An introduction to Br Gert Zenker

Br Gert Zenker writes from Nain...

Dear Brethren, dear Sisters and Brothers in our Lord,

I'm Brother Gert Zenker, a minister. Born in October 1953, I?' now 55 years old. I am a Protestant theologian and also a member of the Moravian church in Germany. During five weeks I will stay with you in Nain, assisting all congregational work till 26th of Mai. I come from Saxony in Germany, from Herrnhut, this little town precisely, from where the first Moravian missionaries came over to Labrador in the 18th century and founded Nain in 1771. Herrnhut was founded in 1722 on the property, the land of the famous Count Zinzendorf. He is buried on the cemetery there, on the Hutberg. The Moravian Daily Texts (The Daily Watchwords) also come from Herrnhut; they are translated in many languages all over the world.

As to my education and my professional work: From 1973 - 1978 (during five years) I attended the University of Leipzig as a student of theology. In 1978 I got my Diploma. In the years after I did a doctorate. 1986 I finished my thesis for the doctorate degree of Systematic Theology. During 10 years I worked as an ordained Protestant Pastor in two large rural parishes near Leipzig. In the last three month (January till March 2009) I helped with the ministry of the Moravian congregation of Herrnhut in order to prepare spiritually my journey to Labrador.

I'm married. My wife's name is Hannelore (short form: Henny, like Hanny Hettasch). My family and I live in a village of nearly 1000 inhabitants not far from Herrnhut (about 12 kilometers). Two years ago we became members of the Moravian congregation in Herrnhut. We have got three children: five years, three years, and the baby of the family: seven months old. To say the truth, I have also some grown-up sons and daughters; the eldest son, Armin, is 35 years old. In the midst of May I will show you and all interested people in Nain, some pictures of my family and of the region where we live, the so called Upper Lusatia in Saxony, Germany. A beautiful landscape, too.

Now I'm here in Nain / Labrador, to stay with you and doing all work of a Moravian minister: the Sunday Service (step by step), Sunday school, visits, spiritual care, and studies in the school library etc. On Mothers Day 11.15, after the Inuktitut Sunday Service, we will start the Sunday- School, by the help of Sue Webb and others. The time of my assistance in Nain will last exactly five weeks, two are already gone. On Easter Monday I started in Germany, on 21st April I came to Nain, on 26th Mai (after five weeks exactly) I will leave Nain for Goose Bay and turn back to Germany on 3rd of June, 2009.

Why am I here, what's the purpose? There was, last year (and the year before) an interchange of letters between me and the Provincial Board of the Moravian church in NFLD and Labrador. Finally the Provincial Board invited me with the purpose to learn to know each other. To say it short: we try to find out whether we can work together in Nain or not. It will be a mutual decision; the result is yet open on both sides. In case of a good understanding (in case of a call) I could imagine coming back to Labrador next year, with my family, in order to work as a Moravian minister, living with you in Nain for five years and more.

It's not so easy for us to leave Germany for Labrador. In Germany is now full springtime, this means: we have blooming cherry-trees in our garden, children playing on green meadows, a blue sky and warm, summery weather (about 20 degree and more), as now in Vancouver / BC, maybe. Anyway, I like winter and snow. And I like people in Nain, I feel not as a stranger, indeed. Thank your for welcoming me in Labrador, in the Moravian congregation, in your beautiful church, in your town! Thanks to all people here, to the children, to young people I chanced to meet on the road, to the Moravian church elders (to Davis, Gordon and others), thanks to the chapel servants, thanks last but not least to Sister Tabea Murphy for all her kindness introducing me in the English Sunday Service.

Learning to know each other is very important among Christians and other people. We will like the other better when we understand him more. Most important, the main purpose is: that we can hear and understand God's Word, the Gospel of His Grace together (I underline also this together). Understanding the Gospel of Grace would be the best way, I think, in order to understand one another. I'm sure God will show us His way. - Such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God (2 Cor 3 : 4, the second text of the Moravian Daily Texts at 3rd Mai, 2000).

To make it short: I came to Nain not by my own, not as a tourist. I'm a minister. - For you, for all people in Nain, I bring over the kindest regards and Blessings from the Moravian congregation in Herrnhut / Saxony, and also from the Moravian Provincial Board of the European Continental Province in Bad Boll / Germany. The Brethren in Germany support my journey and pray for us.

We all are human beings, creatures of the One Almighty God. And there is One Moravian Church all over the world. - What might be the foundation? In the Bible, 1 Corinthian 13:13 is written down: ?And now FAITH, HOPE, LOVE abide, these three; and the greatest of them is LOVE. Translated in Inuktitut: Ma'nale makkoa pingasut: okpernerlo, nerriungnerlo, naglingnerlo sokKoserniangilat. Naglingnerlo tamakkonangat anginerpauvok.


Let's praise our Lord! Amen.

Brother Gert in Nain
3rd / 4th Mai, 2009