A Study of the Development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northeast Tanzania (1903–2023)

Abstract

This research, A Study of the Development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northeast Tanzania, is aimed at helping people know and understand the historical development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northeast Tanzania, the major factors that led to its development, the interaction between the Pare and Adventism, the challenges and prospects of Adventism in Northeast Tanzania. This research is useful in determining the contributions of the pioneers and early Adventists in Northeast Tanzania and their influence on the development and stability of the modern church. It is important to discover that their efforts not only stirred the expansion of Adventism in Tanzania but also inspired the development of the nation in education, health, and agriculture. The missionaries and early Adventists worked together as a team, but today racism, segregation, and disunity prevail in the Adventist church. This issue must be addressed and investigated, and find possible solutions to have a better present and future church. The founders of Adventism in Tanzania kept historical sites and artifacts safe for decades, but those who followed them dismantled the buildings that kept them and destroyed the precious equipment that could be helpful for church history. This issue also needs special attention and seriousness. This research will help present and future church historians. This research uses the historical descriptive method, utilizing the available primary and secondary sources such as Seveth-day Adventist Church Archive materials, oral interviews minutes of meetings, and church history books. Few selected resource people are interviewed, especially those who were directly connected to Adventists in the past and those who were involved or participated in some events. Names are mentioned only by permission. Adventism began in America in the 1840s during the Advent Movement, when people expected the coming of Christ, which was followed by the Great Disappointment. After this disappointment, Sabbatarian Adventists read the Bible diligently and discovered where they erred. They organized themselves and later formed the Seventh-day Adventist Church. From America, the Adventist message was taken to Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia. Adventism was brought to Tanganyika by two German Missionaries Johannes Ehlers and Abraham C. Enns in 1903. They opened a mission station at Giti, Mamba. Adventism in Northeast Tanzania faced several challenges including poor management of health centers, lack of total member involvement, polygyny, nature and retention of members, culture, and some dependent churches The pioneers spread 2 Adventism through social basic needs, schools, agriculture training, and health services. These methods have been proven even today, they work better than public preaching and other evangelism methods. To preserve historical sites and remaining artifacts, I strongly recommend that the Northeast Tanzania Conference take the responsibility of preserving remaining historical materials. The University of Arusha also has an active part to play in church history preservation. The Archives Department of the General Conference of the SDA Church should take serious measures to preserve history. Northeast Tanzania Conference should improve its supervision of schools and health centers so that the current situation can change for better services.