A New Church is born in Windhoek - Welcome to Grace Reformed Baptist Church !

 A third of the great congregation present  at the service

It is not every day that one witnesses the birth of a new congregation!

In the city of Windhoek we have, with great joy received into our midst a new church – a new manifestation of the presence of God and a token of the advance of the kingdom of God on earth. 

We pause to give humble thanks for this wonderful occasion and we say with the Psalmist,

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1 ESV) 

To crown the event, the new church was also able to ordain their new pastor, Tuundjakuje (Spencer) Tjijenda on the same day!

REPORT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ORDINATION SERVICE 

All this happened on Sunday, 21st October at the Monte Christo Baptist Church (under the pastoral leadership of Laban Mwashekele). The service was led by Pastor Rieck, on behalf of the sponsoring church, Eastside Baptist Church in a packed service of worship to the God who is so very worthy of our praise!

Pastor Rieck leads the service 

Pastor  Laban Mwashekele began the service with Scripture reading (Acts 20:28-35) and prayer. 

Godwin Murangi, a senior member of the Grace Reformed Baptist church   shares the history of the church. He reminded us of the beginnings of this new church in 2006. 

The church was born in the midst of many physical difficulties and challenges, and we were made acutely aware of the fact that it was the grace of God alone that has caused this church to reach this milestone. 

Pastor Rieck, on behalf of the Eastside Baptist Church (sponsoring church) read out the names of the 38 charter members, followed by the recitation of the church covenant, which was then duly signed by the elders, on behalf of the members. 

The ordination service of Pastor Tjijenda followed with the laying on of hands by the elders of EBC, who asked the other ordained pastor- elders to join them in this act of dedication of our new pastor. The new church is now in the hands of their elders Pastor T. Tjijenda and Jafet Kazavanga.

The ordination of Pastor Tjijenda

The sermon was preached by Pastor Chipita Sibale of the Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia. 

His text was taken from Romans 1:1,  as he reminded us all of the character, calling and commission of the pastor- servant of God, who exists for the benefit of the church. 

At this point it is important to mention the fact that the Zambian church has done much to encourage us in this work. 

We are careful to give thanks to God for their labour in sending a good number of men over these years to consolidate the good work which the Holy Spirit has begun. Special mention must be made of Pastor Nsenduluka Kapambwe who had laboured faithfully for 2 years for the establishment of this congregation. 

The new pastor - Tuundjakuje  Tjijenda

After the service a lunch was prepared, and good fellowship was enjoyed. Truly, we were made very aware of the fact that this was the day that the LORD had made!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Joachim Rieck – October 2012 

PRAY FOR NAMIBIA : Pray for the Swakopmund Baptist Church

The home of  the Swakopmund Baptist Church

The Landmark Lighthouse of Swakopmund

The town  of Swakopmund is  a quaint  seaside  resort and  popular  holiday destination. It certainly is  our family's favourite place to be  when on leave, particularly in  summer when the temperatures in Windhoek  soar.  The cold Benguella current  ensures that   this desert  town  has a pleasant, moderate  climate all year round.

It pleased the Lord   to  establish a Baptist congregation  here in 1978   under the  ministry of Bob Blevins, a  Southern Baptist Church planter. I remember one of the first pastors thereafter  whose name was Joe Heyes, a retired business man from Zimbabwe. He was a loving pastor, zealous for the Lord. His flock really loved him. Unfortunately he  did not have  a long ministry, for   died very soon of a   heart attack. Pastor Paul Witter in correspondence  with me reminded me that the church had 7 pastors prior to his coming. 

The church ministry only really began to  consolidate under the 13 year pastorate of Paul Witter. Pastor Paul Witter  led the church in  their building program, and a  lovely, functional church building was erected under his ministry. He subsequently accepted a call to  a Baptist Church in South Africa.

The Witter family - a few years ago

The Swakopmund Baptist Church  called  Francois Koch   who had originally been trained by the Brackenhurst Baptist Church in South Africa, and who had been sent out  from  that church to  do church planting in Ethiopia  and later in Somaliland. Circumstances in Somaliland  were of such a nature that  the Koch family needed to leave and return  to South Africa. It was  during this time  that they  received the call to  another dry part of Africa. Francois and Shelly  and their three young  sons Jonathan, Benjamin and Micah  arrived in April 2008.

Francois and Shelly  Koch

The strength of  Pastor Koch's ministry lies  in his  strong  discipleship oriented ministry  which is coupled  to a strong commitment to sound doctrine  and  expository preaching.  He is currently in the process of training men for  elder and deacon ministry. The church also  sponsors an annual Missions conference. The church  is  multicultural  and  every visitor is assured of a warm welcome.

Swakopmund  is not an easy  place to minister in.

The  church experiences a high turnover of  people  due  to work  related  issues. Swakopmund has become the  center of a booming  Uranium mining industry, and  the mining industry is generally known to have a high turnover in staff. The other challenge is  rooted in the relative affluence and the 'holiday' atmosphere of the town. Christians easily become  lulled into spiritual apathy   through  materialism  and  the  tendency  to spend   much time away in the "great outdoors " of the Namibian countryside.

Please pray for this  great work! Please pray for  this  church and their pastor to persevere amidst  many spiritual challenges. Encourage him if you can.

I, for my part  am so thankful that we have  another church of  like minded convictions and passion for the gospel  and the world in Namibia.