Monday, September 10, 2012

Namibia National Baptist Youth Camp 2012 - Marinus de Bruijne



Marinus and lse de Bruijne  at the centre  of all mischief!
NAMIBIA NATIONAL BAPTIST YOUTH CAMP  2012

" SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST"

By Marinus de Bruijne

Again, we are so grateful that the Lord had made it possible for us to get Pastor Saidi Chishimba of the Faith Baptist Church in Kitwe, Zambia to be the preacher at this year’s Baptist Youth Camp Namibia (30 August – 2nd September).  The Lord had truly gifted this man to work with our youth in a very special way.

When I think of this camp, two things stand out : firstly, the way that  local churches helped and supported each other to make it possible for young people to attend the camp.  It was so encouraging to hear how local churches paid the camp fees for young people from other churches who could not afford the camp fees. It was great to see a car load arrive with children from two or three local churches. It was great to see how church representatives had arranged transport amongst each other.  It was a testimony to the unity amongst believers in Christ. 
Pastor Saidi Chishimba - Camp Speaker  2012

Secondly, unity and love was experienced amongst teens at the camp on a level that I have never witnessed before.  It was heartwarming to see how children from different cultures cared for each other, without the racial and cultural tension of this world.  There were teens from most of our nation’s cultures, and even some from Angola who became friends and who experienced the unity and love amongst believers in Christ. 

We had set up a “Facebook group” for the camp (called Baptist Youth Camp Namibia) at the beginning of this year to facilitate information.  The day after the camp, I already had twelve invites to join this group (taking in consideration that there were only 32 young people at the camp, so 12 is a significant number). 
Soldiers for Christ
It is amazing to see how these young people post their testimonies and how they encourage each other as a direct result of this camp.

Once again, the preaching was of an outstanding quality.  The theme of the camp was “Soldiers for Christ”. Pastor Saidi aimed for their hearts.  As always, our main purpose is to preach the Gospel, whilst pleading with the Lord for the salvation of many souls.   Judging by the reaction and by the  personal feedback of the youth, God the Holy Spirit did speak to many hearts, and some repented and believed. 

There are not many youth camps where the sound preaching of God’s Word is listed as the item most enjoyed by the campers.  We praise God that it was the case with this camp.  The young people also enjoyed discussing the Word of God in small groups and we had a time of “questions and answers” around a bonfire during our final night at Rock Lodge. 

Unusual visitors  welcome -  A young Kudu at the camp !
One can never describe the spirit of such a camp in words.  Although there was much fun and games, the campers rated teaching, preaching and sermons as the most enjoyable.  It is possible to have a camp where there is a fair amount of fun for children and not to compromise Gospel preaching and true Christian fellowship. 

May our Lord give us the grace to make such a special camp possible in 2013.   Pray with us that the Gospel seed that was sown will grow into maturity.  
Leader of the Pack - Pastor Saidi and his troops!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Otjimbingwe - Namibia's forgotten spiritual Heritage


An old map  of the central territory of Namibia
Having developed  an increasing appetite for Namibian Church History over the years,  my wife and I decided to visit  Otjimbingwe  en route to Swakopmund for a much needed break.Otjimbingwe  once  was the “capital village” of Namibia.This  was  the place where Carl Hugo Hahn (http://jrieck.blogspot.com/2009/09/missionary-pioneers-in-namibia-2-carl.html), a  Pioneer  Missionary of the Rhenish Missionary Society had  significantly contributed towards the spread of the gospel in Namibia.

How to get there

Since even some Namibians ask,“Otjimbingwe, where is that?”, let me explain how to get there. Leaving Windhoek in direction to Swakopmund  on the B2, you will find the  turn-off for Otjimbingwe just before you get to the little settlement called Wilhelmstal.  The dust  road (D1967) of approximately 60 kilometers will take you to Otjimbingwe which is located  on  the  banks of the Swakop  river.

Otjimbingwe  then …

Otjimbingwe, centrally located in Namibia, became the primary mission station of the Rhenish  Missionary  Society  on Namibian soil in  1849. Located  on the banks of the  ephemeral Swakop river it  is literally an oasis  in the desert. The first missionary to settle there in 1849 was Johannes  Rath. It was 8 years later that  he baptized the first 2 converts on the 25th July 1858.  Not long after this, his wife and 4 children were tragically lost at  sea,  near  Walvis Bay. He left Otjimbingwe in 1861 and Carl Hugo Hahn succeeded him here  in 1864.


By 1864, Otjimbingwe  had become a thriving community.  Hahn  wanted to develop  this  mission station into a “Missions Kolonie“ (a missionary colony), a place where the converts to Christianity could find  a faith community, whilst also learning  a trade. Carl Hugo Hahn had indeed  developed a holistic approach to doing missionary work.   Soon others were attracted to this village, such as  the  Swedish trader and explorer Charles John Andersson, who established his business there. It thus became the first European trading post on Namibian soil.

Rhenish Church Otjimbingwe 1867
The Rhenish Mission church was built under the direction  Carl Hugo Hahn   by architect and builder, Eduard Hälbich,  and completed in 1867 it  is still used as a place of worship. One of the Hälbich descendants  is a member of our congregation.  This church building has frequently served as a place of refuge, such as the instance when  it was attacked by  Jonker Afrikaner. 

In 1884 Otjimbingwe  became  the seat of the  German colonial administration. Thereby,it served was the “capital village” of so called German South West  Africa

Soon after that  the civil administration moved  to Windhoek in  1892. Once the railway line between Windhoek and Swakopmund had been completed, Karibib (60km’s from Otjimbingwe)  became a railway station along the way,and thus Otjimbingwe  dwindled in importance.

Otjimbingwe now …

Whilst Otjimbingwe is  situated in a lush desert oasis, it also is a poverty stricken community  of about  8000 souls.  There is very little evidence of economic activity, and no signs of prosperity.
 Mission ruins
The old Rhenish mission church is  still in use, but the old missionary buildings surrounding  it are in a state of complete disrepair. It is sad that a place of such significant spiritual history in our country has been so forgotten  and neglected.

Unlike   Martin Rautanen’s  Mission station in Olukonda, Ovamboland,   which is relatively well kept, and  with a good museum (and I believe, maintained with the help of the Finnish Government), this  mission station  at Otjimbingwe has no advocate and protector. 


Mission ruins
So much could be done to  make this a place  of remembrance, retreat and reflection, not forgetting the present people of Otjimbingwe who need the gospel  of our Lord Jesus  Christ, preached passionately, as of old by men like Johannes Rath (1816-1903) and Carl Hugo Hahn (1818-1895).

Biblically speaking, many places of former spiritual splendor and glory  have suffered such fates (not least the temple  in Jerusalem at various times  and particularly in AD 70).

The prophet   Isaiah among others declared,
They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. “ (Isaiah 61:4 ESV).

Whilst this text has  primarily  application  to   the  restoration  of all things when Jesus comes again, we in the  here  and now’ must also not fail  to subdue  ruin and decay where we see it,  and give glory to God through  the  restoration  of such  ruins  as we find here in Otjimbingwe, Namibia. 

This  broken  down truck greeted us as we entered Otjimbingwe
  

ON THE PURPOSE AND USE OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE CHURCH

  In the last century, particularly in the in the 1980’s and 90’s the subject of spiritual gifts was hotly debated. John Wimber (1934-1997)...