Lord of the Ring: A Journey in Search of Count Zinzendorf

by Phil Anderson, Pete Greig (Foreword)

The unbelievable story of how one town truly prayed without ceasing

In 1999, a small town on the south coast of England became the birthplace of the extraordinary, accidental, international movement known as 24-7 Prayer. Their inspiration was a seemingly chance visit by founder Pete Greig to Herrnhut in Germany, where the eighteenth-century Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf had initiated the Moravian prayer watch, which ran without ceasing for a hundred years.

Five years later, Phil Anderson undertook an aerial road trip on a tiny four-seat airplane from England to Germany, a remarkable journey to uncover the history of Zinzendorf and the movement he led.

Part history, part narrative, The Lord of the Ring takes readers on a fascinating journey back to the eighteenth-century Moravian renewal movement and their hundred-year prayer watch. Anderson retraces the steps of Zinzendorf, reconnects with his legacy, and seeks to apply it to life and faith in a new millennium. Learning from the past, readers will discover crucial signposts for grappling with the church’s identity and calling as an authentic, relational, missional community.

Genres: Biography, Prayer, Church History, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2006

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me a deeper understanding of how Moravians affected modern mission, how instrumental Count von Zinzindorf was, how important community was to their model, how far-reaching and influential their movement was (to John Wesley and William Wilberforce and contributed to the abolition of slavery), and what ultimately led to its demise.

It wasn't the most compelling read (I was able to put it down for a couple months but ultimately wanted to finish). It lacked the luster that makes the people come alive, but it was a historical factual retelling, after all.

It spurs me to consider some of the emerging missional movements and compare. What worked? What didn't? What works today? Why? What is the shelf life of a movement like this? How can it impact the future even if it dissolves?

And therein lies its value to me.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book - it was a quick read (I think I read it in 2 nights) and the writing style is easy to follow. The story of Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians at Herrnhut was compelling, and I loved how the author traced this movement throughout church history in an easy-to-understand way. What shines forth is the idea that relationship with the person of Jesus creates a life that is full of the fruit of the Spirit. These were communities marked by love, sacrifice, and care. I already thought of people to lend this book to!

A caveat: I completely skipped the modern journal entries that are at the end of every chapter. The story of the Moravians is compelling - the story of how scary it is to fly in bad weather was less so. I glanced at a few of the diary entries as I'd pass them, and didn't feel like I was missing anything. If you like them, read them, but if you don't like them, feel free to skip them.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about Count vin Zinzendorf, but this book is more than that. It's a history of the Moravian movement, something I was unfamiliar with. Really interesting book. Each chapter closes with a segment about a trip the author took to "find" Zinzendorf and the start of the Moravians. The book fell a bit short in what it says it wants to do - explaining Herrnhut's 24 hour, 100 year constant prayer. Somewhere around the middle of the book that fell out of the writing, and it didn't come back in until the very end. Disappointing, especially since that was the reason I kept reading the early chapters (which were a little dry).

[Reyer ten Napel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about the count Zinzendorf and the history of the Moravians. Whilst reading I couldnt believe that all of this happened in the 17th century. They were the first protestants to send missionaries all over the world, had a 24/7 prayer and worship cycle for more then a 100 years, and were highly ecumenical, not wanting to start their own denomination but rather seeking to revive the state church. Inspired and a full heart.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun and easy read, Anderson tells the story of Zinzendorf and the history of the Moravians well, with completeness and not just the nice bits, and has managed it in a short volume!
Interspersed are accounts of his own pilgrimage to Herrnhut and back, which are part of the backdrop to the making of the book.

This has helped fill out my understanding of the birth, growth and lasting impact of the count, and the small Moravian community.

[Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting journey to follow in the footsteps of the remarkable Count Zinzendorf. Informative history of the Moravian church and the fellowship of the Mustard Seed. Followers of Pete Grieg will have heard of this. Very exciting manifestations of the Holy Spirit - hard to capture this in words, really....

[Nerida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great biography! Told the good and the bad. The incredible things that happened, as well as the flaws of the humans involved. Inspiring and encouraging.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

[Cameron Roxburgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book intrigued and taught me about Zinzendorf - much more reading to do.

[Jennifer Utech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed learning the history of The Order of the Mustard Seed and the Moravians. Truly fascinating!

[Chris Augustat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The story shows what God does when we pray and serve together in community.

[b james · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an inspiring and fascinating account of the early Moravian church.

[Sarah Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and inspiring! Interesting to discover the foundations of other society-changers. Gives hope. A book I'll keep thinking about long after finishing it

[Phil Whittall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Count Zinzendorf is probably a name you're not overly familiar with, although if you've ever read anything about John Wesley his name may ring a bell. In Phil Anderson's The Lord of the Ring: A Journey in search of Count Zinzendorf we learn of how Zinzendorf was a contemporary of Wesley and Zinzendorf's Moravian movement had a profound impact on him, the meetings at Fetter Lane where Wesley's 'heart was strangely warmed' had been started by Moravians.

Zinzendorf's Order of the Mustard Seed and the Herrnhut community he founded and led and the missionary impact throughout the world is quite staggering. The Moravians had an impact on Wesley and Whitefield, William Carey and scores of missionary societies. William Wilberforce turned to the Moravians for advice in his battle against the slave trade and scores of missionaries were sent throughout the world to share the Gospel to unreached people groups.

Zinzendorf was an aristocrat and used his position to network in the highest reaches of society, his order of the mustard seed counted kings, governors and archbishops as members and it functioned almost as a secret society but it's aims were laudable; to be true to Christ, to be kind to all people and to send the gospel to the world.

This readable and engaging book is both a biography of Zinzendorf and a personal travelogue as the author and a friend fly to Herrnhut for a weekend to engage in what they saw as the historical origins of the 24/7 prayer movement. Anderson is clearly a fan of Zinzendorf and has been personally inspired by his example so while he doesn't ignore the more controversial elements of Zinzendorf's career (of which there were several), a few excuses are made for him. Having said that this little book makes for enjoyable reading and fill you in on a highly influential but not well known church leader.

[Dylan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

very inspiring

[janie love · Rating 5 out of 5]

goooood