Oruuano church celebrates 70th anniversary

The Oruuano Protestant Unity Church of Namibia celebrated its 70th anniversary on Saturday under the theme: ‘Celebrating God’s Faithfulness.’

National Planning Commission director general Kaire Mbuende at the event said the church must serve the people of God, not only spiritually but in many other ways.

Over 500 people gathered at the Dr Nahas Angula Hall at the Namibia College of Open Learning centre in Katutura for the commemoration.

Mbuende, who was standing in for president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said he was happy to see representatives of other church denominations in attendance, including the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN), adding that this showed Namibians can work together to overcome the challenges facing the nation.

Attendees included former National Assembly speaker Peter Katjavivi, Katutura central councillor Rodman Katjaimo, former deputy minister of health and National Union Democratic Organisation president Esther Muinjangue, and representatives of the CCN.

“Namibia has been classified as a rich country with poor people, but as the president says, we are too few to be poor.

“The challenges we face as a nation are unemployment, especially among the youth, and poverty. I am glad to see so many youth actively involved in the life of the church,” Mbuende said.

He said the government heard the youth’s plight and took action by setting up an enterprise fund for the youth to start their businesses and create employment for themselves and others.

Mbuende said in addition to the fund, the government also decided on free education as of next year to further empower the youth.
“So let us all work together to make a success story of our nation,” he said.

Church bishop Wylie Upi at the event prayed for the nation’s deliverance from corruption, so that true nation-building can take place.

Upi said “we are not here to celebrate what we as a church has done, but to celebrate what God has done and continues to do for us and to celebrate his faithfulness,” adding that for 70 years, the church witnessed growth, resilience and victory under God’s guidance.

He said when he took over as bishop, he prayed because without God’s presence, he would not have fulfilled the calling.
“With God’s presence, all things are possible.”

Upi said in the past year, the church achieved a lot, including the amendment of its constitution, the expansion of the church to Botswana and the United Kingdom, and participation in negotiations for the repatriation of Namibian remains from Germany.

Katjavivi at the event said the Oruuano church was born out of the struggle.

He said growing up at Okandjira at Ovitoto in the Otjozondjupa region, he witnessed the founding of the church as his family was at the forefront of its decision making.

The church has gone through challenges over the years, just as many others, but the key is to continue having faith and finding ways to overcome those challenges, Katjavivi said.

The church originated from the then Rhenish Mission Church in 1955, after numerous meetings by the Oruuano Protestant Unity Church Herero Chiefs’ Council in the late 1940s to the early 1950s under the leadership of chief Hosea Kutako.

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