible Spirit” (Foster, 272) Through their witness “we experience God as truly manifest and notoriously active in daily life” (Foster, 272). Nothing can escape from being offered to God. Keep Philippians 2 in mind when pondering these insights from Jars of Clay (from their hymnology project Redemption Songs): [Read more…] about The Incarnational Stream & Higher Education: Family