Hi everyone, whilst we wait for our first quarter update, I thought I would give you an update on my
mission trip to Namibia because I have so much to say about it. First let's
have a look at the new mini chariot being built for the Western Cape. As you
can see, it's a much better design and is going to be a winner as it preaches
the Gospel in many, many towns where there are no Churches of Christ. We have
just ordered a new truck, this time for Namibia, that should be finished mid
year. Let me tell you about Namibia because I am very excited after many years
of pioneering work in that country.
WINDHOEK - NAMIBIA
It
was in the year 2000, after much prayer, that we decided to plant the first
Church of Christ in Windhoek the capital city of Namibia. I flew in and rented a store on the main
street called Independence Avenue. I will never forget staying in a hotel that
overlooked the city and how I prayed that God would help us and wondered what
God had in mind for the city and country. I could not visit with any brethren because
there were no brethren in the capital city. A number of missionaries have tried
to plant churches in Windhoek over the years, but nothing lasted as they
returned home due to sickness or lost support. I was aware that it was going to
be tough, but had faith and had some congregations willing to campaign with me
on a yearly basis, mainly Fredericksburg and also Northside in Benton.
My first
stop was to rent a store on the main street and put a big Church of Christ sign
up, then rotate some of our young evangelists. It took one month and we had a
congregation going. It was too good to be true and then the problems started
with the anti Church of Christ following
us and teaching issue oriented gospel and it just tore the Church apart. We
continued and eventually managed to purchase a house and convert it into a
Church building in one of the suburbs called Katatura. Problems still seemed to
plague the leadership, but we still did not give up. We then decided to send a
young man, by the
name
of Anton Ngabwe, to University for 5 years and whilst studying we worked with
him as he worked with the Church.
TODAY there is a stable Wanaheda Church of Christ. Whilst working with the Windhoek
Church we started spreading our wings and planted a congregation in Rundu, 8
hours to the North East of Windhoek, and today there are 4 congregations. We
then planted a congregation in Walvis Bay, 4 hours to the West of Windhoek, and last
year we planted a congregation in Ondangwa that is 7 hours to the North of
Windhoek. God has blessed our efforts in Namibia and we give Him the glory and the GCM team the appreciation for hanging in there.
Five years back we started a mini Leadership
Lectureship where we get all the leaders together and motivate them to be
better leaders and unite with each other. It has really helped the brethren to
get to know each other and in turn helped all congregations in Namibia take
responsibility of their own country. This year I took some key leaders from
South Africa to assist with the leadership seminar and my goal is to link all Namibian
congregations up to the South African leaders. This way Africans get to know
who their brethren are and protect and help each other stay faithful. This is
my fifteenth year working in Namibia and I so want to see it continue after my
death. It was a fantastic trip, but even better, we are about to build a mini chariot
for Namibia. Have a look at some of the recent activities that have taken place
in a country that has been neglected when it comes to mission work. Please pray
for Namibia and thank you to all for helping us help them.
Above
(top left) shows Malindi, myself, Tebogo and Dimpo outside the Hosea Kutako International
Airport in Windhoek on our arrival there. You can also see the congregational
leadership meeting we had with them. On the left bottom is Anton Ngabwe with
his wife Florence and baby Jack. Anton is the young man we sent to University
and empowered to assist with missions in Namibia. To the right of them you see
myself with Funkie and Laurence from Walvis Bay who will be trained up to work
the new Gospel Chariot in the country.
The 4 photos on the above are of our fellowship
meeting, eating, greeting and just hanging out. The ladies in the church cooked
up a storm for us once again. AMEN
Above
shows Tebogo having a study with some of the brethren and answering a million
questions from the bible. One of the visitors was not a Christian and decided
to put Christ on in Baptism. All they then did was walk outside to the Gospel
Chariot and baptise the brother. It was fantastic! I campaign every year in
Namibia and this is the first time I have seen the brethren ask so many
questions. It was really good having black elders campaigning with me. I think
the Africans felt more comfortable asking Africans questions and, of course,
there are the cultural issues that only they can answer and we whites don't really understand.
TSUMEB - NAMIBIA
We
then headed North 4 hours, to Tsumeb, to visit with the only missionary in Namibia,
brother John Dalton who directs the Tsumeb Bible Academy. This meeting has been
in the making for the last year, where we were going to meet with him and his
US sponsoring congregation regarding John slowing down and relocating, and our work
Gospel Chariot Missions and his sponsoring congregation working together on
choosing a new director and team to run the school. Our proposed plans are to
take young Anton Ngabwe who has just finished University and empower him to
direct the school.
Above
shows John Dalton, on the left, and brother Henry Huffard, in the middle, with
African mission coordinator Tim West on the right. These are good men who love
the Lord and have served God for many years. Our goal is to empower Namibian
brethren to take control of the school and take control in Namibia when it
comes to missions. We are now in the process of working out the finer details
of a working document that will work for all parties involved. Please pray for
this effort.
Above
shows the building and sign and to the right you can see Henry, Tim, Anton,
Tebogo, Malindi and Dimpo. It was wonderful having some of the black South
African elders in the meeting with me these men are my inner circle who have
helped me over the years work well with Africans. Remember, I am African, but I
am a white African, and you can say what you want to, we are different and need
black Africans to help us think African. The culture is different and they so
appreciate it when you consult them and don't do your own thing. You can also
see Anton and his wife and on the right the two chariot men who will be trained
up. WOW...Things are looking so good for Namibia. Thank you Lord.
ONDANGWA - NAMIBIA
We
then headed another 2 and half hours North, to Ondangwa, where we planted a
congregation last year. It’s been tough, ha ha, not again! But God is great and
we will not give up!
We have a young man by the name of Bernard who is helping
preach and work with the church. Let me tell you and show you some of the
exciting news about not only Ondangwa, but also about Oshikati just 30km away.
Yes and also about Oshikango on the Angolan border...EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS UP
NORTH where most of the population live, but first things first and that is
putting up the tent. As you can see we all had a go at hitting tent pegs into
the ground. Not a good idea. I almost took my ankle out. Ha ha. There is a lot
that goes into erecting a Gospel Chariot tent. We are blessed with a wonderful
team who do this every week as they travel from country to country.
Above
on the left is Mousa being baptised. Mousa is the manager of the Bed and Breakfast
we stay at when in Ondangwa. Our US campaigners invited her to our gospel
meetings last year and this year she decided to give her life to Jesus. What a
classic example of one sows and another waters and God gives the increase. On
the right is Lyman baptising another soul. You can also see Lyman making some
Mealie Meal that is the African staple food that they eat with most meals with
some gravy and meat or chicken. Very nice and filling.
Above
shows a lovely family that we are hoping and praying to convert and God is
helping us love them. They have promised to have a bible study with me when I'm
there again. They are Lamec and Christophine with their children and mother
Hellena. The grandmother, Hellena, has been baptised and Hellena's sister is
sister Hellenie from the Windhoek Congregation. Now it is this family that's allowing
us to put a small shack type church building on their piece of land on the main
road in Ondangwa. They love the Lord and are thinking about giving their life
to the Lord, as I said they have committed themselves to a bible study the next
time we're there. They are also related to the preacher Bernard and as you know
it’s tough at times teaching your family members. Please pray for this
influential family.
Above
shows me at my best, having fun with the kids of the township, but let me tell
you about this converted family. Last year during our campaign whilst planting
this congregation we went into the neighbourhood and knocked doors and asked
for a bible study and invited people to the tent meeting at night. Well, Joel
Lewis, from Arkansas who campaigns with us most years, visited with this
family. His name is Seun and his wife's name is Marta. They are self supported
and let me tell you how. Look at the photos above of the little daycare centre.
They have 20 little preschool children coming every day for teaching. They are
so precious I could not believe my eyes when I first met them. They also have
their own vegetable garden that they eat from and also sell part of. Seun is
starting to preach and has grown so much in one year. What a winner. God
changes people’s lives. Below shows his garden that works off a drip system.
God Bless this family that does not wait for help, but helps themselves.
OSHIKATI - NAMIBIA
Oshikati
is just 30km from Ondangwa and has no Church of Christ, but is one of the most
vibrant towns in the country. However, there is an elderly Christian man who
was taught in the South in a town called Luderitz whist working down there. He
has since retired and returned home to the North. Then last year I followed him
back home to his village 16km from Oshikati. This trip, when I returned, he had
3 other Christian
men and an outbuilding that he had erected for a church building, still needing
bricks. We visited with him and encouraged some of the young met to attend the
Tsumeb Bible School when it gets going again.
Above
shows us visiting with him and his wife with the new converts. One of the men were
baptised by us during our Ondangwa campaign last year. He even has a small
Church of Christ sign that he carries out to the incomplete church building
every Sunday. There are so many villages and so many homesteads that one could
plant hundreds of churches on the different homesteads that are spread apart
through the different villages.
Above
shows some photos of our Gospel Chariot 2 preaching at the village where the
old man lives. After our campaign in Ondangwa with the Chariot I instructed
them to go work a week with Petrus the 82 year Christian man. Brethren, every
year we are moving ahead one step at a time as God helps us penetrate, plant
and mature churches in Namibia.
OSHIKANGO - NAMIBIA
Whilst
in Ondangwa, on the Saturday, we travelled 60km to the Namibia/Angola border to
pray and have a look at the border town called Oshikango. We were blown away
and prayed and have planned a campaign there next year and Lord willing be able
to plant a congregation there as well, right on the border. This is really
exciting because if we can get a congregation going there, we will have Portuguese
speaking converts in the church because most of the town speak both languages.
Personally, I never thought we would get to Angola as soon as this, but God
works in mysterious ways.
Above
shows the border town of Oshikango and the Angolan border post with Malindi,
Dimpo and me whilst visiting. We prayed
that God help us that we might return and reach out to this unevangelised town.
Please pray for this vital border town and the impact it could have on Angolan
missions from the South. We even had a soft drink at a lodge while scouting out
accommodation for next year. Brethren, Namibia is on the up and we want to
thank all of you for helping us reach Africa and especially countries where the
gospel has not been preached. I am so encouraged when I see things happening like
this.
Please
pray for the new Namibian Chariot.
