Review of Kinderbeten: The Origin, Unfolding, and Interpretations of the Silesian Children's Prayer Revival by Eric Jonas Swensson

Reviewed by Chuck Huckaby

Rev. Chuck Huckaby is Associate Editor of WorldViewChurch.org and Minister of Congregational Life at First Protestant Church, New Braunfels, TX as of January 2012.

In a land where our religious landscape has been marked by “Revivalism” and “Great Awakenings”, American Evangelicals are less familiar with other periods of awakening, especially the “Children’s Prayer Revival” in Silesia in 1707-8. The title of this work “Kinderbeten” means “Praying Children” in German. The phenomenon of seeing small groups of children age 4 to 14 begin gathering several times a day to sing hymns and pray for weeks without adult supervision was astounding then - much more so than it would be today.

In today’s America, gathering in small groups is considered uncontroversial by the average churchgoer accustomed to “Sunday School” or other study groups. In the 1700’s Silesia under Hapsburg (Roman Catholic) rule though, these meetings could be considered acts of treason and attempts to undermine the Emperor. The clergy considered them highly irregular as well. The children were not praying safely in church, you see; instead, they prayed openly in fields. Complicating the issues for the local Protestant leaders was their dependence on the good graces of the Catholic Hapsburgs for the recent restoration of church buildings seized from the Evangelisch (Lutheran Protestants).

Into this setting a visitation came, all were agreed. But what was the origin of these strange events? God, Man, or the Devil? Was the phenomenon of the praying children simply a sign of the impressionable nature of youth or the Holy Spirit. There were many disagreements to be sure, complicated by the politics mentioned above. Swensson’s work reviews the basic facts of the awakening and the varied responses to the praying children. The local Lutheran pastors had one opinion, the Churchly Pietists at Halle had another opinion, and the Radical Pietists yet another interpretation as the author reveals.

The local pastors hoped to channel the enthusiasm and bring it safely inside the church - likely for fear as much of political reprisal as anything else. The Halle Pietists and Radical Pietists - politically free to voice their opinions without fear of Hapsburg reprisals - attributed the work to the Holy Spirit in most ways. The Radical Pietists - like modern “End Time” preachers - saw the praying children as a herald of Christ’s imminent coming in their generation.

Kinderbeten, though brief, does a good job introducing us to this revival and the faithful people of that region. The Silesian Evangelisch have a largely hidden history dating back to Hus in many ways. They persisted in their desire for the Reformation of the Church for generations despite persecution and “forbidden” meetings for prayer and Bible study had not been uncommon. The Children’s Prayer Revival punctuated this history however with a season of profound devotion that left adult observers in tears. Some say it paved the way for the Moravians - the first modern Christian movement with “missions” so intrinsic to their life. 

This reviewer’s only wish was that the work was longer, spending more time discussing the links between the events of that revival and later revivals. Perhaps future researchers will fill in some of these blanks. Whatever may develop in such research, Kinderbeten is a quick and helpful introduction to this awakening we have so tragically forgotten!

Colson Center Store Link: http://www.colsoncenterstore.org/product.asp?sku=9781606088647

Wipf and Stock, 2011 (Paperback, 100 Pages)