Adventism in East Africa: Were the initial mission strategies effective?

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Author
Language
Keyword
Periodical
Source
AARK Identifier
  • Andrews_University_Seminary_Student_Journal_2018_73-88
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Date Issued
  • 2018
Pages
  • 73-88
Date created
  • 2018
Volume
  • 4
Issue
  • 1-2
Abstract
  • The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is one of the fastest-growing Christian denominations in the world. Studies show that the SDA Church in Africa in general and East Africa in particular has recorded tremendous growth since it was introduced in the region in the early 1900s. This article surveys the first fifty years of the beginning and development of the SDA Church in East African (1903-1953). It focuses on the three initial mission strategies employed by early Adventist missionaries to East Africa, including education, medical care, and publishing work. Early Adventist missionaries to East Africa established educational and medical institutions alongside publishing houses to reach indigenous people in the region. These entities, which were strategically scattered throughout the region, provided education, medical services, and Christian literature to the local populations. By using church membership growth as an evaluative criterion, the article concludes that the three mission strategies were effective in fulfilling the goal of Christian world mission, which is to make disciples of all nations and win converts to Christianity. The article reveals that dedication and hard work on the part of the Adventist missionaries and native Africans, coupled with clear mission strategies, facilitated the rapid growth of Adventism in East Africa in the first fifty years.
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