Photo Essay: Assembly Planning Committee Meeting in Windhoek
In May 2017, the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Namibia will host the 12th LWF Assembly. Of the 2.3 million Namibians, half are members of the Lutheran church.
The Assembly Planning Committee, comprising members from across the global communion, met in Windhoek from 15–18 March, 2015. They also had the pleasure of joining Sunday worship services with local congregations in order to experience the expression of the global communion in Namibia.
Here are impressions from Emmanuel Church in one of the Windhoek suburbs.
20 March 2015
Photos: LWF/H. Martinussen
Getting ready for church. Emmanuel Church lies on a hilltop, half an hour outside Windhoek. It is one of 11 parishes in the capital city and one of the largest. Parishioners arrive early to get a seat in the church hall.
Around 1200 congregants attend worship this Sunday in March. The church hall is filled to the brim. Some people resort to a shady spot outside, from which they can listen to the service.
People of all generations are present for Sunday worship in Emmanuel Church.
Emmanuel Youth Choir is one of many congregational choirs that participate in the Sunday service. Emmanuel Church has around 16 choirs which take turns contributing to worship life.
Rev. Stephen Larson, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, offers greetings from the Lutheran communion around the world as he delivers the sermon. Rev. Dr. Martin Nelumbu from Namibia translates.
After the sermon, Mikka McCracken, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, offers a greeting from the LWF and shares the plans she and other members of the Assembly Planning Committee are engaged in for the 12th Assembly to be held in Namibia.
In a building next to the church, children gather for Sunday school. The church is looking to expand to accommodate the up to 600 children who attend.
In a building next to the church, children gather for Sunday school. The church is looking to expand to accommodate the up to 600 children who attend.
Selmar Shiurte (left) leads Sunday school in Emmanuel Church. She shares her joy of teaching children, as well as plans to expand the Sunday school. Here she is on her way to the church hall with the children’s Sunday collection. Next to her is Anna-Liisa Kuumbwa, who assists.
Rev. Teofilus Nelumbu is pastor at Emmanuel church and has been serving the parish for over two decades. Pastor Nelumbu helped build the church.
