Establishment of the Seventh Day Adventist church in central Kenya

Abstract

This is a survey of the establishment, progress and contribution of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Central Kenya from 1933 to 1988: The Adventist Church originated from the United States of America in the mid nineteenth century. During the second half of the century the Church gained entry to Europe which became the second stronghold of Adventism. From the European continent the Church entered Kenya in 1906. The establishment of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Kenya was preceded by that of other Christian' denomination among them were the Church of Scotland Mission (C.S.M), Church Missionary Society (C.M.S), Africa Inland Mission (A.LM) and the Roman Catholic Missions. This explain why the Church was initially established in South Nyanza and Gusii District where 'no other Christian denomination had hitherto entrenched. In, this areas the activities of the Church were concentrated between 1906 and 1932. The year 1933 marked the beginning of the Church's activities in Central Kenya. The opening of the Adventist work in this region was carried out by white, missionaries aided by the early African converts in South Nyanza and Gusii Districts. Later, African converts in Central Kenya were incorporated into the gospel ministry.' Some of these African converts In Central Kenya became active evangelists and were instrumental in opening and managing the first Adventist Mission Schools and Churches in the region. Initially, the white missionaries occupied 1eadership positions. In the Church and therefore supervised the Adventist work in Central Kenya. However, the outbreak of the Mau Mau war necessitated the transfer of Church leadership from the European to the African missionaries. This was meant to encourage Church growth. The Mau Mau impended the evangelistic programme of the Church in Central Kenya. However, in later years, the uprising had positive impact in that it provoked the Church to devise more effective methods of evangelism. This included the Voice of Prophecy Correspondence Bible School established in 1954. The Adventist work in Nairobi was initiated by African converts from South Nyanza and Gusi. Districts working in Nairobi. They established a chain of branch sabbath schools which later became organized Churches. The founders of these Churches for all practical purposes were leaders of their respective Church groups. They also founded schools and health centres which fostered social economic development. The S.D.A was therefore part of the development agents in Central Kenya.