With the “1820 Settlers” and the period that followed came many new influences, like the English and German Baptists, the London Missionary Society and many other similar evangelistic efforts. The Eastern Cape’s expansion led to serious ‘colonial’ racial wars, a revival of German Baptist evangelism and Church Planting, and the advancement of Evangelical Christianity through broad missionary outreach.
In 1806 the Cape Colony was placed under British Authority.
The NedGerefKerk (Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk formed an independent Reformed Synod in1824.
Two Societies formed from an 1812 division: the Methodist formed (from 1795) & English Calvinist Church in 1807.
Anglican Church (1836), Rev. W. Boardman arrived with the 1820 Settlers, 1848 - Bishop Gray arrived to a divided church.
Baptist Churches (1820) Grahamstown
EXPANSION: From 1806 to 1895 South African Christianity would experience major expansion. Methodist missionaries, Barnabas Shaw and later, William Shaw; and in time the Anglican’s Robert Gray.
OFFICIAL OR State and denominational churches were busy expanding - in some rather unusual ways - amidst much division.
EVANGELICAL MISSIONARIES ARRIVE: it is also of note to point out that the Lord was doing a wonderful work through the lives of many evangelical missionaries! Numerous ‘Scots missionaries’ - under various Missionary ‘banners’ and many more arrived.
The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (1813) was established in England by Dr. Thomas Coke. The first missionary the WMMS would send to South Africa was Rev. Barnabas Shaw in 1816. Rev. William Shaw (no relation) arrived in Algoa Bay in 1820.
The Glasgow Missionary Society (1823) opened its missionary work in the Eastern Cape and focused on education. In 1841 the insitution of Lovedale was established by John Bennie and Rev. John Ross (Ross was ordained in 1823 by the Church of Scotland specifically to do missionary work.)
Lutheran German Societies - Hermannsburg (1824) to Tswana in W. Transvaal & Berlin (1857) to Pedi in E. Transvaal.
The Rhenish Missionary Society(1828) [Based from: Cologne, Elberfeld & Barmen]. 1840 the ministry moved to Namaqualand.
The Reglement betrekkelijk het Ordenen van Zendelinge was published providing for NedGerefKerk mission from 1828
At this time in history, missionaries had many who opposed evangelism, questioned the possibility or need for giving the Gospel to the "heathen," and who often acted as detractors and outright ‘enemies’ but without doubt these missionaries had a major impact on evangelism, missionary educational outreach and most of them had a positive impact on the good and useful development of Southern Africa and to some degree upon all of Africa.
The Moffit and Livingstone Influences.
From 1806 to 1895 South African Christianity would experience major expansion. Methodist missionaries, Barnabas Shaw and later, William Shaw; The Anglican’s Robert Gray. Though the official or state and denominational churches were busy expanding - in some unusual ways -- amidst much division, it is also of note to point out that the Lord was doing a wonderful work through the lives of many evangelical missionaries!
Numerous ‘Scots missionaries’ - under various Missionary ‘banners’ and many more arrived. Without doubt among the greatest of missionaries and best representatives of Scottish missionaries and of the ministry of the new London Missionary Society were the Moffits and the Livingstones.
Robert & Mary Moffat (1795-1883) were Scottish pioneer missionaries to South Africa who arrived in Cape Town in 1817. They opened mission stations in the interior, translated the Bible into the language of the Bechuanas, and wrote two missionary books on South Africa: Labors and Scenes in South Africa and Rivers of Water in a Dry Place. His oldest daughter Mary, married David Livingstone.
Mary Smith Moffat (1795-1871) the missionary wife of Robert Moffat, and mother was Born in New Windsor, England, she married Robert Moffat in December, 1819 at Cape Town, South Africa. They settled at Kuruman in Bechuanaland and established a mission there. They had ten children: Mary (who married David Livingstone), Ann, Robert (died as an infant), Robert, Helen, Elizabeth (died as an infant), James, John, Elizabeth, and Jean. The Moffats returned to England in 1839 for their only furlough. In 1870, the aged missionaries returned again to England to stay. Mary died shortly thereafter.
At this time in history, missionaries had many who opposed evangelism, questioned the possibility or need for giving the Gospel to the "heathen," and who often acted as detractors and outright ‘enemies’ but without doubt these missionaries had a major impact on evangelism, missionary educational outreach and most of them had a positive impact on the good and useful development of Southern Africa and to some degree upon all of Africa.
David Livingstone was born in Blantyre, Scotland, on March 19th, 1813 and he died at Ilala, Africa, on May 1, 1873. David Livingstone sailed for Cape Town in 1840. In 1844 he married Mary Moffat, the oldest daughter of Robert and Mary Moffat. They were blessed with six children were born, one dying in infancy. They loved the Lord and they loved each other and Africa and they would often face long periods of separation to be able to raise and educate their children - a separation that was something they did for the Lord.
By 1845 the Livingstones had moved to Chonuane, and then to Kolebeng. Chief Sechele, was the first of his many converts to Christ. He was also an explorer since he wanted to “Open the Doors” or lead the way for others to come with the Gospel. He discovered Lake 'Ngami. David Livingstone was often misunderstood since his explorations were viewed by many as unnecessary for a “missionary.”
Livingstone had come to believe that if he could find a series of habitable regions he could “open” the interior bring and end to slavery and advance Christianity, civilization and commerce would lift the poverty from off the backs of the people. His dedication amidst great hardship is summed-up in this quotation: "As for me, I am determined to open up Africa or perish."
By 1853 Livingstone had reached Linyanti, on the Zambesi. and focused on opening the heart of Africa by June 1854 having experienced and overcome amazing opposition and difficulties with fever and dysentery he arrived at St. Paul de Loanda, on the west coast. His personal ‘motto” was: "Forward, - anywhere, providing it is forward." His ‘motto” had served him well and he had faced Africa at its worst and he’d experienced the condition of a people without Christ; so much abuse, brutality and cruel forms of death - due to the horrors of slavery, polygamy, incest, hostile tribes and even cannibalism!
In Sept 1855 he arrived at Linyanti and travelled down the Zambesi River ‘discovering’ Victoria Falls. He had discovered two longitudinal elevations where Europeans could live free from fever and with his maps and observations, as well, he would be awarded their gold medal by the Royal Geographical Society. By May 1856, he arrived at Quilimane on Africa’s eastern coast covering in one trip West to East an amazing personal ‘trek.’
Then he returned to his wife and family in England in December 1856 and amidst all the honours given him considered Lord Shaftesbury’s honour one of the greatest when he honoured Mary with “equal tribute with her husband.” It was at this stage that he wrote his most famous book "Missionary Travels," but he also faced opposition and decided to leave the London Missionary Society .
In 1858, David and Mary with their son Oswell, sailed from England but Mary’s illness meant she would not travel with him in the coming years. Livingstone explored the Zambesi, the Shire River and discovered Lake Nyassa by 1861 he had explored the river Rovuma and assisted in establishing the “Universities Mission” hoping to identify future missions sites. As a medical doctor he not only healed along the way but he did essential research in the fight against malaria while writing for scientific articles and periodicals back in England. His ‘warfare’ against the atrocities of slavey “stirred the whole world.”
After spending a year at the Cape, Mary returned to England to insure her children’s security and education. Then she return to David in 1862 and had only travelled with him for some three months when illness took her life and David would bury her by the Baobab tree at the mouth of the Shire. David confessed that: "For the first time in my life I want to die."
In 1863 he returned once again to his family and used this trip to further expose the evils of the slave-trade. The family enjoyed their ‘reunion’ except for Robert, who had travelled to Africa to find his father. Once he realised he had missed his father he sailed for America, and volunteered to serve on the side of the North trying to liberate the black man from slavery on that continent while his father gave his life to liberate the black man on another continent, as well. Robert was buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Meanwhile, David returned to Africa and to his ministry and explorations went to Lake Tanganyika; discovered Lakes Moero and Bangweolo. Then amidst numerous battles with his health and difficulties in travel his journeys led him between Ujiji (1869-1871) to the river Lealaba. Stanley’s arrival and famous greeting: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" together with the arrival of mail and supplies renewed Livingstone and he and Stanley spent four months exploring Lake Tanganyika.
Stanley wrote about Livingstone: "I challenge any man to find a fault in his character... The secret is that his religion is a constant, earnest and sincere practice." rather than returning with Stanley, Livingstone determined to find the “source of the Nile” and on his 59th birthday - the 19th of March 1872, he’d write words that would later become a popular Christian chorus: "My Jesus, my King, my Life, my All.
I again dedicate my whole self to Thee." Yet his illness haunted him and within five weeks his travels led him to the village of Chitambo, in Ilala, on Lake Bangweolo and on the 1st of May 1873, His friend, porter and guide,Susi, found him kneeling at the bedside, with his head buried in his hands upon the pillow. Livingstone servants, led by Susi, removed Livingstone’s heart and buried it under a tree near where he died. Then, they dried the body in the sun, tied it to a pole and after nine months' march reached the coast and shipped it to England. On the 18th of April 1874, Livingstone’s remains were laid to rest,, in Westminster Abbey, London.
Livingstone's Life
1813 Born at Blantyre, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 19.
1833 His conversion t
1836 Entered school in Glasgow.
1838 Accepted by London Missionary Society.
1840 Ordained missionary in Albion St. Chapel.
1841 Arrived at Kuruman.
1842 Explorations to Bechuana.
1844 Married Mary Moffat of Kuruman.
1846 Settled at Chonuane with Chief Sechele.
1847 Moved to Kolobeng.
1848 Sechele, first convert, baptized, October 1.
1849 Lake 'Ngami discovered, August 1.
1851 Discovered the upper Zambesi August 3.
1852 Mary and four children sailed from Cape Town April 23.
1853 Explorations from Linyanti to west coast, November 11 to May 31, 1854.
1854 Explored from west coast back to Linyanti, Sept 1855.
1855 Explored Linyanti to Quilimane on east coast, Nov to May 1856;
1856 London to visit his family.
1857 Honoured in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and by the Royal Geographical Society, London; Geographical Society of Paris; K.K. Geographical Society of Vienna; Degree of D.C.L. by University of Oxford;
1858 Returned with Mrs. Livingstone to Africa, March 10.
1859 River Shire explored and Lake Nyassa discovered.
1862 Mary Livingstone died at Shupanga, April 27;
1864 Arrived in Bombay and then London.
1866 Arrived at Zanzibar.
1867 Discovered Lake Tanganyika.
1868 Discovered Lake Bangweolo.
1869 Arrived at Ujiji,
1871 Henry M. Stanley found him 28 October.
1873 Died in his tent at Ilala, 1st of May.
1874 Buried with honors in Westminster Abbey, London, April 18.
The extent of Livingstone’s influence overlaps the story of another giant of the faith! The C.H. Spurgeon influence in Africa was a real part of the providential (i.e., Kind, Caring, but NOT fatalistic control) workings of the Lord. The encouragement of one faithful brother in the life of another is clearly illustrated through the following anecdotes. Not only had the famous Scottish missionary to Africa, David Livingstone, visited Spurgeon's services at the Surrey Music Hall in 1857, but he was also an avid reader of Spurgeon's writings.
At the death of David Livingstone in 1873, one of Spurgeon's sermons (turned yellow through age and use) was found embedded in one of his journals and inscribed in his neat hand, `Very good -D. L.. After Livingstone died a further copy of one of Spurgeon's sermons was found folded away inside Livingstone's own cap.
Beyond famous Scottish missionary, David Livingstone, and the Spurgeon Influence on South Africa and SA Baptists we will want to mention John & Andrew Murray's struggles with liberalism and modernism. The Murray's conservative views led them to repeatedly warn about the Seminaries and graduates in Holland.
Bishop John Williams Colenso (1814-1883) became Anglican Bishop of Natal. His liberal and heretical European Biblical Critical views and publications led to the split and creation of the Church of England of South Africa.
drMSBsr
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