Grave Flag FAQ
I saw a "Servant of the One" grave flag. What does it mean?
From time to time, the Trust is aware of, or receives nominations regarding, certain individuals whose journeys on earth are complete, and who have been shown to have made some extraordinary sacrifice to remain faithful to the most ancient ideals of the Christian faith in its living but unchanging doctrine and practice. This has never been an easy or comfortable path. Though it is the greatest Way of peace in the long-term, in the short term it is a path of great confrontation with human nature, self-will, and often social, political, and religious opposition. Jesus was not crucified because He was handsome, had a great band, had plenty of money, lived a life that others dreamed of living, or was well-liked for making people feel good about themselves. Real love demanded so much more.
"He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." - Holy Bible, Isaiah 53
The Spirit working in these we honor was observed to be holy, not meaning that they were perfectly good but rather that their hearts and minds were set apart from what most people naturally care about in their own values, pursuits, interests, and concerns. Whatever the limits of their capacities might have been, they were known for contending for the original faith and life taught by Jesus and His Apostles from earliest antiquity, and in an earnest way (Holy Bible, Jude 3-4). They also rejected the use of physical weapons, which so many individuals and churches claiming to follow Jesus through the ages have still used in spite of His teachings and those of His Apostles (see Matthew 26:50-52; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Those we honor were defined by their love for their King, Jesus, and His Kingdom as well as their love for those around them. In some significant way, great or small, they helped make known the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached, furthering its establishment on earth as it is in heaven (Luke 4:42-43; Luke 11:2). As subjects of that Kingdom, they were pilgrims and strangers among the nations of the earth, like the cloud of faithful witnesses who have passed on in the ages before them, and like those who follow them in The Way of Life will continue to live until the restoration of all things spoken of from the beginning (Acts 3:19-21; Hebrews 11:13-16; Revelation 19:1-9). All of them have championed Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God, Messiah, Prince of Peace, and King of Kings who still offers Life to the whole world until time on this earth is brought to an end (John 6:51).
The one whose resting place you saw marked, like all of them, would plead with you, whether you are young or old, great or small, rich or poor, believer or unbeliever, to simply try Jesus at His word, no matter how unlikely or difficult a trial that it may seem to you (see John 7:16-17); to see the results and come to know your Creator in His love for you and His mercy, kindness, and peace in a fallen world that is so often filled with strife, fear, selfishness, and hatred. Scripture teaches that even the lower animals have been affected by our fall. Yet this is all in such contrast to the broader glory of nature and the magnificence of the universe itself! They would urge you to learn from that contrast.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; The firmament shows the creation of His hands. Day to day utters speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voices are not heard."
The Trust therefore honors these whom it has identified by marking their passing with the Servant-Warrior grave flag that you observed. May all who are of faith honor the imperfect love, devoted service, faith, perseverance, and sacrifice of these who have passed on, whatever their faults and failures may have been in their humanity in this life, and pray for them like the Apostle, that they will find mercy from the Lord in that Day, that they will be perfected in Him, and that their works here will go before them and endure when they are tested by fire in the crucible of eternity (2 Tim. 1:13-18; 1 Cor. 3:7-15). If you wish to learn more, the Trust recommends beginning here. (The Trust has no affiliation with the present-day Moravian Church.)
What qualifies someone to receive a Servant-Warrior flag, and how do I submit a nomination?
The Bible states in 2 Chronicles 16:9 that the eyes of the Lord run back and forth throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect (or loyal) towards Him. The Trust seeks to honor this in some small way as well, by seeking out the stories and evidence of Christians around the world known for their devotion to Jesus, the Messiah, the Kingdom of God as He taught and lived it along with His disciples, and those who, in turn, were taught by them (John 15:16). They were devoted to God and to one another, and to the cause of reconciliation and peace between God and humanity, and often between humans as well (2 Corinthians 5:9-11; Matthew 5:8-9). They have frequently faced great obstacles or opposition from within or without, and persecution (John 15:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:12). To us they have shown in their sacrificial service and loyalty to the unchanging Lamb of God, and to His Kingdom and Church, a warrior's heart of passion and courage.
Nominees with the greatest likelihood of being acknowledged with a Servant-Warrior grave flag, male or female and from any nation or tribe on earth, have sought within the limits of their strength and ability to live within the culture of the Kingdom of God, set apart from the kingdoms of this world. They live among the nations of the earth as law-abiding examples of good, but in reality as visitors and pilgrims. They do not belong to the societies where they live, whether in social status, questionable entertainments, pursuit of wealth, hatred of enemies, politics, or the wars of the nations. They subscribe to the culture of the Kingdom instead, being devoted to overcoming evil with good instead (Romans 12:21), as exemplified in the Church of the apostolic and first post-apostolic period when it was "the pillar and ground of the truthâ (1 Timothy 3:15). This was before the rise of church-state hybrid organizations and theologies with their many changes that were made centuries and millennia later. In God's economy, there has only ever been one Church and she will prepare herself, however few her remaining numbers, to meet the return of her King (Acts 3:19-21; Rev. 19:1-9). He will then be the Judge of all the earth, having suffered humanity Himself.
Note: At a minimum, the Trust upholds the reputation requirements of the Scriptures regarding bishops and other presbyters as well as deacons. Any prospective nominee who was also reputed for immorality after his or her vows to the Messiah and His Church in baptism, or for any other service to evil or to self, to the world or to another spirit or a different gospel while claiming to be a Christian, including anyone excommunicated from any church on biblical grounds within the prior 20 years even if restored afterwards, is not eligible for consideration by the Trust. (The Trust may make a rare exception based on extraordinary circumstances, but this is very unlikely.)
You may send us nominating information at: . All costs are paid for by the Trust. The Trust regrets that it cannot guarantee a response to every nomination nor a selection of any individual to receive a Servant-Warrior flag, which is exclusively at the discretion of the Trust. Please remember that the only judgment or honor of any objective and final value comes from the all-knowing and loving judgment of our Creator, not from the judgments of any human beings. The Trust is intending only to identify in particular those "who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:7-8)
Important: The Trust acknowledges the right of a family or cemetery authority to remove any grave flag at their discretion, or in accordance with local cemetery policy. We ask only that the family of the deceased, if available to contact, be given the opportunity to retain the flag.
Who was the first recipient chosen for a Servant-Warrior flag?
The first recipient chosen was David Zeisberger (1721-1808), a faithful Moravian missionary servant and friend of the Native American Lenape (Delaware) tribe, as well as other tribes in the Ohio region, despite it being an environment in which his own survival was often uncertain. Facing threats to the Natives from settlers, violence by other tribes, and the interests and wars of foreign governments, Zeisberger refused to align his work with any political or warring side, instead focusing on his love for God and the Lenape people, seeking to build a faithful and sustainable daily life together that would be principally operated and overseen by Natives rather than imported Europeans, Americans, or their mission institutions. He was held in suspicion by all while leaving an example for all.
Early in his time of getting to know the Lenape, and them getting to know his character and purposes in return, the tribe in that area requested that his church in Pennsylvania allow him to remain living with them. The church agreed, and he devoted his life to the Lenape in the service of the Messiah. He taught them Jesus' gospel of peace, not to take oaths or to fight, mastered their language along with that of several other Native peoples, and provided a written form of it for their own learning. He helped to establish several village locations for them as the conditions and security threats changed, including at Gnadenhutten (meaning tents or cabins of grace).
The massacre of Christian Lenape families at Gnadenhutten by US militia after they had already moved away from the village but had just returned to collect their crops, along with other violence and threats of violence, resulted in them re-settling north of the border in Ontario. Additional efforts were then made to re-establish some of the Lenape back in their ancestral Ohio territory. However, settler pressures and problems with the American push westward following the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, including active resistance to the settlers by other tribes and struggles with alcohol abuse among themselves (that previous European visitors had introduced and Zeisberger had worked to eliminate), made an ongoing settlement in Ohio impossible to sustain. David Zeisberger died during this time, and he was buried at Goshen, Ohio. His work is still blessing others today, including his written records being a principal reference for researchers in several Native American languages, as well as still being in use by the broader Delaware Tribe for helping to keep their language alive and true to its original structure in each generation. Get a glimpse into the spiritual character of David Zeisberger through several scenes in his life in this free book.
