When Count Zinzendorf got out of school at age 18, he traveled around Europe for one year just a every son of nobility did in his time. He was not particularly interested because he felt God had a special call on his life, but he went anyway. While he was touring, he visited a gallery of paintings. One that caught his attention was called "Behold, the Man". It was a painting of Jesus with a crown of thorns on his head, and on the bottom the painter had painted the words, This I have done for you, What have you done for me? After seeing that, Count Zinzendorf was more determined that God had a special call for him. He went home and took up his jobs in the royal court, wrote hymns, and attended meetings on Sunday. At last the answer came. He inherited his father's money, and with it bought his grandmother's castle. One day, a man named Christian David came to him and told him about a group of persecuted Christians in Moravia, just south of Saxony, and asked Count Zinzendorf if he would be willing to make his estate a community where these Christians could flee to. He agreed, and plans were made. Just before the first family came to settle there, Count Zinzendorf married a daughter of nobility named Erdmuth.
(To be continued)
1 comment:
This is getting interesting, Anna! :) Thank you for sharing!
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