Longest-serving AME Church leader laid to rest

THE longest-serving pastor of the 15th District African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Reverend Nicolas Charles Christians, was buried in Keetmanshoop’s Krönlein cemetery on Saturday.

The funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners and spiritual leaders of various church denominations. Christians died at the age of 89. Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) Bishop Zephania Kameeta hailed Christians as a ‘true servant of God’ and asked fellow clergymen and women to emulate his exemplary life. ‘He preached gospel with his life. He was teacher of excellence who left a great heritage which pastors must follow,’ said Kameeta. AME Church Bishop Wilfried Messiah praised Christians as a trailblazer, pioneer and a visionary. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Christians came to Namibia in 1954 and served the Trinity AME congregation in Keetmanshoop since then.’He was an outstanding visionary and an outspoken administrator. There was not a single thing that started in Keetmanshoop of which Christian didn’t know or wasn’t part of,’ said AME Church Reverend Andreas Biwa. Under Christian’s guidance new schools and churches were built and old buildings remodelled for the purpose of education and worship of God. Christians in his last years served as an associate of Trinity AME Church. In recognition of his long-time work as a pastor, Christians was awarded a honorary doctoral degree.A qualified teacher, Christian was also the first black person to be employed as a ‘black welfare officer’ at the local town council before independence. He also served as a local councillor after independence. Christian is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son and a brother. luqman@namibian.com.na