Mwansa: African Adventists and Self-Reliance

African Adventists and

Self-Reliance

er than on details of any country

or region. I believe that principles
By Pardon Mwansa transcend national borders.
This article attempts to do
the following: first, to present
facts that show that there is a
This article is written because problem in the Seventh-day Ad-
I share the concern that many ventist Church in Africa when it
have about Africa. Many are comes to self-reliance. Hopefully
concerned that Africa continues these facts will motivate us to do
to be a suffering continent that something about the situation.
has failed to attain financial self- Second, to define the state of self-
reliance both in political circles reliance. Third, to identify causes
and in the Seventh-day Adventist and factors that have contributed
Church itself. to a spirit of dependency in the
It is impossible for any one Seventh-day Adventist Church
paper to deal with the issues of in Africa. Fourth, to present a
this continent and be fair to all biblical overview of self-reliance
regions of Africa. Africa, being and how it is attained. Fifth, to
the second-largest and second- present reasons why the church
most-populous continent (after should expand its stewardship
Asia), cannot be dealt with as if it program or promotion beyond
is one country with one culture. that of appealing to members
Because of this limitation, I have to be faithful. Sixth, to review
focused on broad principles rath- literature on the impact of aid to
Africa and what that has done to
Pardon Mwansa Africa. Seventh, to present seven
currently serves practical suggestions to consider
as a Vice-Presi-
for implementation as a means to
dent of the Gen-
eral Conference
start changing the picture of the
of the Seventh- Seventh-day Adventist Church in
day Adventist Africa from a dependent church
Church. to a fully self-reliant church.

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 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 5 [2009], No. 2, Art. 2
Problems out of the 121 entities, 79 are
The first step in solving a still receiving some operating
problem is to acknowledge that appropriations and are not yet
there is a problem. Therefore, self-reliant in some sense of the
I acknowledge that there is a word.
problem with the Seventh-day 3. In spite of growing from
Adventist Church in Africa in be- 689 churches in 1950 with a
ing self-reliant and in caring and membership of 93,527 to 25,689
providing for quality services for churches in 2005 with a member-
the membership. The following ship of 4,888,138, Africa is not
evidences have led me to con- able to build houses of worship
clude that there is a problem: in most places without asking for
1. The number of pastors foreign aid. Take for example Mo-
employed on the continent to zambique. This Union has over
care for the large numbers of 220,000 members with a total
believers and large territories is of 974 organized churches, but
inadequate and results in poor has only 13 church buildings. In
care to church members. In 1950 2007, Maranatha International
the ratio of pastors to member- Volunteers, a foreign organiza-
ship was 1:300 (337:93,527) and tion, kindly decided to build
by 2005 the ratio had become 1,001 churches for that Union.
1:1,444 (2,793:4,888,138). The 4. Over 90 percent of the pas-
work load of the pastor in 2005 tors in Africa do not have a reli-
was four times what it was in able form of transportation with
1950. The worsening trend con- which to perform their demand-
tinues. ing duties for their churches and
2. While the Adventist Church members.
has been in many African coun- 5. The major capital projects
tries for over 100 years, it is such as a university campus or
still operating most of its work publishing house development
under mission status instead still depend on most of the money
of conference status. One of the coming from outside of Africa.
characteristics of a conference is 6. From 1981 to 2005 (about
that it does not receive operating 25 years), out of almost one billion
appropriations from outside of its dollars spent in the development
territory. Out of 24 unions op- and operations of the Adventist
erating in Africa, only 4 operate Church in Africa, about 50 per-
under conference status while cent came in the form of appro-
the other 20 are operating under priations from outside of Africa.
mission status. Out of 121 orga- 7. The brain drain from the
nized church entities operating continent among both church
in Africa, 42 are operating under employees and non-employees is
conference status, while 79 oper- symptomatic of something gone
ate either as missions, fields, or wrong. Whether this is true or
associations. That means that not, or even right or wrong, one
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 Mwansa: African Adventists and Self-Reliance
of the factors causing the brain ties as conferences rather than
drain is a lack of good working missions; and (5) contribute its
conditions and care for worker’s due share to the world budget to
needs. enable the world church to evan-
The list could go on, but the gelize the un-entered territories
above should be enough to prove of the world.
the point that there are problems
in Africa when it comes to self- Factors Contributing to
reliance. African Dependence
Below are listed several fac-
A Working Definition tors that have contributed to
of Self-Reliance make Seventh-day Adventists in
What do we regard as self- Africa so dependent on foreign
reliance? How are we going to aid.
tell when Africa has become self- 1. The missionaries brought
reliant? The following will help both the gospel and the gold,
in serving as a definition and at thereby creating a spirit of de-
the same time as performance pendence among the local peo-
indicators of self-reliance. Self- ple. When the missionaries who

There was no systematic plan to

move from this feeding mentality to a
take over mind set.

reliance in the Seventh-day Ad- came to Africa brought the mes-

ventist Church in Africa will be sage they also brought with them
attained when it is able to raise financial aid to help establish
sufficient financial resources to institutions and run ministries
carry out a viable ministry that in Africa. While this was good,
includes: (1) sufficient operat- it communicated to the local
ing income for all its entities, people that the same people
excluding donations and appro- who brought the message were
priations, to cover its operating responsible for its funding. There
expenses; (2) provide church was no systematic plan to move
buildings for the ever growing from this feeding mentality to a
church congregations using lo- take over mind set.
cally generated income; (3) care 2. Stewardship teachings
for its employees by providing have focused on helping people
a livable wage and other needs to be faithful without helping
for their performance of minis- them know how to make wealth.
try such as transportation, etc.; Most of our methods in steward-
(4) operate all or most of its enti- ship have continued to focus on
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 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 5 [2009], No. 2, Art. 2
teaching people to be faithful in 6. The newly converted people
returning tithe and offerings, the coming into the church in recent
assumption being that people years, especially those brought
have money. in through large campaigns,
3. Principles of good internal have not been adequately taught
control are not implemented in proper stewardship. Many people
the church treasury system in have been baptized who have not
Africa. In the treasury seminars heard of or even demonstrated
that I have attended, I have heard true discipleship through prac-
it repeatedly said: “The Church tices such as faithfulness in the
in Africa would double its income returning of tithe.
if it implemented basic internal 7. The brain drain—the mi-
control measures in its financial gration of Africans out of Africa
management system.” in search of a better life—has im-
4. Wealthy people in Africa merged in recent years as one of
who are faithful to God have not the biggest factors contributing
been taught to make wills that to Africa failing to attain self-
benefit the church upon their de- reliance.
mise. When a rich person dies in
Some analysts say that as many
Africa, his support to the church as 50,000 Ph.D.s, or 30% of Africa’s
has ended. If the wealthy people University-trained professionals,
in Africa were taught to name the currently live and work outside the
church in their wills they would continent—in Britain, Europe and
continue supporting the church the USA. Others put the number
even after their death. higher: 70,000 skilled graduates
5. Not enough education has are leaving each year. (Sawubona
been done in telling Africa that Magazine, 112)
the Bible teaches people to work The impact on the Seventh-
hard and take care of their own day Adventist Church caused by
needs so as not to be a burden this loss is that the church is los-
on others. Many people in Africa ing and continues to lose some
would qualify as beggars. A beg- of its best people who could help
ging mentality is destructive to solve the problem of inadequate
self-reliance. Unless a person self-reliance.
changes his mind to that of a
hard worker, one who does not Biblical Principles
beg, one cannot grow out of a The Bible presents important
begging mentality. The Adven- principles that apply to the Afri-
tist Church has not strongly can situation.
promoted, taught, and upheld
the biblical views on hard work, Self-Reliance
independence in providing for Paul gave this counsel to
one’s needs, and for caring for Timothy as sound teachings on
the material and spiritual well self-reliance:
being of one’s family.
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 Mwansa: African Adventists and Self-Reliance
In the name of the Lord Jesus ply their own needs, they should
Christ, we command you, brothers, not then enjoy a life they have
to keep away from every brother who not worked for. If they are not
is idle and does not live according to willing to work, they should not
the teaching you received from us.
eat (3:10).
For you yourselves know how you
ought to follow our example. We were 4. Believers should not be a
not idle when we were with you, nor burden to others. Being a burden
did we eat anyone’s food without to others happens when people
paying for it. On the contrary, we look to others or expect others
worked night and day, laboring and to supply their needs. Paul is
toiling so that we would not be a not saying we should not receive
burden to any of you. We did this, help from others because he
not because we do not have the right himself gave examples of how
to such help, but in order to make
he took gifts from one church
ourselves a model for you to follow.
For even when we were with you, to the church in Jerusalem, but
we gave you this rule: “If a man will rather he is saying we should
not work, he shall not eat.” We hear not live in a manner that makes
that some among you are idle. They others responsible to supply our
are not busy; they are busybodies. needs (3:7).
Such people we command and urge To Paul, these teachings are
in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle not a minor subject. This subject
down and earn the bread they eat. was so important that he per-
And as for you, brothers, never tire
sonally practiced it. He refused
of doing what is right. If anyone does
not obey our instruction in this let- to receive support from church
ter, take special note of him. Do not members so that he would not
associate with him, in order that he be a burden. “Surely you re-
may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard member, brothers, our toil and
him as an enemy, but warn him as hardship; we worked night and
a brother. (2 Thess 3:6-15) day in order not to be a burden
to anyone while we preached the
This profound passage has
gospel of God to you” (1 Thess
several key points that I would
2:9). So strong were his convic-
like to outline to ensure they are
tions on this that he wrote to the
clearly understood:
Corinthians,
1. Paul teaches that being
self-reliant should be a model And when I was with you and needed
lifestyle, one that all believers something, I was not a burden to
should aim for (3:9). anyone, for the brothers who came
2. In order to be self-reliant, from Macedonia supplied what I
people have to believe in working needed. I have kept myself from be-
ing a burden to you in any way, and
hard and working hard some-
will continue to do so. (2 Cor 11:9)
times may call one to work nights
and days (3:8). There is one point I need to
3. If people are not willing to stress. For Paul, self-reliance
work hard so that they can sup- was not merely a personal life-

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 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 5 [2009], No. 2, Art. 2
style preference but part of being hard work brings a profit, but
a Christian. He writes, mere talk leads only to poverty”
(Prov 14:23). He repeated the
I have not coveted anyone’s silver
or gold or clothing. You yourselves
same counsel in other passages
know that these hands of mine have using different examples. “A little
supplied my own needs and the sleep, a little slumber, a little
needs of my companions. In every- folding of the hands to rest—
thing I did, I showed you that by this and poverty will come on you
kind of hard work we must help the like a bandit and scarcity like
weak, remembering the words the an armed man” (Prov 6:10, 11;
Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more 24:33, 34). Solomon taught that
blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts
“the lazy man does not roast his
20:33-35)
game, but the diligent man prizes
Paul’s teachings are consis- his possessions” (Prov 12:27).
tent with the rest of the Bible. Getting things free was not
When sin first entered, God encouraged in the Bible. Even
reminded Adam and Eve that when a young man wanted to
because the ground was cursed, marry, he was required to prove
they were going to have to work that he was hard working and

Before eating, before enjoying any

lifestyle, before enjoying comfort, be-
fore enjoying anything there is hard
work!

and sweat through painful toil to could keep his wife and the
live. “By the sweat of your brow family. When Jacob negotiated
you will eat your food until you marriage with Laban he said,
return to the ground, since from “I’ll work for you seven years in
it you were taken; for dust you return for your younger daughter
are and to dust you will return” Rachel” (Gen 29:18). Embedded
(Gen 3:17-19). Before eating, be- in the fourth commandment was
fore enjoying any lifestyle, before the concept of working. “Remem-
enjoying comfort, before enjoying ber the Sabbath day by keeping
anything there is hard work! it holy. Six days you shall labor
and do all your work” (Exod
Hard Work 20:8-9).
Hard work as a concept and
lifestyle is strongly promoted by Biblical Examples
Scripture. Solomon, the wise ser- Since the Fall, God’s people
vant of God, wrote and said, “All have followed God’s advice to
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 Mwansa: African Adventists and Self-Reliance
work hard with the soil, to work The examples given above
hard to earn a living, and God are not intended to make either
has blessed the work of their agriculture or animal husbandry
hands. The Bible records that the only occupations that God’s
God placed Adam and his family people are to have, but they serve
in the garden to work. “Now Abel as examples of how God’s people
kept the flocks and Cain worked made use of the natural gifts of
the soil” (Gen 4:2). Noah, “A man God, the soil and nature, to es-
of the soil” started a garden as tablish a livelihood. These people
soon as he came out of the ark worked and God blessed their
(Gen 9:20). God’s people in the labor and they did not depend
Old Testament based their econ- on someone to provide for their
omy on animal raising or tilling needs. Others had other trades,
the soil. It is said of Isaac and but all the same, those trades
the use of the soil, that “Isaac provided their means of living.
planted crops in that land and Paul was a tent maker (Acts 18:3)
the same year reaped a hundred- and Lydia was a dealer in purple
fold, because the Lord blessed cloth (Acts 16:14). The disciples

A careful study of the promises of

God reveals that God puts a blessing
on his peoples’ labor and not on their
idleness.

him” (Gen 26:12). And it is said of were fishermen (Mark 1:6). The
Uzziah that “he had people work- point really is not the specific
ing his fields and vineyards in the occupation but that they had an
hills and in the fertile lands, for occupation or trade by which they
he loved the soil” (2 Chr 26:10). earned their living, thereby avoid-
The keeping and raising of ani- ing being a burden to others.
mals was so important in the
Hebrew economy that when the God’s Promises
family of Jacob went into Egypt A careful study of the prom-
they asked for fertile land. When ises of God reveals that God puts
Pharaoh asked the sons of Jacob a blessing on his peoples’ labor
about their occupation, they and not on their idleness. While
answered, “Your servants have the nature of blessings is differ-
tended livestock from our boy- ent in different areas of life, here
hood on, just as our fathers did” is how God promised he would
(Gen 46:34). Even women were bless his children if they had a
shepherdesses (Gen 29:9). relationship of loyalty with him.
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 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 5 [2009], No. 2, Art. 2
If you fully obey the Lord your Reasons to Enhance
God and carefully follow all his com- Stewardship Education
mands I give you today, the Lord The current emphasis in
your God will set you high above stewardship education that only
all the nations on earth. All these
appeals to members to be faithful
blessings will come upon you and
accompany you if you obey the Lord in returning tithe and offerings is
your God: You will be blessed in the not adequate in dealing with the
city and blessed in the country. The subject of self-reliance in Africa.
fruit of your womb will be blessed, For people to give or support
and the crops of your land and the God’s work materially they must
young of your livestock—the calves have wealth or something to give.
of your herds and the lambs of your The Church, either through the
flocks. Your basket and your knead- Department of Stewardship or
ing trough will be blessed. You will
some other entity, should there-
be blessed when you come in and
blessed when you go out. The Lord fore expand their teachings to
will open the heavens, the store- include empowering believers
house of his bounty, to send rain with knowledge and means to
on your land in season and to bless work hard and make money.
all the work of your hands. You will When I once shared the points
lend to many nations but will borrow above, a person asked me, “Well
from none. The Lord will make you what do those people eat if they
the head, not the tail. If you pay at- claim they do not have money?”
tention to the commands of the Lord
The answer is that they eat food
your God that I give you this day and
carefully follow them, you will always and mainly it is the kind of food
be at the top, never at the bottom. that is not transferable to cash.
(Deut 28:1-6, 12, 13) Take for an example a person
who grows some vegetables and
Before I conclude this section, cassava for consumption. Sub-
I do not want to leave the impres- sistence farmers often do not
sion that I am saying that Afri- produce enough to sell. They
cans are not hard workers. Many are living from hand to mouth.
of them are. What I am saying is I have never forgotten what my
that all people should approach mother told me in a letter one
life with this attitude. By work- day in her early days as an Ad-
ing hard, sometimes very hard, ventist. “Pastor, the church has
sometimes day and night, one is given us a goal for tithe from
to provide the needs of life. This each member. My goal is $20
attitude will lead people not to for this year. Would you please
look to other people to meet their send that money as I do not want
needs, but rather to look to self to be the only one not to pay.”
as the supplier of one’s needs. My mother was faithful to the
Africans and all of God’s people church, but she could not give
need to adopt and internalize this faithfully to the church since the
attitude. Begging is not of God’s church needed money, of which
order for his children. she had none.
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 Mwansa: African Adventists and Self-Reliance
You can only give what you the church will not become fi-
have. This point was made nancially independent.
very vivid to me when I was in As a result of the two points
Ukraine conducting a seminar I have made above, I would
on money management. The like to suggest that the church
seminar was advertized and should expand its teachings to
on the first day a lot of people its members by starting to teach
turned up. The hall was packed church members how to make
with standing room only. After I money. If the church expects to
made my first two presentations receive financial support from
teaching the people how to best its members, and such support
manage money, one man raised can only come if people have the
his hand and said something means, the church then should
I will never forget. “Sir, before extend its work to not only help-
you can teach us how to manage ing people be faithful but also
money can you please first teach teaching people to know how to
us where to find this money that work hard and make money.
we will be managing.” Because

The church should expand its teach-

ings to its members by starting to teach
church members how to make money.

I was not prepared to do that, The Impact of Aid

by mid-day I had lost half of the In order to understand what
people because very few of them those who have spent time to
were interested in learning about study and write about the issues
managing money they did not of poverty alleviation and aid to
have. It is not enough, especially Africa say, I recently reviewed
at this time, for the church to three books by Nicolas Van de
continue appealing to people to Walle and Nicole Ball, by Rob-
be faithful in returning tithes ert Calderisi, and by William
and offerings. It is said that Easterly.
over 80 percent of the believers There are many things that
in Africa are women and young these authors have said but three
people below age twenty-five. points caught my attention.
Most from these two groups do 1. Pouring aid into Africa has
not have jobs and nor do they not helped Africa to develop.
make money. They can be very Data show that in spite of over
faithful, but if they do not have 2.3 trillion dollars that has gone
money, they will not give it and as aid to Africa in the past 60
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 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 5 [2009], No. 2, Art. 2
years, Africa has not become eco- ship department whose respon-
nomically better off than it was sibility will be to teach church
in the past (Easterly 2006:11). members how to start businesses
“Around the world, successful and make money.
countries are those that have 2. Teach and implement the
chosen the right policies for their Bible command of 2 Thess 3:10,
own reasons and seen foreign aid “If a man will not work, he shall
as a complement to their own not eat.” Africans should learn to
efforts rather than as a bribe for say “No” to gifts that perpetuate
undertaking difficult reforms” a begging and dependent men-
(Easterly 2006:7). tality or alternatively reduce or
2. It will take Africans them- eradicate a begging mentality.
selves to develop and solve the Begging does not go well with
problems of Africa. Foreign aid self-reliance. And if “begging is
will not solve the poverty or done” let it be begging for a hook
joblessness in Africa. Big plans instead of a fish.
to change the poverty situation 3. Change the current empha-
in Africa that come from foreign sis that stresses the number of
donors have failed to develop people baptized to emphasize the
Africa. quality of people that are being
3. Research has shown that baptized. Many who are baptized
the best form of aid is that which do not even know what being an
helps individual people. “The Adventist or even a Christian
aim should be to make individu- means. Emphasize the prepara-
als better off, not to transform tion of people coming into the
governments or societies. The church by teaching them and
outside world cannot fix the gov- nurturing them into true dis-
ernments in Africa, but they can ciples rather than hurrying them
choose to empower individual into baptism.
people who in turn can be self- 4. Implement sound prin-
reliant” (Easterly 2006:368). ciples of internal control, such
as accountability, transparency,
Seven Suggestions etc. This may call for employing
for the Future local church auditors and pur-
Following are seven sugges- suing people who defraud the
tions to stimulate the mind and church with legal action.
to put something on the table: 5. Start creating a culture
1. Expand the teachings of that encourages people to ex-
stewardship to include not only press their support for God’s
teaching people to give faithfully, work by including support of that
but helping people know how work in their written wills.
to start their own businesses 6. Africans will continue to
so that they can make money. immigrate to Western countries
Where possible, employ an extra and many of them may not re-
person to work in the steward- turn to Africa. Since there is
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 Mwansa: African Adventists and Self-Reliance
little we can do about that, let ventist Church in Africa will not
us find a way to involve those only be able to support the work
Africans living outside of Africa of God on the continent without
in solving the problems of Africa. depending on foreign aid, but will
This would include, but would be able to go a step further and
not be limited to getting them share their resources with other
involved in training and human parts of the world for the spread-
development, the investing of ing of the gospel of salvation.
their resources in Africa, and This will call for doing things dif-
their involvement in the finan- ferently. Someone defined mad-
cial support in building Africa. ness as “doing the same things
“Until the gifted and enterprising over and over again, but expect-
people can be attracted to return, ing new results.” Africa should
most of the world’s peace-making try something new that they have
efforts on the continent, and cer- not tried before and then see if it
tainly most of its aid, will have will not bear fruit.

Aid cannot end poverty. Only home-

grown development based on the dyna-
mism of individuals and firms in free
markets can end poverty.

little effect” (Calderisi 2006:5).

Aid cannot end poverty. Only Works Cited
homegrown development based Calderisi, R. 2006. The trouble with
on the dynamism of individuals Africa: Why foreign aid isn’t
and firms in free markets can working. New York: Palgrave
Macmillan.
end poverty.
Easterly, W. 2006. The white man’s
7. Start to have continent- burden: Why the West’s efforts
wide meetings in Africa where to aid the rest have done so
the issues of concern for Af- much ill and so little good. New
rica are discussed and solutions York: Oxford University Press.
sought. Sawubona Magazine, April 2007,
112.
Optimistic View Van de Walle, Nicolas, and Nicole
Many things may collapse in Ball. 2003. Beyond structural
adjustment: The institutional
Africa, and yet one thing that has
context of African develop-
not yet collapsed is the African ment. New York: Palgrave
spirit of hope. I am optimistic Macmillan.
about the future of Africa. Rightly
guided, the members of the Ad-
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