Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I had the privilege of doing a written interview with Brother Uaundja, a brother serving in Namibia, supported by HeartCry Missionary Society. Please take the time to become acquainted with our brother and his work through this interview and then take some time to pray for Brother Uaundja, Sister Christabel, and the Church in Namibia. Please share about the Lord's work in Namibia in your conversations with our brothers and sisters in Christ. May we partner with the our brother and his wife by bringing them before the Throne of Grace.
For a brief history of the Church in Namibia, I would point you to the Namibia page on HeartCry Missionary Society, here: Namibia
You can also read the testimonies of Brother Uaundja and Sister Christabel on the HeartCry website.
Tell us a little about your family.
My name is Uaundja Karamata and I am married to Christabel. We have been married for almost two years now. We do not have children yet, but we are trusting the Lord.
How did you start full-time ministry?
I started fulltime ministry in mid-2017, I was sent by my then home church to pastor a church plant which I did for about 6 months. After that time I went to Zambia to do internship. Before I went into ministry I was a fulltime student at Bible School for three years.
As you serve full time in Namibia, what ministry are you involved in and what does that look like?
I am involved in church planting, in town called Otjiwarongo. The ministry involves mainly evangelism (door to door, street and one on one). It also involves other outreach activities like community events. For example, we had a couples’ seminar and Men’s breakfast. There is also an aspect of discipleship, every week we meet for a Bible Study/Mini-Service, where I preach the word of God regularly. We are currently going through a series on Mark’s Gospel. We also do one on one discipleship; at the moment my wife is busy discipling a young lady who has been a regularly attending our Bible Study.
What is the biggest challenge facing the Church in Namibia?
The biggest challenge in Namibia is nominal Christianity. A lot of people are only Christian by name. Personally, I see it as the greatest opposition to the gospel here.
What is the spiritual condition in Namibia?
Namibia according to statistics is 98% Christian. But it is not true in reality. Majority of the people who claim to be Christian belong to a liberal denomination. That thrives in legalism. The second largest group is hyper charismatic and they proclaim the prosperity gospel. By the grace of God there are a few churches that are still faithful to the gospel and are helping to advance the Kingdom of God here in Namibia.
In what ways have you seen God working in Namibia?
I have seen it in several ways. The first time I saw God clearly at work was when I was a student at the University of Namibia. We saw a lot of students coming to faith and being discipled and equipped to do likewise. And it is these students in most cases who become pastors and faithful members in their local churches. The other way in which I saw God at work is how most pastors I was trained with leave seminary well equipped and committed to expository preaching.
How have you seen God working in your life, and in the lives of your believing family members?
One way I have seen this is the way that he provides for me and my wife and how raises up people who are willing to support us through prayer and financially. This is something I have always witnessed growing up in my parent’s lives as well.
In the great commission, we are commanded to make disciples of all nations. How does this look practically in your area of ministry?
It is mostly through one-on-one evangelism and preaching the word regularly. We recently started a Bible Study with the pupils at a nearby primary school with Scripture Union. We also had an opportunity to do devotions on Tuesday mornings with a famous breakfast restaurant in our town, but this was only temporary.
What are the challenges and blessings you experience being in full-time ministry?
The challenges is that we don’t see much fruit at once, and this sometimes leads to discourage and question as to whether our efforts are worth it. We know they are but we are get discouraged. The other challenges are that the labourers are few, Most of the work is mostly done by me and my wife. But we are beginning to see the Lord addressing this.
The blessings are many. Let me focus on one. I have adequate amount of time to spend in the word and in prayer. Also, to meet up with people one on one, to disciple people. Having a lot of time to do the work of the Lord is huge blessing.
What biblical principles or passages of Scripture has the Lord brought to mind at various times that have drawn you closer to Christ, challenged, or blessed you through your years of ministry?
Genesis 37-50 (The life of Joseph), Proverbs 5, Philippians 1:20-21, 3:7-11, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, 1 Timothy 4:16, 2 Timothy 2:15, Romans 8:18-25.
How do you prioritize your time in full-time ministry so that you maintain a balance in washing your wife with the water of the Word, making disciples, and building up the saints?
Firstly, I am grateful that the Lord has given a wife who depends on him and not me. She loves the Lord, she spends personal time in the word and in prayer. But also as a family we are committed to Family devotions on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Through we study, read the Bible, and pray together. It is not anything fancy, we try to make it as simple as possible so we can be more consistent.
How can people be praying for you?
Pray for me and my wife to grow more in our relation with the Lord. Pray for grace to continue the work and to be faithful to what he has called us. Thank the Lord for the ways in which he continues to provide for us as a family and continue to grow his church. Pray for the Lord to provide for us a couple that will be committed and to help carry the load of ministry. Pray for us as we are begging the process of formal membership early 2023.
Do you have any final thoughts you would like to share with your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Treasure Christ and his word above all things. Philippians 1:20-21, 3:7-11.
Thank you to Brother Uaundja for taking the time to do this interview with me. Thank you, reader, for taking the time to read this interview. May it spur you on to prayer.
May the Lamb Who was slain receive the full reward of His suffering!
In Christ,
Virginia
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