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

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. 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

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

As one who has had the task of reading through many post graduate theses I can say that very rarely does one find genuinely scholarly work combined with deep spiritual insight and sheer reading enjoyment! . . . 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

1. Preface and Acknowledgements
2. Abstract
3. Chapter 1
1. Focus of this research
1. 1.1 Introduction
1. 1.1.1 Why the subject of missions is still relevant today
2. 1.1.2 The nation and region in which this study is based
3. 1.1.3 The church denomination in which this study is based
4. 1.1.4 The interest of this researcher in this research
5. 1.1.5 The individuals chosen for the case study
2. 1.2 Problem Statement
1. 1.2.1 The problem of paternalism and suspicion
2. 1.2.2 The lack of biographies of good role models
3. 1.3 Significance of the Study
1. 1.3.1 Moving from the macro-observation to the micro-observation
2. 1.3.2 The effect of good Christian biographies on a later generation
4. 1.4 The Hypothesis
5. 1.5 Methodology of the Study
6. 1.6 Limitations of the Study
7. 1.7 Description of the Chapters
1. 1.7.1 Focus of this Research
2. 1.7.2 Moving from Systems to the Spirit
3. 1.7.3 The Example of Christ and his Apostles
4. 1.7.4 The Lives of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga
5. 1.7.5 A True Example of Mutual Respect and Admiration
6. 1.7.6 Transforming paternalism into partnership
7. 1.7.7 Conclusion and final recommendations
4. Chapter 2
1. Moving from Systems to the Spirit
1. 2.1 Introduction
2. 2.2 The paucity of literature on this subject
3. 2.3 Some key concepts defined
1. 2.3.1 Missions
2. 2.3.2 Partnership
3. 2.3.3 Paternalism
4. 2.4 Missionary Methods – St Paul’s or Ours
5. 2.5 Transforming Mission – Paradigm Shifts in theology of Mission
6. 2.6 A review of other relevant literature
7. 2.7 A Quest for Authentic Practice of Missions in Africa
8. 2.8 Literature on Doke and Kasonga
9. 2.9 Conclusions
5. Chapter 3
1. The Example of Christ and His Apostles
1. 3.1 Introduction
2. 3.2 The church’s first missionaries
3. 3.3 The Example of Jesus
1. 3.3.1 The Initial Paternalistic Phase
2. 3.3.2 The Shared Leadership Phase
3. 3.3.3 The Final Withdrawal Phase
4. 3.4 The Example of the Apostles
1. 3.4.1 The initial paternalistic phase
2. 3.4.2 The shared leadership phase
3. 3.4.3 The final withdrawal phase
5. 3.5 Conclusion
6. Chapter 4
1. The Lives of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga
1. 4.1 Introduction
2. 4.2 The background of Olive Doke
3. 4.3 Doke’s And Kasonga’s Early Labours
4. 4.4 Progress Despite Great Discouragements
5. 4.5 Doke’s Final Labours And Earthly Rewards
6. 4.6 Doke’s Labours After Retirement
7. 4.7 Conclusion
7. Chapter 5
1. A True Example of Mutual Respect and Admiration
1. 5.1 Introduction
2. 5.2 The background of Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga
1. 5.2.1 The background of Olive Doke
2. 5.2.2 The background of Paul Kasonga
3. 5.3 The growing respect and admiration between them
1. 5.3.1 Paul Kasonga distinguished himself
2. 5.3.2 The working partnership of Doke and Kasonga
3. 5.3.3 Paul Kasonga’s growing admiration of Olive Doke
4. 5.4 Kasonga’s leadership finally acknowledged and earned
1. 5.4.1 Kasonga’s admirable leadership and pastoral skills
2. 5.4.2 “The ‘Aggrey’ of Lambaland”
5. 5.5 Conclusion
8. Chapter 6
1. Transforming Paternalism into Partnership: Application
1. 6.1 Introduction
1. 6.1.1 Lessons for the African church
2. 6.1.2 Researcher’s interest is pastoral
2. 6.2 Missionary training and orientation
1. 6.2.1 A curriculum that teaches human equality
2. 6.2.2 Stories of successful handover processes
3. 6.2.3 Authentic orientation in cultural understanding
4. 6.2.4 Understanding the stages of missions work
3. 6.3 The first stage of missions
1. 6.3.1 Imparting a worldview that kills paternalism
2. 6.3.2 Contextualizing the gospel message
3. 6.3.3 Training the people to critic their culture
4. 6.3.4 Training the people to think for themselves
5. 6.3.5 Fostering a spirit of mutual respect
4. 6.4 The second stage of missions
1. 6.4.1 Rooting out the wrong attitudes early
2. 6.4.2 Identifying persons to groom into leaders
3. 6.4.3 Delegating leadership responsibilities
4. 6.4.4 Spending much time with the leaders
5. 6.4.5 Passing on the vision for the work
6. 6.4.6 Encouraging leaders to use their gifts
7. 6.4.7 Emphasizing spirituality above all else
8. 6.4.8 Developing mutual accountability structures
9. 6.4.9 Ensuring respect and admiration are mutual
5. 6.5 The third stage of missions.
1. 6.5.1 Trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit
2. 6.5.2 Taking a secondary role in leadership
3. 6.5.3 Being set apart for the next phase
6. 6.6 Conclusion
9. Chapter 7
1. Conclusion and Final Recommendations
1. 7.1 The hypothesis proved
2. 7.2 Some pertinent lessons
3. 7.3 Universal application
4. 7.4 Suggestions for further research
5. 7.5 Biographies of Doke and Kasonga
6. 7.6 The baton is now in our hands
10. Appendix 1
1. The Working Relationship between Olive Doke and Paul Kasonga
1. Questionnaire
11. Appendix 2
1. Oral Interview Responses
12. Appendix 3
1. Questionnaire on Missionaries/Nationals Working Relationships
13. Bibliography