Contributions* by Reverend Johannes Jacobus Ulster2 to the development of the Moravian Mission Station, Elim, 1965-1974
Abstract
The Reverend Johannes Jacobus Ulster (1922-2012) was called by the provincial
board of the Moravian Church in South Africa to serve the mission station Elim
from the start of January 1965 as its first indigenous minister of religion and
“Voorstaander” or mayor. This was his maiden appointment as an executive head
of a congregation in his church. The period that immediately preceded Ulster’s
term of service in Elim was characterised by increasing conflict and tension between
his predecessors and members of the local community over various management,
social and educational matters. These states of affairs threatened the stability of
the mission settlement to large extent. Within the context of the local mission
community as well as the broader Moravian Church, this article, which is a historic
literature review, attempts to illuminate the significant transformation introduced
by Ulster in the management and leadership approach of Elim. It considers his
meaningful contributions in ameliorating the quality of the spiritual lives of the
local congregation in line with the worldwide motto of the Moravian Mission:
“Our Lamb has conquered, let us follow Him”. Furthermore, the article explores
Ulster’s contribution in promoting the social wellbeing of the local community
through initiating the establishment of sustainable secular, socio-cultural and
various community development projects locally as well as in the surrounding
district. The article concludes that Reverend Ulster made an immense contribution
to the stabilisation of the spiritual welfare and socio-educational infrastructure of
the community. This continues to be valued as a ‘golden period’ in the rich history
of the rural mission settlement.