The congregations in Namibia are about 15 years old. About that many years ago Peter Manuel, one of the evangelists at the Athlone church of Christ was sent the names of some people that had contacted the World Bible School for their correspondence course dealing with what the bible says about how to become a Christian. He first went to Luderitz and 2 of the people there were Elle and Malachia. After some studies they put their faith in Jesus as their savior (John 14:6) and were baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins as commanded by God (Acts 2:38). The church their was up and running.
Sometime soon afterwards the same type of thing happened with names that Peter received from the town of Keetmanshoop. Keetmanshoop is at the junction of the main North-South highway in Namibia as well as the road that goes over toward Luderitz to the west. The word had similar results and the church in Keetmans was founded. Since Keetmans in strategically located it has become the place where we have always gone to teach. We've been to Luderitz on 2 occasions but Keetmans is more easily reached and we're always on a fairly tight schedule when we come to South Africa, so 2 or 3 days in Namibia is all that our schedule allows. So we've gone to Keetmans about 7 or 8 times.
Since this very likely will be our final trip to South Africa we wanted to make sure we got to Namibia one last time also. When they were told that in all likelihood it was our last time to be able to come to Namibia they decided to make it special. One of the things they did was invite the church in Luderitz and Bethany to come to our classes also. It was the first time EVER that the three congregations had gotten together AT THE SAME TIME for a workshop and worship of any kind. That made it sooooo special for them AND for us.
The saints there are wonderful. They made up the church building where the lectures were to occur specifically for the lecture with special covers for the chairs and blue bows on them. This was a big deal and a time-consuming act for these brothers and sisters in Christ:
Irene got to teach in the "pretty part." Since she had PowerPoint presentations and there were about 30 women there they needed the big hall. On the far wall to the right of the glass block "windows" you can see the white area with blue tape around it that they use for projecting onto the wall.
I got to teach the 8 men that were there in the church office.
One thing that the church LOVES to do there is S-I-N-G. In the 8 hours on Saturday we sang for at LEAST 2 of those. 1 1/2 alone after all the classes were done. We sang; had supper and sang some more. And they sing LOUD and they sing WELL and they love to learn new songs.
Another thing they did was provide lunch and dinner for everyone on Saturday. That is no small task - MONEY-WISE or TIME-WISE for this congregation of about 40 people, but they were glad to do it. It reminds us so much of:
2 Corinthians 8:3 "For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, "
I'm going to close with pictures of some of those that were at the workshop this weekend. As I do I want you to see that there are Ovumbos, Namas, Whites, South Africans, Namibians and Americans in these pictures. THIS IS THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL to bring those that have hated, and killed and misused and abused one another together in one building for one reason and because of one reason - Jesus the Messiah, son of the One and Only Eternal God that created all that is, was or ever will be by the power of His just speaking it into existence!
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