Job Mabuti

Photo courtesy of Cathel Mabuti-Chiboola.

Mabuti, Job Munashimbolwa Chuumba (1910–1970)

By Cathel Mabuti Chiboola

×

Cathel Mabuti Chiboola holds a B.Sc. degree in Environmental Health from Solusi University, Zimbabwe, and an MPH degree in Public Health from Cavendish University. She is the late Pastor Job M. C. Mabuti’s granddaughter and the late Pastor Mathias P. Mabuti’s daughter. She is married to Harmony Chiboola, and they have three children.

First Published: September 15, 2022

Job Munashimbolwa Mabuti was a pioneering indigenous Zambian Seventh-day Adventist teacher, pastor, and church administrator.

Early Life

Job Munashimbolwa Mabuti was born in a Christian Methodist home1 on July 3, 1910, in Sala area, Chitanda Village of Chief Chitanda, in Mumbwa district. His parents were Chuumba Munashimbolwa and Munakopolishele Namukubi. Together they had one son–Job Mabuti Munashimbolwa Chuumba. However, Job had a step-brother by the name of Kalonga Mangwantu, who was from his mother’s previous marriage with Moses Mangwatu. Job spent his childhood years in Chitanda Village before his parents moved to Chilele Village, in Chief Shakumbila in the Central Province of Zambia.

Education and Marriage

In 1925 Job Munashimbolwa Mabuti Chuumba went to Rusangu Mission, near Monze, in Southern Province, where he was enrolled in Standards I. For his school registration and certifications, Job settled for his middle name “Mabuti” as his surname, leaving out his father’s surname or family name of Chuumba. In 1926 he got baptized and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He graduated in 1931 with a Standard VI diploma and qualified as a teacher.

While still at Rusangu Mission, Job got married to Chipuka Selina Mpofana in 1932. In the years that followed, the couple was blessed with nine children. These were: Grace Namukubi, Mathias Phoniex, Naomi, Welcome Muzuni, Loveday and Angelia (twins), Bathsheba, Audrey, and Cushai. The Mabuti children remained faithful members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, serving the church either as employees or as lay workers.

Early Ministry

Job Mabuti began his ministry as a teacher and lay pastor in Kawambwa district, in Luapula Province of Zambia. While there, between 1934 and 1937, he served as a member of the Northeastern Rhodesia Mission Field executive committee, whose headquarters was at Chimpempe Mission, near Kawambwa.2 He thereafter proceeded to Solusi College and Training School (now Solusi University), near Bulawayo, in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to pursue his pastoral training. Upon completion of his studies and graduation, Pastor Mabuti was posted to Muchenje Mission District in 1940, where he worked as a pastor and was also in charge of Muchenje and Beshimukuni Primary Schools, in Chief Mungule, Kabwe district, in Central Province.3

In 1941 Pastor Mabuti was granted ministerial credentials following his ordination to the gospel ministry.4 While serving as director for Broken Hill (Kabwe) Mission District,5 Job Mabuti also pastored Liteta district, in Chief Liteta. Meanwhile, he this time served as a member of the Northern Rhodesia Mission Field executive committee. In his pastoral work here, he planted several small church companies. This helped to increase the church membership in the district. From Broken Hill, Pastor Mabuti was transferred to Rusangu Mission where he served as the vice director to Pastor James Muyeba. At Simukale Village, west of Rusangu Mission, Pastor Mabuti reported on the soul-winning work of Sijamba, a deaf and dumb carpenter and lay evangelist who teamed up with his wife (to serve as his sign interpreter) on soul-winning endeavors.6

In 1943 Pastor Mabuti was transferred to Munenga Mission District in Mazabuka,7 where he took charge of Munenga Primary School. In addition to pastoring the entire district, he also served on the Northern Rhodesia Mission Field executive committee. During the 1944 camp meeting, 118 souls were baptized at Munenga Mission.8 In 1947 Munenga Mission District teachers and stewards held a four-week-long effort, and 114 persons took their stand for Bible truth.9 Furthermore, evangelistic efforts held in 1948 yielded 125 converts, after 18 workers preached 151 sermons, and gave 96 Bible studies in 22 days.10 Pastor Mabuti remained in Munenga Mission District until 1950.

In 1951 Pastor Mabuti was transferred from Munenga Mission District to Nteme Mission Station, north-west of Monze district in Chief Choongo.11 His ministry often took him beyond the borders of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) to serve as guest speaker at several camp meetings, in such countries as Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1954,12 and Nyasaland (Malawi) in 1959.13

Departmental Field Secretary

By 1958 Mabuti was serving as a departmental director for youth, Pathfinders, and Missionary Volunteers for the Northern Rhodesia Mission Field whose headquarters were situated at Mayfair, near Chisekesi Siding, not far from Rusangu Mission.14 During this period Pastor Mabuti worked together with Pastor Anderson Muunyu at the Northern Rhodesia Field Headquarters. Pastor Mabuti did a lot to encourage and groom other pastors such as Pastor Muunyu.

In 1959 Pastor Mabuti became a departmental field secretary, when Pastor J. A. Birkenstock was the Northern Rhodesia Mission Field superintendent.15 For two years (1959 and 1960) he was in charge of the Education and Sabbath School departments.16 As Field Sabbath School Secretary, Pastor Mabuti reported to his counterpart, Pastor W. C. S. Raitt of the Zambesi Union Mission in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, of his success in introducing and promoting the birthday mission offering in the Northern Rhodesia Mission Field.17

Southern Province Station Director

During 1961 and 1962, Pastor Mabuti was back at Chimpempe Mission in Kawambwa where he served as assistant director to Ken E. Thomas18 and James T. Bradfield respectively.19 Then in 1963, he was appointed as director for the Southern Province Station or Rusangu Mission Station (a forerunner of the present South Zambia Conference), which had been created in 1962.20 During this period many mission outposts were opened, e.g., Demu, Dimbwe, and Gonhwe. While serving in this capacity, Pastor Mabuti also functioned as an editor of Advent Post magazine, an organ of that region.21 He was also a regular contributor to the Division Outlook magazine.

As he promoted faithfulness in giving tithes and offerings, Pastor Mabuti noted the faithfulness of David Sikalumbwe of Sikatumba district, near Pemba, in Southern Province. Sikalumbwe marked out eight from of his 80 orange trees whose fruit he sold and gave tithe. He also tithed other fruits and vegetables in his garden.22 Elsewhere at Hakunkula Church, in Monze west, another man counted his cattle and gave three cows as tithe.23

In 1964, as Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) was transitioning from British colonial rule to self-governance, Pastor Mabuti led his church members in Southern Province in praying for the new government leaders, as reported here:

In the southern province of Northern Rhodesia our believers under the leadership of Pastor J. Mabuti set aside Sabbath, January 18, 1964, as a day of fasting and prayer for God's blessing and guidance upon the officers of the newly formed government in Northern Rhodesia. “Our duty, according to the Scriptures,” writes Brother Mabuti, “is to pray for those in authority, for the continuance of peace, and for freedom of worship.”24

During the seven years he served as director of Southern Province Station, Pastor Mabuti also continued to serve as a member of the Northern Rhodesia Mission Field (later renamed Zambia Field) executive committee.

Pastor Mabuti used to spend three or four months away from home, conducting evangelistic efforts. For example, in 1964, he gave this report: “Eleven lay efforts were conducted during May and June, resulting in 134 converts.”25 As a dedicated worker, he sometimes traveled long distances, such as 60 to 150 kilometers on foot. At that time the Northern Rhodesia Mission Field covered the entire country of Northern Rhodesia, with several mission stations and mission districts that were much larger than we have today. With the passing of time, many of those big districts were subdivided into smaller ones. During those days pastors had no vehicles for transportation and other accommodations for travel. Nevertheless, Pastor Mabuti, like many of his contemporaries, worked tirelessly without complaining and trusting God.

His Retirement and Contribution

In 1969, Pastor Mabuti retired from active ministry and went to live at his farm, fifteen miles (24.1 km) north of Lusaka. One year after his retirement, Pastor Mabuti died on January 25, 1970, at 60 years of age. He was survived by his wife Selina Chipuka Mabuti, with whom he spent 37 years of marriage. She had played a big role in Pastor Mabuti’s life and ministry. She was a woman of prayer and a hard working woman who was very industrious at farming to produce food for her family. Selina Mabuti died in January 1988.

Job Mabuti was one of the first trained indigenous pastors in Zambia. Thus, almost throughout his years of ministry, he served faithfully as a pastor and a member of field executive committees. As a pastor he led the work of God with passion and zeal in his assigned districts or departments. Despite the low salaries that pastors were getting at that time, Pastor Mabuti demonstrated total dedication to his duty. The church membership grew over the years, especially when he was serving in Liteta district, as Broken Hill Mission district director. He left a legacy of love, kindness, and selflessness.

Sources

“From Hither to Yon.” Southern African Division Outlook, October 15, 1962.

“From Hither and Yon.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, February 15, 1964.

Job Munashimbolwa Chuumba Mabuti. Unpublished autobiography, written in 1969 at Rusangu Mission.

Mabuti, J. “Adventuring for God.” Southern African Division Outlook, November 15, 1959

Mabuti, J. “Blessing Corner - David Sikalumbwe.” Southern African Division Outlook, April 15, 1963.

Mabuti, J. “Esther Makwenya (ma-kwen-ya) Rescued.” Missions Quarterly, Vol. 55. Third Quarter, 1966.

Mabuti, J. “Evangelism – Munenga Mission District.” Southern African Division, December 15, 1948.

Mabuti, J. “Lay Evangelism – Zambesi Union.” Southern African Division Outlook, April 15, 1959.

Mabuti, J. “Mission Field Tithe Teams Show How to Reap Results.” Pacific Union Recorder, July 4, 1966

Mabuti, J. “Munenga Mission, Africa.” ARH, March 30, 1944.

Mabuti, J. “My Camp-meeting Trip to the Congo.” Southern African Division Outlook, November 1, 1954.

“Overseas Spot News – Southern African Division.” ARH, May 29, 1947.

Raitt, W. C. S. “Birthday Offerings.” Southern African Division Outlook, June 1, 1954.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1934-1969.

Notes

  1. J. Mabuti, “Esther Makwenya (ma-kwen-ya) Rescued,” Missions Quarterly, Vol. 55, Third Quarter, 1966, 16.

  2. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1934), 190; see also years 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938.

  3. Job Munashimbolwa Chuumba Mabuti, unpublished autobiography, written in 1969 at Rusangu Mission.

  4. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1941), 207.

  5. Ibid. (1942), 161.

  6. J. Mabuti, “Lay Evangelism – Zambesi Union,” Southern African Division Outlook, April 15, 1959, 4.

  7. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1943), 173.

  8. J. Mabuti, “Munenga Mission, Africa,” ARH, March 30, 1944, 16.

  9. “Overseas Spot News – Southern African Division,” ARH, May 29, 1947, 23.

  10. J. Mabuti, “Evangelism – Munenga Mission District,” Southern African Division, December 15, 1948, 2.

  11. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1951), 196.

  12. J. Mabuti, “My Camp-meeting Trip to the Congo,” Southern African Division Outlook, November 1, 1954, 7.

  13. J. Mabuti, “Adventuring for God,” Southern African Division Outlook, November 15, 1959, 4.

  14. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1958), 172.

  15. Ibid. (1959), 179.

  16. Ibid.

  17. W.C.S. Raitt, Birthday Offerings,” Southern African Division Outlook, June 1, 1954, 7.

  18. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1961), 188.

  19. Ibid. (1962), 194.

  20. Ibid. (1963), 213.

  21. “From Hither to Yon,” Southern African Division Outlook, October 15, 1962, 12.

  22. J. Mabuti, “Blessing Corner - David Sikalumbwe,” Southern African Division Outlook, April 15, 1963, 7.

  23. J. Mabuti, “Mission Field Tithe Teams Show How to Reap Results,” Pacific Union Recorder, July 4, 1966, 8.

  24. “From Hither and Yon,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, February 15, 1964, 11.

  25. Ibid.

×

Chiboola, Cathel Mabuti. "Mabuti, Job Munashimbolwa Chuumba (1910–1970)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. September 15, 2022. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=7JJR.

Chiboola, Cathel Mabuti. "Mabuti, Job Munashimbolwa Chuumba (1910–1970)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. September 15, 2022. Date of access February 19, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=7JJR.

Chiboola, Cathel Mabuti (2022, September 15). Mabuti, Job Munashimbolwa Chuumba (1910–1970). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved February 19, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=7JJR.