In May, 1727, Zinzendorf began to address the situation by proclaiming salvation through Christ alone. He visited every home in the community and prayed for each family, calling them to walk in the love of Jesus for one another.

In the summer of that year, the Spirit of God began to move among the children of the community. A theological student was called to be the pastor to the children.

Count Zinzendorf began a class for spiritual instruction of girls aged ten to thirteen. He saw little fruit at first and so he prayed fervently for the children.

Then an eleven year old named Susanna Keuhnel began to be moved by the Holy Spirit to seek God with her whole heart. She prayed with tears for the Lord to touch her life. Other children began to be stirred, as well, and instead of going to sleep they would go out into the fields, crying out to the Lord. Adults began to gather for prayer, too.

On August 5, 1727, Zinzendorf and a dozen men spent the whole night in prayer. On Sunday, August 10, the Holy Spirit fell upon the congregation gathered for a noonday service and they remained in prayer until midnight. On August 13, a service was held and two girls were confirmed.

The Lord's presence was overpowering and it brought a sense of awe upon the congregation. People who had been estranged were reconciled and embraced one another. A later bishop described it as "a baptism of love."

Four days later, young Susanna Keuhnel experienced a breakthrough encounter with the Lord. At 1:00 a.m. she came to saving faith and an indescribable joy in knowing she was now a child of God. She witnessed to other children and a revival broke out among the young people.

A prayer meeting of children was held on August 26. At the same time, recalling how the fire on the altar in ancient Israel was never permitted to go out, a group of adults decided to pray hour by hour in succession for 24 hours.

The next day, August 27, a pattern of "hourly intercession" was put in place among the Moravians in Hernnhut, a unbroken chain of prayer that would last around the clock, seven days a week for 100 years.

The Lord worked through those prayers to launch a missionary movement. A stream of missionaries began to flow out of Hernnhut all over the world. From this one Christian village, 68 missionaries went out between 1732 and 1740. Another 158 went out in the following 25 years.

William Carey, often credited as being the founder of modern missions, took his inspiration from the Moravians. He said to his fellow pastors, "See what the Moravians have done.

Can we not follow their example, and in obedience to our heavenly Master go out into the world and preach the Gospel to the heathen?" Please note the hallmarks of this move of God:

1. Prayer. It arose out of prayer, it was led through prayer, it was propelled by prayer.
2. Unity. Sincere love for one another was the manifest fruit of the Spirit.
3. Children. The salvation of children was given priority, and children were at the forefront of the revival.
4. Missions. The result was a deep concern for the lost and sacrificial obedience in going out to proclaim the Gospel. Will you join in me in praying, "Do it again, Lord. Do it among us."

The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic is a regional diocese of the Anglican Church in North America dedicated to reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. The Diocese consists of 35 member churches in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and northeastern North Carolina.

The Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey is bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic