Insights from the Lives of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga for Pioneer Mission and Church Planting Today

Conrad Mbewe

Description

Insights from the Lives of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga for Pioneer Mission and Church Planting Today deals with the question of the hand over process of pioneer missionaries to the first indigenous leaders in church planting missions situations. It recognises the fact this process when wrongly handled has caused a lot of harm to the work of missions. The case study in this thesis, which took place at the start of Baptist work in Zambia, shows one example in which it was done exceptionally well. The researcher also uses biblical interpretation and qualitative empirical analysis to augment his research. He finally posits that the mutual respect and mutual admiration between Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga is what led to this admirable result.

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 14 décembre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783689231
• Langue: English

Extrait

We welcome this work with its level of original research and contribution to the body of knowledge! It is a contribution to the history of Christian mission, the church, the Lamba people, and Zambia as a nation. A new day has dawned that has ushered in a new era of non-western contribution to the history of Christian mission. While this work by Conrad Mbewe is a maiden academic work, it is nonetheless a monumental contribution to Christian history. Writing from the margins, yet enriching the majority. The writing of this thesis is the raising of a voice once not heard. Subjects of indigenization, contextualization, theologizing, initiation of church and leadership are methodically articulated and presented with in-depth original research. Africa and the world stand to benefit from this positively depicted experience despite it being steeped in the realities of colonial and ecclesiastical historical inequalities.
Dr Lazarus Phiri
Principal of the Theological College of Central Africa, Zambia
During my pilgrimage as pastor, church planter, and seminary professor I have read numerous articles, books, master and doctoral theses, on practically all facets of missiology. But I have always observed a gap in missiological literature regarding the contribution of ‘nationals’ from the majority world, especially from the global south, in the areas of principles of successful biblical church planting. Therefore, I am first of all thankful to the Lord for Dr Conrad Mbewe’s research on the faithful, fruitful, fearless living, work, and teaching of Paul Kasonga and Olive Doke in Zambia. Second, I am also thankful that Conrad offered a biblical and theological foundation in order to understand and put in perspective the great contribution and lessons found throughout their ministry. And third, Conrad was able to present in detail a church planting model whose principles are biblically grounded and applicable anywhere. More works such as this one ought to be read and spread.
Rev Elias Medeiros , PhD
Harriet Barbour Professor of Mission and Missions Department Chairman
Reformed Theological Seminary
Jackson, MS, USA
As one who has had the task of reading through many postgraduate theses I can say that very rarely does one find genuinely scholarly work combined with deep spiritual insight and sheer reading enjoyment! Such is the case with Conrad Mbewe’s landmark study on the lives of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga and the insights provided for mission and church planting today. The book is filled with fascinating biographical details and most important insights on the great work of handing on the gospel and handing over the work of the gospel to those who have received it. This work has value far beyond Africa, indeed, for the whole world and to everyone who has caught the vision of spreading the good news to the ends of the earth and establishing communities of Christ’s followers in every nation and people.
Dr Kevin Roy
Church Historian and Pastor
Muldersdrift Union Church, South Africa

Insights from the Lives of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga for Pioneer Mission and Church Planting Today
Conrad Mbewe

© 2014 by Conrad Mbewe
Published 2014 by Langham Monographs an imprint of Langham Creative Projects
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 9WZ, UK
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-78368-924-8 Print
978-1-78368-922-4 Mobi
978-1-78368-923-1 ePub
978-1-78368-889-0 PDF
Conrad Mbewe has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ® (ESV ® ), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Mbewe, Conrad, author.
Insights from the lives of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga for
pioneer mission and church planting today.
1. Church development, New. 2. Evangelistic work. 3. Church
development, New--Baptists. 4. Church development, New--
Zambia--Kafulafuta--History--20th century. 5. Doke,
Olive. 6. Kassonga, Paul.
I. Title
254.1-dc23
ISBN-13: 9781783689248
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and a scholar’s right to publish but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth, and works referenced within this publication or guarantee its technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation of its published content.

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Contents

Cover


Preface and Acknowledgments


Abstract


Chapter 1 Focus of this Research


1.1 Introduction


1.2 Problem Statement


1.3 Significance of the Study


1.4 The Hypothesis


1.5 Methodology of the Study


1.6 Limitations of the Study


1.7 Description of Chapters


Chapter 2 Moving from Systems to the Spirit


2.1 Introduction


2.2 The paucity of literature on this subject


2.3 Some key concepts defined


2.4 Missionary Methods – St Paul’s or Ours


2.5 Transforming Mission – Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission


2.6 A review of other relevant literature


2.7 A Quest for Authentic Practice of Missions in Africa


2.8 Literature on Doke and Kasonga


2.9 Conclusion


Chapter 3 The Example of Christ and His Apostles


3.1 Introduction


3.2 The church’s first missionaries


3.3 The Example of Jesus


3.4 The Example of the Apostles


3.5 Conclusion


Chapter 4 The Lives of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga


4.1 Introduction


4.2 The background of Olive Doke


4.3 Doke’s And Kasonga’s Early Labours


4.4 Progress Despite Great Discouragements


4.5 Doke’s Final Labours And Earthly Rewards


4.6 Doke’s Labours After Retirement


4.7 Conclusion


Chapter 5 A True Example of Mutual Respect and Admiration


5.1 Introduction


5.2 The background of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga


5.3 The growing respect and admiration between them


5.4 Kasonga’s leadership finally acknowledged and earned


5.5 Conclusion


Chapter 6 Transforming Paternalism into Partnership: Application


6.1 Introduction


6.2 Missionary training and orientation


6.3 The first stage of missions


6.4 The second stage of missions


6.5 The third stage of missions


6.6 Conclusion


Chapter 7 Conclusion and Final Recommendations


7.1 The hypothesis proved


7.2 Some pertinent lessons


7.3 Universal application


7.4 Suggestions for further research


7.5 Biographies of Doke and Kasonga


7.6 The baton is now in our hands


Appendix 1 The Working Relationship between Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga


Questionnaire


Appendix 2 Oral Interview Responses


Summary


List of people interviewed


Appendix 3 Questionnaire on Missionaries/Nationals Working Relationships


Introduction


Personal General Experience


Personal Opinion on Two Issues


Paternalism and Inferiority Complex


Partnership


Bibliography


About Langham Partnership

Endnotes
Preface and Acknowledgments
The research involved in the writing of this book has been most rewarding. I began this research because during my MA studies, I stumbled across a very rare gem – the relationship between Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga. I could not help thinking that there was something in that relationship that we could all learn from, especially as we engage in the work of missions. I was aware, from my little experience in church planting missions, that the handover process from missionaries to indigenous leaders has often been a very rough part of the Great Commission ride. Complaints have often come from both sides. What was it that made things so different between Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga? It was this curiosity that got the better of me and started me off on this research. As I have already stated, what I found was most rewarding. It is my prayer that many missionaries and indigenous leaders will use the fruit of this research to correct the attitudes that often f