The Role of Africans in the Establishment and Growth of the Adventist Church at Mansa's Loshi Seventh-Day Adventist Church from 1930 to 1974

George Mwansa; Melvin Simuchimba

George Mwansa
Melvin Simuchimba The University of Zambia, Department of Religious & Cultural Studies

Keywords: Role, Africans, Establishment, Growth, SDA Church

Abstract

This article traces the role of Zambian Christian Seventh-day Adventists in the establishment and growth of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church at Loshi in the Mansa district from 1930 to 1974. This qualitative study used the historical- organisational model as the framework of its methodology. One-on- one in-depth interviews and Focused Group Discussions (FGD) were used to collect data. The population consisted of Loshi Seventh-day Adventist Church since it was the earliest centre in the Mansa district from which Adventism grew. Data analysis revealed that contrary to the long-held notion that it was the White missionaries from Chimpempe Mission in Kawambwa who first brought the message of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church to Mansa, it was actually the local people who once lived in Congo and received the SDA message there who first introduced this faith in Loshi area of Mansa district. Some of the key pioneer leaders include Samuel Chiposo, Timothy Chila and Bernard Kabengele Yalila

Author Biographies

George Mwansa

Pastors the Brentwood Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lusaka. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from Solusi University in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and a Master of Divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, USA

Melvin Simuchimba, The University of Zambia, Department of Religious & Cultural Studies

is a Senior Lecturer in the Department Religious and Cultural Studies of the School of Education at the University of Zambia (UNZA). He holds a Dip Ed and BA from UNZA, MA (Rel. Studies and Education) from Leeds University, and D Litt et Phil (Rel. Education) from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He teaches Religious Education Teaching Methods and other related courses and has published many scholarly articles and book chapters in Religious Education, including education policy related topics. His research interests include: the practice of RE, the interface between RE and the national education policy, RE teacher education, and religion and society.