Implantation and Growth of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Rwanda

165 Pages·2008·0.46 MB·English

IMPLANTATION AND GROWTH OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
CHURCH IN RWANDA (1919-2000)

By

NGABO BIRIKUNZIRA JEROME

Submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of

MASTER OF THEOLOGY

In the subject

CHURCH HISTORY

at the

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

SUPERVISOR: Prof M J S MADISE

AUGUST 2008

**********************
DECLARATION

I declare that “Implantation and Growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in
Rwanda (1919-2000)” is my own work and that all the sources that I have used
or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete
references.

Signature: NAMES: Ngabo Birikunzira Jérôme

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ABSTRACT

In this research, I have attempted to show how the Seventh-day Adventist
Church originated in America during the 19th century, following a spiritual revival
centered on the eschatology propounded by the Millerite Movement, which
proclaimed the return of Christ in 1844. After the disappointment and the
defection of its members, the remainder formed the nucleus of Adventists. They
believed in the mission to proclaim the Second Coming of Jesus to the world,
without fixing the dates.

The Adventists reached Europe and from there Rwanda in the persons of two
missionaries during 1919. In spite of various difficulties, they founded three
mission stations to be used as a base for their growth. They integrated faith in
education and medical work while, in particular, involving laity in evangelism,
which was the key to their success.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION....................................................................................................ii
ABSTRACT..........................................................................................................iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................iv
SUMMARY .........................................................................................................vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .....................................................................................viii
PREFACE............................................................................................................ix
ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................................................x
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................1
1. THE ORIGIN AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
CHURCH............................................................................................................12
1.1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................12
1.2. THE MILLERITE MOVEMENT.................................................................12
1.2.1 The first disappointment......................................................................15
1.2.2 The great disappointment...................................................................16
1.3 FROM MILLERITE MOVEMENT TO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST.........19
1.3.1 The real meaning of sanctuary discovered.........................................19
1.3.2 How the Sabbath came to Adventists.................................................22
1.3.2.1 Ellen Gould Harmon.....................................................................23
1.3.3 Organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church............................24
1.3.3.1 Steps in organization....................................................................26
1.3.3.2 The form of organization..............................................................27
1.4 FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH...............................................29
1.5 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS................30
2. EXPANSION OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH.....................34
2.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................34
2.2. TOWARD A WORLD-WIDE MISSION.....................................................34
2.2.1 Adventism in Europe...........................................................................35
2.2.2 SDA missionaries in Australia.............................................................37
2.2.3 How the SDA message entered the African Continent.......................38
2.2.4 South America....................................................................................40
2.2.5 Asia.....................................................................................................41
2.3 PROCEDURES AND METHODS IN SDA MISSIONARY OUTREACH....42
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2.3.1 SDA mission approach: general patterns............................................44
2.3.2 SDA institutions...................................................................................45
2.3.3 Chronological tables illustrating the SDA implantation around the world....47
2.4. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS....51
2.4.1The Messenger Party...........................................................................52
2.4.2 The Smoke and Chew Party (1858)....................................................52
2.4.3 The Reformed Seventh-day Adventists - Rowenite (1916).................52
2.4.4 Conright Dudley Marvin......................................................................53
3. IMPLANTATION OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN
RWANDA (1919-1931).......................................................................................57
3.1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................57
3.2. GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURE OF RWANDA.........................................57
3.3 POLITICAL BACKGROUND.....................................................................58
3.3.1 Before colonialism...............................................................................58
3.3.2 European Exploration.........................................................................59
3.3.3 The German Period............................................................................60
3.3.4 Rwanda under Belgian Administration................................................61
3.3.5 Belgian Administration under the United Nations................................63
3.4. BACKGROUND OF CHRISTIANITY IN RWANDA ..................................66
3.4.1. Before the arrival of missionaries.......................................................66
3.4.2 The Roman Catholic Church...............................................................67
3.4.3 The arrival of Protestant churches......................................................69
3.4.3.1 The Lutherans - 1907...................................................................70
3.4.3.2 The Baptists - 1920.....................................................................70
3.4.3.3. The Anglicans - 1922..................................................................71
3.4.3.4. The Pentecostals - 1940.............................................................71
3.4.3.5. The Methodists - 1940.................................................................71
3.4.3.6 The arrival of the Seventh-Day Adventists in Rwanda.................72
3.5. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST MISSION STATIONS IN RWANDA ..........75
3.5.1. The Founding of Gitwe, first SDA mission station in Rwanda............75
3.5. 2. Rwankeri: Second mission station....................................................78
3.5. 3. Ngoma: third mission station.............................................................81
3.6 HOW PEOPLE RESPONDED TO THE ADVENTIST MESSAGE.............82
4. THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST DEVELOPMENT IN RWANDA................84
(1933-1994)........................................................................................................84
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4.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................84
4.2 GROWTH AFTER IMPLANTATION..........................................................84
4.2.1 The open-air preaching method..........................................................85
4.2.2. The school approach to church growth..............................................93
4.2.3 Health work approach.........................................................................97
4.2.4. Literature evangelism.......................................................................101
4.2.5 The follow up strategy.......................................................................102
4.2.6. Voice of Prophecy Bible correspondence school.............................103
4.2.7. Tithing..............................................................................................103
4.2.8. Indigenization...................................................................................104
4.3 THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DURING THE 1994
GENOCIDE...................................................................................................107
4.3.1 The 1994 genocide background .......................................................107
4.3.2. Execution of the genocide................................................................112
4.3.3. The Church’s involvement in the 1994 genocide.............................114
4.3.4. Consequences of the genocide .......................................................117
5. AFTER THE 1994 GENOCIDE....................................................................120
5.1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................120
5.2. LOSSES.................................................................................................120
5.2.1. Psychological aftermath of genocide...............................................121
5.3 NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION...........................................122
5.4. “GACACA” JUSTICE..............................................................................124
5.4.1. Modern “gacaca”..............................................................................125
5.5 The reaction of the churches...................................................................127
5.6. THE SDA AFTER THE GENOCIDE (1994-2000) ..................................129
5.6.1 Church reorganization.......................................................................129
5.6.2 SDA Post genocide achievements....................................................132
5.6.2.1 Unity and reconciliation..............................................................132
5.6.2.2. Evangelism................................................................................133
5.6.2.3 Education...................................................................................134
5.5.2.4 Health.........................................................................................135
5.5.3 Difficulties and challenges................................................................136
6. CONCLUSION.............................................................................................140
BIBLIOGRAPHY...............................................................................................150
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SUMMARY

After eighty eight years of the existence of the Seventh-day Adventist church in
Rwanda, it has already made history in the evangelization and development of
the country. The present research has permitted a study of this church, although
incomplete, like any human work. Indeed, owing to a lack of time and adequate
means, it was not possible to cover every aspect. However, we believe that this
research will have made this church known to those who did not previously know
it at all or even only vaguely, by informing them with regards to its implantation
and growth. It was interesting to know and understand its methods of evangelism
which were the origin of its success, in spite of the difficult times endured.

It is obvious that “The effectiveness of the church’s message and mission is not
just determined by its numerical growth and geographical advance, nor by its
institutional strength and organizational structures, its financial resources and its
universal presence in the world. Rather, the effectiveness of the church’s ministry
is measured by the way it has changed people and influenced society”
(Oosterwall 1980:3). Such was the reality for the Adventist church in Rwanda. It
has helped people to change their life as well as the society around them,. by
means of the fellowship it has created and the service it has rendered to
Rwandans, in spite of its experience of the 1994 genocide.

The present research, as a basic document, will be also useful to future
researchers. To the Adventists, this implication will enable them to know and like
their church better. They will be inspired by the methods used by their
predecessors and will improve them for the future and better continuity of the
church.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to thank God for His protection, blessings of health and financial means
that I have graciously received while writing this dissertation.

Many individuals have made this academic endeavor possible, and they merit
special recognition. My deepest respect and appreciation go to the East Central
Africa Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Adventist University
of Central Africa, who financed my studies.

My gratitude goes to Dr Mokhele J S Madise who kindly supervised my
dissertation. I gained from him the insight which enabled me to accomplish this
research. He promptly provided answers to my requests.

I would like to thank Prof M H Mogashoa, who contributed to the completion of
this dissertation by his teachings.

My profound gratitude is extended to my wife Akobaligiye Lénie, and my children,
who tolerated my absence during hours spent in research. I know that they
wanted me to be with them.

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PREFACE

I was born in an Adventist home and have worked in this church for thirty years
now. During this time, I became interested and enthusiastic to know of its past,
especially in Rwanda where it flourished, being second only to the Roman
Catholic Church in membership.

Since I am a member of this church, I realized that its degree of success attracts
interest in its origin. It has also been said by Ralph Barton Perry that: “The chief
source of spiritual nourishment for any nation must be its own past, perpetually
discovered and renewed” (Harold 1946:9). This same principle is true for the
church, and therein lies the reason for this research.

To relate the entire account of Adventism in Rwanda is not easy. The beginnings
cannot be fully recaptured. The pioneers are no longer with us to give their first
hand reports. Unfortunately, they made no systematic effort to collect and
safeguard official documents, minutes of committees, photographs and
correspondence. Nevertheless, however difficult it may be, the story of
Adventism in Rwanda must be told to the world, but, first of all to the members of
the Adventist Church, many of whom possess only vague ideas about the history
of their church. They might know that Adventism originated in the United States,
somehow arrived in their country, and possessed particular characteristics such
as its methods of evangelization and beliefs, especially regarding the Sabbath,
which constituted its pillar, whereas other Christian churches observed the
Sunday as the holy day. Beyond that, many know very little about the growth and
development of their church in Rwanda. This entire situation motivated me to
carry out the present research.

In writing this history, I tried to avoid fanaticism and subjectivity, which was not
very easy. However, I hope that this study, which is the first attempt regarding
the Adventist Church of Rwanda, will serve as a basis for future researchers.
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ABBREVIATIONS

ABAE : Association des Bienfaiteurs Adventistes pour
l’évangélisation (Association of Adventist Benefactors for
Evangelization)
AD : Anno Domini (After Christ)
APROSOMA : Association pour la Promotion Sociale de la Masse
(Association for the Social Promotion of the Masses)
ADRA : Adventist Development and Relief Agency
AHA : African Humanitarian Action
BC : Before Christ
CRA : Central Rwanda Association
DRC : Democratic Republic of Congo
FAPADES : Association des parents Adventistes pour le
Développement de l’Enseignement Supérieur (Adventist
parents association for higher education)
ERA : East Rwanda Association
GC : General Conference
MRND : Mouvement Révolutionnaire National pour le
Développement (National Revolutionary Movement for
Development)
NGO : Non Government Organization
NRA : North Rwanda Association
NURC : National Unity and Reconciliation Committee
PARMEHUTU : Party of the Movement and of Hutu Emancipation
RPF : Rwanda Patriotic Front
RUM : Rwanda Union Mission
SDA : Seventh-Day Adventist
SRA : South Rwanda Association
UNAMIR : United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda
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