Religion: While 89% of the population claim Christianity, only 12.7% could be considered Evangelical, Bible-believing followers of Christ. Too often a message is taught by for-profit preachers that promises health, wealth, and earthly prosperity. Animistic beliefs and practices have been joined to Christianity to create a syncretistic religion that should hardly be called Christianity. Most everyone will attend church on Sundays for tradition's sake, but rampant vices like immorality, abuse, and alcoholism reveal that theirs is religion in title only. The true gospel which frees from the bondage to sin is the only solution.
Economy: In Namibia you will see both incredible wealth and incredible poverty. The wealth disparity in this country is vast. The richest 10% of society receives 54% of the national income leaving only 46% of income for the remaining 90% of the population. Despite the mansions and SUVs, over half the population live under the poverty line. 35% of the population live on less than $1 per day, and 56% live on less than $2 per day. Is it any wonder that a Prosperity gospel is so popular, and yet so destructive.
Education: In recent surveys it was determined that 48% of sixth graders cannot do basic math. 14% of those same sixth graders were totally illiterate. 18% of middle schoolers do not continue into high school, and 43% of high schoolers do not make it past the 10th grade. If education is the key to a national future, Namibia is failing dramatically.
While these statistics paint a rather pessimistic picture of this country, the truth is that in Christ there is great hope. The Evangelical churches are reaching out in evangelism to their own people. They are even crossing cultural boundaries within their own nation to reach the lost. Seminaries like Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary are training up pastors and youth workers to plant churches and youth ministries to take the true gospel throughout the country. Organizations like Children of Promise Ministries are placing orphans in Christian foster families and offering them an education through Talitha Kumi Christian Academy. God is on the move! The fields are ready to be harvested. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will raise up more workers to send into the fields!
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