The contribution of the pioneer missionary, Reverend AJ Rousseau – 1925 to 1940 to the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) mission in Sekhukhuneland

Abstract

In this article the story of the pioneer missionary in Sekhukhuneland, Rev Abraham Rousseau is told. He was a missionary of the Dutch Reformed Church in Sekhukhuneland from 1926 to 1940. This story deals with the preparation stage of Rousseau’s work, the building of a parsonage, school, hostel, a small hospital and accommodation for the staff, and the expansion of the mission work as far as possible into Sekhukhuneland. Soon 21 outposts, including schools were established. Attention is given to the black evangelists who were the mission’s fore-front workers. Attention is given to the relation between the white and black mission workers in the historical phase in which Rousseau played a role, and how these relations developed in later phases.