The 19th Century Missionaries in African
They brought the good news to most of the Africans for the first time and called for several changes. Missionary produced the following Africans.
Africans changed from their traditional gods to one God. Many were converted and became Christians.
The First church: Namirembe Cathedral for the Anglicans
Missionaries built schools and taught Africans how to read, write and count. Although they intended to train people for gospel reading, they ended up teaching Africans many other subjects.
They set up schools such as King's College Buddo, Namilyango College and St. Mary's College Kisubi. The white man's education produced great changes amongst Africans e.g. It contributed to African nationalism and the struggle against colonialism.
They improved on the health conditions of Africans by building hospitals and clinics. With time they trained African girls to become nurses. They introduced new scientific medicine and methods of curing.
They trained Africans in new skills- such as typing, carpentry, nursing, and teaching.
They introduced" new food and cash crops as well as new scientific methods of farming. They also planted trees for environmental protection.
They introduced legitimate trade and a money economy.
They brought in new cultural influences and argued Africans to turn away from African cultures. E.g. They built Churches and burnt African shrines.
They taught new languages to Africans e.g. Latin, English, French.
They translated the gospels into local languages. Also Christian songs were translated into local dialects.
They called for behavioural changes e.g. they called for reconciliation and unity of various tribes. They did this by grouping people of various tribes together in schools and Churches.
They participated in the struggle against slave trade-and constructed homes for ex-slaves e.g. at Free Town, Rabai etc. They cared for ex-slaves.
They unproved on the infrastructure within Africa by constructing roads.
They called for a change in the traditional roles of women. They encouraged. They encouraged women emancipation.
They opened Africa to the rest of the world e.g. they took some Africans abroad for further studies.
However, they discouraged African technology and industries. One research observed that they found making hoes, they left us importing hoes.
Problems they faced while introducing those changes.
African languages were new to them and unwritten. This slowed down the progress of their work.
There were neither aeroplanes nor steamships. They used to travel in weak local ships and many died in shipwrecks across the seas!
In Africa, there were no clear roads, let alone any means of transport. They had to walk long distances on foot through deep forests. Many disappeared in the jungles of Africa!
They were not used to the tropical climate. Consequently they contracted malaria, sleeping sickness etc. Malaria claimed many of their lives.
Communication with each other within Africa and with their mother countries was extremely difficult. Hence they suffered from loneliness and lack of supplies like Bibles,
They encountered harsh chiefs and tribes and many lost their lives and property.. Bishop James Hannington who was killed in Busoga on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga provides the best example.
It wasn't easy to persuade Africans to turn away from the gods of their ancestors. Some Africans needed a black but not a white Jesus.
They were hated by African and Arab slave dealers who saw them as a danger to their profitable trade.
They conflicted with each other in Africa "unintentionally" e.g. Protestants fought against Catholics in Buganda. Yet both were-preaching the same gospel of Jesus Christ!
How the apostles lived changed lives after receiving the Holy Spirit
Apostles were filled with joy, love and great power.
They performed great miracles which wasn't the case before.
They endured persecution' because of having the Holy Spirit., They became courageous and stopped fearing their oppressors.
They gained the power of sacrificing their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ. They left their homes, possessions etc and served Jesus Christ in a poor way.
They constructed Churches.
They started walking long distances-on foot, preaching the gospel orally.
They wrote letters to the various Christian communities using the empowerment from the Holy Spirit.
They visited the sick and placed their hands on them.
They started sharing their belongings with others unlike the situation before their empowerment.