Having been accepted as a missionary appointee with SIM, I began communicating with the team they already have working in Namibia. It's a diverse team with members from Germany, Switzerland, and South Africa, but I would be the only American at present. It turns out the team is already working in two areas dear to my heart and vision: theological education and youth ministry. I asked if there were opportunities that fit my vision of training future leaders and was quickly put in contact with the Acting Principal at Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS). His response to my inquiry was about to blow me away and show God's confirmation and direction for my future journey. I'll let you read his reply for yourself. He wrote:
"Almost half the country is under 17 years of age, and while there are very few paid youth ministry positions, there is an enormous need. We are aware that a very different model of ministry training is required to meet this need. We want someone to come and help us develop a sustainable pathway for the training of youth leaders."Youth ministry and theological education all wrapped up into one opportunity! Could it be any more perfect for what God has uniquely gifted and prepared me for! This is not just a youth ministry project; it's a youth ministry multiplication project. By training Namibian youth workers the gospel can advance faster and farther than I could ever take it myself. He continued:
"This [curriculum] will necessarily involve low cost and short-term programs that are accessible to people who are holding down other jobs. . . . There is a need for us to also decentralize in order to make things accessible for those who live in the [outlying] regions."As I mentioned previously, I had reservations about working in a formal seminary environment because it seemed too expensive and largely centralized. These issues cause problems getting the training to those who need it most. But the very characteristics they want in a program are the very things I'm excited about as well: something inexpensive and decentralized!
So with great excitement and expectation, I will embark on this journey with a vision of advancing the gospel in Namibia through training indigenous youth workers. There will certainly be many challenges and roadblocks ahead, but for now I'm rejoicing in God's confirmation by providing this unique opportunity.
