NAMIBIA WORST DROUGHT IN 30 YEARS

NAMIBIA is suffering its worst drought in a generation, with more than 100 000 children at risk of malnutrition, the United Nations said on Thursday [The Namibian of 2013-07-23]

President Hifkepunye Pohamba declared a national emergency in the sparsely populated southern African nation after the failure of crops in May, and earmarked N$217 million of relief for the worst-hit households. Many farmers are now being forced to sell cattle for which there is no grazing, while cow-herds from Angola are reported to have crossed the border in search of food, fueling tribal tensions as competition for scarce pastures intensifies.

“The shortages of food and water are increasing the immediate threat of disease and malnutrition,” said Micaela Marques De Sousa, the Namibia representative of UNICEF, the UN’s children’s agency. “But anecdotal reports already indicate children are dropping out of school, a clear sign of stress and vulnerability in families.”

A quarter of Namibia's two million people live in poverty. While agriculture accounts for five percent of the economy, a third of Namibians are dependent on some form of subsistence farming.– Nampa

• Pray for creative plans and funds to help the many families in need.
• Trust that children will be able to attend school during this challenging time.
• Several businesses started to give help in the drought stricken areas - pray that the help will reach those who are really in need.
• Pray that Namibians and the world will open their hearts.
• Ask God to make a way where there seems to be no way [*] Ask Him to bless Namibia with early rains ...

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3 

[* In the northern areas rains can start as early as October and last to the first weeks of May. The further south you head the less it rains and the later the season starts, the same is true when traveling from east to west (eastern Namibia is wet - western Namibia dry). Windhoek, in central Namibia generally experiences rain from January - late April - although there can be rains early than this - and October & November are referred to as the small rainy season.]

Source  http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=1632&page_type=story_detail  
Photo: Erik & Hester van Zyl

PLANNING WITH DATA

This Saturday John Steytler from the Namibia Statistic Agency will help Church and marketplace leaders to understand and and apply the 2011 census demographic data in the planning process for maximizing ministry results.  Praise God for this initiative from Doufi Namalambo [Consulting Synergies Africa].

Pray that church leaders will understand:

• How Namibian census data can be transformed into a useful planning tool.
• How data can tailor plans, improve ministry impact, and reduce costs.
• Identifying unaddressed ministry opportunities and gaps from data.
• Measuring ministry effectiveness by comparing statistical data.

Pray for spiritual leaders to use the data from the census as a road-map to understanding their target market and that new ministry initiatives will come from this to address the poor, needy and other challenges that churches have to face in Namibia.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

SUPPORT CHRISTIAN RADIO

Radio Channel 7  from Media Network for Christ Namibia is hosting their annual fundraising drive from 30 July to 3 August. This project allows Channel 7 to broadcast  24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Channel 7 has currently about 33 transmitters and is heard in 43 towns across Namibia. The station's vision is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Namibia and across borders by proclaiming all media. They broadcast in places that are not financially viable, ie not only in towns but also on farms and settlements. Although advertising revenue is a source of income,  the annual radiothon fundraiser raises 40% of the total revenue requirement.

Listeners will have the opportunity to participate in this great event as volunteers and  listeners will be challenged to partner financially. For more information, listen to Channel 7 or contact  Tersia Bindeman (061) 420 850/875  tersia@k7.com.na

• Please pray for the many volunteers that will help in the effort. 
• Trust God that the media links during the drive will work without hick ups.
• Pray for open hearts - individuals and business who want to support the effort of Channel 7 to spread the gospel.
• Call on God that the fundraising will take place in the power of the Holy Spirit and that the results will be His blessing. 
• Commit the leadership and board of Radio Channel 7 to the Lord - that finances will be well spend.

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,  so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.  1 Corinthians 2:4-5

SERVING THE VULNERABLE IN NAMIBIA

David L. Meyer - CEO Hand of Hope writes: Our trip to Africa ended in Namibia where Hand of Hope sponsors a feeding program and leadership training. With the help of Dawie and Chrisna Fourie of the African Leadership Institute and in partnership with the Namibian Life Change Centers Foundation, Hand of Hope is feeding almost 1,500 children every day in Namibia. In addition, over 400 disadvantaged youth are trained every year in leadership and character development through Hand of Hope's partnership with The Rock Training Center in Namibia - something they would never be able to experience without this program.

God's favor is overwhelming and is allowing us to make a difference in the lives of people here in Namibia and around the world. Thanks to all of our partners and friends who allow us to help those in need.

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith. 

Praise God for organizations like Hand of Hope and the Namibian Life Change Centers Foundation who has a heart for the vulnerable in Namibia. Pray that they will continue and expand. The need is so much more. Drought has place a growing burden on the economy and government. Trust that God will touch and change hearts to do even more.

Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Luke 7:22


Source: http://www.joycemeyer.org/articles/blog.aspx?article=serving_the_vulnerable_in_africa

TEACH EVERY NATION (TEN)

To help equip pastors in Namibia who was called to lead a church but has little or no formal training and make them part of a continuous educational process, Turn the Tide Namibia wants to introduce Teach Every Nation (TEN) this week. This initiative by Dr Bruce Wilkinson focuses on training and equipping these pastors and will be launched in Southern Africa Sept 11-14.

To introduce this new initiative Martin Deacon from Turn the Tide will be here in Windhoek to share with key pastors and leaders how they can be involved with this exciting and powerful strategy of TEN on the 2nd of July 2013.

The dream is that pastors from all regions and towns in Namibia would be part of TEN. Please pray for the event on Tuesday 2nd July 2013 where we will hear how to become part of raising the level of pastoring in Namibia. Pray also for the launched in Southern Africa Sept 11-14. There are thousands and thousands of small churches lead by pastors who need to set the example, study, apply and teach the Word, care and council their members and show them how to love God and love their neighbors.

Intercede for the church and their leaders, for their role and example here in Namibia.

CRUSADE FOR A BETTER NAMIBIA

Believers have just complete a crusade through Namibia, striving to unite Christians and to promote collaboration between different churches.

Teams from the four corners of the country started in the beginning of May, literally and figuratively caring a cross and praying through the country.
The project is coordinated by Crossroads Ministries who wants to challenge Christians to live for Christ. It is also their goal for Christians to get to know each other and work together to glorify Christ across the boundaries of church and colour in the country.

"Our prayer is that the Lord at this time will convict people of sin and for spiritual leaders to be empower with new fire to boldly proclaiming His Word," the organizer Eddie van der Merwe said. The teams will start a crusade through the city at 08:00 May 18th from the station building in Bahnhof Street. Believers are invited to join them on this crusade as they walk, celebrate and pray for the city and Namibia.

On May 19, a celebration and prayer service will take place from 09:00 at the Dutch Reformed Church in Academia. At this event believers will also unite in prayer as part of Global Prayer Day 2013 and senior spiritual leaders like Fred Joseph, Haruna Goroh and Pine Pienaar from various churches will share the Word. This worship service will also be broadcast live by Channel 7. All is welcome to join us for the celebrations and prayer at the venue or by radio. (Photo: ©Republikein)

Pray for the church in Namibia to raise-up and make a stand for Christ in all seven spheres of influence in Namibia: Family; Education and Leadership Development; National  and Local Government; Business and the Market Place; Media ; Arts, Sport and Entertainment and also Church and Religion.

BUSINESS BY THE BOOK

In today's competitive and confusing business environment, believers are looking for answers to the tough questions they face every day. Fortunately, God's plan for a Christian in business is right in the Bible.

Pray for the Business by the Book seminar presented by Crown Financial Ministries this week-end.
Ask God that it will challenge believers in Namibia to apply biblical principles to every aspect of their business.
Trust God that business people will:

• Develop a clear and compelling sense of purpose for being in business.
• Learn how to make profitable financial decisions by applying biblical wisdom to key result areas.
• Discover how to trade concern over profit and loss for a genuine peace of mind.
• Replace fear of failure with confidence.
• Be equipped to answers the difficult questions in their world from the Bible.

Pray God's blessing on business people and businesses in Namibia, that they will prosper and become a blessing to the nation!

Learn more about Crown Financial Ministries Namibia at http://www.crownafrica.org/