Abstract

This dissertation traces and examines the history of Lunjika Seventh-day Adventist Mission in Eswazini, a rural growth centre in Mzimba district. The importance of this mission for the overall Adventist mission history in Malawi cannot be understated. The mission a sister of Malamulo, Matandani and Luwazi missions in the spread of Adventist message in Malawi, but it was unique in other ways. A Unlike Malamulo mission, whose origin was largely the effort of missionaries, like Joseph Booth, Matandani, Luwazi and Lunjika missions are examples of how mission histories have ignored to acknowledge the African contribution in the establishment of Christian missions in Africa. Until now, the general perception has been that missions like Matandani, Luwazi and Lunjika were established solely by the effort of the white missionaries. The study of Yonah Matemba, on Matandani mission and this study on Lunjika and partly Luwazi has established a classic example of how the combined efforts of both Malawian and expatriate workers led to the origin and development of Christian missions. The study however, shows that while Malawians were good at missionary work, they were at times delicate especially when handling political issues. Evidence to this effect is Samson Mfune, Stad Kasambala and Charles Zikhale Chimbetete's involvement in political unrest of 1963 at Luwazi mission. The study concludes by showing that it is not always good to make a general conclusion on the policy of indigenation that with indigenization alone, Malawians have failed to maintain the same standard Adventist missions were famous for during white missionary era. Ever since Adventist missions have been depending on donations, offerings and tithes for capital development, maintenance and salaries for workers respectively. Sourcing money from donors required good managerial ability of leaders, both whites and Malawians, so from this study, it has been established that electing people who are not competent in leadership positions can lead to the decline of any organization that was previously led by competent leaders. For example, Lunjika mission had leaders who were elected into leadership positions on merit and not on tribal basis until the l980s, which led to the successful maintenance and development of the mission.

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School	: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Issued Date	: 2006

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