Just a quick note to let you know of the work here in Namibia. I have 4 teaching groups in 4 different towns in Northern Namibia; Tsumeb (where I am living), Grootfontein, Rundu, and Tsintsabis. The groups in Rundu and Tsumeb are diverse in denominations from Baptist, Methodist, Full Gospel, Evangelical, Nazarene, Church of Christ and a few other house church types.
The group in Grootfontein is mostly baptist but I am prayerful that other pastors of other denominations will start to come. We spent a Sunday afternoon inviting other pastors. The group is being stretched. By the end of the night they look like they have been beaten. It is a little funny to me to see them transform during our 2 hours together. I often chuckle and ask if they are OK. In this group there is an 18 yr old boy who is my translator. So in getting to know him I asked about his grades and what he wants to do after school-his response "Pastor". So the guy I can communicate with at this place is young (many years to come) and has the desire to be a pastor. Thank you God for that design. I have a young man that I can pour into with no preconceived ideas or heritage or habits that can impact generations to come!! God is AWESOME!!!
The group in Tsintsabis are all Pentecostals and from the bushman tribe. They have been trying to become a formal church for over 3 years but are very passive as a tribe. So they explained they have been in the "desert like the Israelites", they had been relying on an Afrikaner(a white person that is from here) to no avail. So they have asked numerous times that I help them in leadership and forming THEIR church. I have refused and put the responsibility back upon their leadership. A BIG PRAISE-God is at work among the bushmen. They have testified to reproducing what they have been taught in our times together and have proceeded in getting the church land secured into their control and have said after that is complete they will then proceed in the formal organization of their church!
Rundu was to be my safe place, that is where most of the baptist are that had asked me to come as their missionary. But as of today none have come to any of the teachings. I think they are pouting at me because I would not relent to their request for money for transportation and food. Also, I had to change the venue from a baptist church to a Nazarene.
In Tsumeb God has provided my man of peace. The diverse group gives me much optimism. There is an Afrikaner businessman that is coming also that has started a small group. This is my only in-road with the white people of Namibia so far. The term "in the desert like the Israelites" has been used by many groups and most people we have met and encountered. Pray for the Church in Tsumeb and our place in that.
All-in-all things are as to be expected from people who are being trained to think for themselves for the first time. And specifically think about the meaning of God's Word. In Rundu a few weeks ago I spoke about the importance of the Word in relation to the fall of man. How one wrong word changes the meaning of what God said. (as a drop of poison in a 55 gallon drum of water makes it all poison) And how our knowledge of what God says can help and protect us-looking to Eve's response to the serpent she didn't know what God had said. Then I got the worst question and explanation I have ever heard- a pastor speaks up and asks if Eve had committed adultery with the serpent(devil)? I asked where does it say that in the bible? They then explained that was what was being taught and preached in their region. So I think they were using that to suppress the women. I am not sure but a woman pastor was there and at the end of class she voiced her appreciation of clarifying what was biblical and not with regards to this heresy.
So my prayer request is this; pray that God will lead me in the days to come about what to teach. I have been working for a long time on the "I am" statements of God. But I am wrestling with teaching that or teaching a summary of the bible where I would go through book by book with these people. Both seem a tall task for me. I am in need of the Almighty in ways I was not aware. I am fully aware of spiritual warfare as not before. Pray that the people do not harden themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit and just go back to their old ways, this seems to be at work now. This place needs some mighty men of God to unite against and fight the evil one. They are so divided. Sorry, my heart has become more broken than I could have imagined. The lostness and hopelessness in this place has brought me to my knees to the throne of God very overwhelmed. But I am resolved to not back up nor give up the fight! God didn't make me that way.
See you on the field,
Scott
See you on the field,
Scott
