Bro. Dean Taylor invited me along with the high school students for a field trip to Bethlehem, Pa, where the Moravian Brethren had their headquarters for the northern USA and Canada. Here is a video Dean uploaded, part of which happened while we were there. We have the brainstorm to do a series on Bethlehem, looking at some of the good things that happened there.

David Nitschmann (the Bishop … there were at least three famous early Moravian Brethren named David Nitschmann, so that is why this one is called “The Bishop.”) was the first bishop of the renewed church at Herrnhut, Germany. Interesting people, they were. Some of the stories got exaggerated, as can be seen in the video, but Riedhead does catch the spirit of the missions, even though his “facts” are not factual.

I do not in any way put an endorsement on Zinzendorfian theology (he killed the Moravian Brethren, in my opinion), but the zeal and dedication and love of the Moravian Brethren is worthy to look at. (And Zinzendorf was a very dedicated man, just had some kooky theology, which even the Moravian Church acknowledges.)

Who was Anna Nitschmann? I suppose that is one reason I wrote a book about her … she has been forgotten for the most part. Yet at one time, she was the leading female figure of the Moravian Brethren. We all know the Moravian Brethren and missions, dont we?

One of the other reasons I chose Anna to write about is that there are many missionary biographies focus on men, but there are very few written about women. And since men are biblically ordained to take the lead in missions and church leadership, it is right that men are encouraged in that direction. That said, there is room on about any mission front for consecrated maidens of the Lamb. Anna turned down two marriage proposals in her youth so that she could dedicate herself better to Jesus Christ. Not all are called to singlehood, but some are. This story is dedicated to the sisters who are sold out for Jesus.

At this time, Handmaiden of the Lamb, The story of Anna Nitschmann, Moravian shepherdess of souls is only available in pdf. Contact me if you would like a hard copy.

Anna Nitschmann was a dedicated sister in the Renewed Moravian Church

Anna Nitschmann was a consecrated sister in the Renewed Moravian Brethren church. This booklet was written to encourage young sisters to total consecration. Included in her story is an overview of the Moravian practices and teachings, the good points, and the bad. An appendix looks especially at Zinzendorf’s [bad] theology and the overuse of the lot.