In 2007, the Worldwide Moravian Church celebrated its 550th Anniversary:
1457-2007 marks 550 years of ministry throughout the World!
The Wider Moravian Church:
Moravian Mission Today
As some of the first Protestant Missionaries, the Moravians began to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to some of the most oppressed individuals throughout the world. As early of the 1730’s, Moravian missionaries from Herrnhut and later all over the world, traveled to the islands of the Caribbean, throughout the eastern U.S., Labrador, Alaska, in various parts of Europe, Suriname, South Africa, Tanzania, and in several parts of Central America. Our Moravian churches are located in 19 provinces and other Moravian fellowships throughout the world.
Central Moravian Church is a member of the Unitas Fratrum or the Unity of the Brethren, an international denomination popularly called the Moravian Church.
Central is part of the Bethlehem Area Moravians or BAM, a group of the 6 Moravian Churches in Bethlehem (Advent, Central, College Hill, East Hills, Edgeboro, and West Side). BAM grew out of the Moravian Congregation and is dedicated to the Kersten model of investment and business development for the sake of mission and ministry. BAM operates Moravian Houses 1, 2 and 3, affordable housing for senior citizens and also Moravian House 4, a transitional housing for clients with mental handicaps. The BAM Churches join together in a variety of ministries, for both their congregations as well as the greater community of Bethlehem.
Central is also a part of the Eastern District of the Moravian Church, Northern Province in America. In the Eastern District of the Moravian Church we are also proud to support a transitional living shelter in New York City for men and women above 50 called Moravian Open Door.
The Board of World Mission in America is involved in mission work throughout the world. The youth of our Moravian Church, North America, are also getting involved in mission opportunities. Check out their website and find out what is going on with our young people.
From new church plants in Peru to medical missionaries in NIcaragua, or Gulf Coast rebuilding work in Ocean Spring, MI to the Orphans Project in Tanzania, Moravians are making a difference in our world by the spreading the love of Jesus in a tangible way. Central member and regional volunteer Mia Mengel coordinates some of this work.
Upcoming Mission Opportunities:
There are many mission opportunities from local Habitat work to past trips to the Gulf Coast, as well as many mission opportunities that Central operates. Please contact Pastor Janel for more information (janel_rice@yahoo.com).