"Go and make disciples of all the nations" : Moravian missionaries in Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast from 1912--1933.

According to Matthew, chapter 28, verse 19 of the Bible, Jesus ordered his disciples to go forth from Galilee to convert the people.

A seemingly direct initiative, this instruction would prompt scores of missionaries over the course of the next 2000 years to follow in the footsteps of Jesus the Nazarene, believe in Christianity, and pursue active steps to convert nonbelievers.

In 1849, a group of Moravian missionaries had taken this teaching to heart and landed on the Eastern Coast of Nicaragua.

Armed with faith and a plan, these devout Christians and their successors would spend the next 125 years in communion with the native peoples.

The period of 1912-1933 was one of constant struggle for the Moravian missionaries in Nicaragua's Miskitu Coast.

They were waging a two front melee with the American Marines and businessmen on one side and the Roman Catholic Church on the other.

In 1912, the U.S. Marine Corps entered Nicaragua. Sent in to restore stability to the region, their goals satisfied the needs of wealthy shareholders and Washington bureaucrats.

In place non-consecutively until 1933, the Marines brought modernism to the coast, which upset Moravian teachings of simplicity.

Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church experienced a wave of interest in integrating the coast into the traditional religion, prevalent across the majority of the country.

Whether an actual campaign to convert the coast existed is not of concern here; of interest is simply that the Moravians perceived it to be so.

They honestly believed that "Rome" was attempting to take their communities.

So, they fervently fought back through strengthening their convictions and working harder.

Besieged by forces out of their control, they turned their attentions toward converting the native populations, particularly the Miskitu, to Christianity and reduce or eliminate all remnants of aboriginal spiritual practices.

During the course of their mission, Moravian preachers influenced native beliefs.

However, in the end, what they helped create was a wholly unique version of Christianity, neither completely Moravian nor entirely Miskitu.