(NAMIBIA) James Lee’s Visit to the Growing Ministry in Namibia
- by ubfhq
- Aug 19, 2025
- 1606 reads
By James Lee, South Africa UBF
From August 1 to 12, my wife, Josephine, and I visited the Namibia UBF ministry. Upon arriving at Namibia’s international airport, we were warmly welcomed by Victor Kalunge, who greeted us with a big smile. Although Namibia borders South Africa, this was my first time visiting the country. When we arrived at the Bible House, we were greeted by five brothers—Phillip, Henock, Leonard, Headman, and Elhezer—who are living together in common life. My wife and I also stayed in the Bible House and joined their communal life throughout our visit.
The next day, Victor took us to the University of Namibia, one of the top 13 universities in Africa. It plays a significant role in educating and shaping young people who will contribute meaningfully to Namibian society. On Sunday, we had a group Bible study on John 2:1–11 led by Victor. We learned how Jesus heard Mary’s prayer and blessed the obedience of the servants by turning water into wine through His divine power. Afterward, Victor delivered a message on John 1:35–51. He had studied each verse deeply and shared God’s grace powerfully through the message.
During the worship service, Brother Phillip (Victor’s son) and Brother Henock shared their life testimonies. Phillip, though raised in a missionary family, struggled with doubts brought on by social media. But through online Bible studies via WhatsApp with James Lee in South Africa, he encountered the life-giving word of God and was moved by Jesus’ resurrection. He now boldly shares the gospel with fellow students. Brother Henock came from a church environment marked by jealousy and competition. Through Phillip, he was introduced to UBF and found that Victor teaches directly from the Bible. In UBF, he discovered his true spiritual identity in Christ.
After worship service, we shared pizza together and discussed what we had learned from the message. During our stay, I noticed that Brother Elhezer was struggling with a reversed sleep cycle, often awake at night and asleep during the day. To help him, I began reading the Gospel of Mark with him each evening and praying together.
Later, Josephine and I visited the university campus again and met with students for Bible study. We were encouraged to see that Namibian students were open and eager to hear the gospel. Although Namibia is geographically larger than France, its population is only around 3 million. Some indigenous groups, like the Bushmen, still reject modern education and rely on traditional hunting methods. We prayed that all Namibians would come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and King.
Victor keeps a very demanding schedule. He works as a high-ranking public servant. Yet after work, he faithfully manages the Bible House, cooking meals and caring for the five brothers living there. Brother Joseph, who stays in a university hostel, often joins them for meals and fellowship. When the students were too busy to wash dishes, I volunteered and washed the dishes for three consecutive days.
The students are diligent in their studies and are preparing to apply for medical school and pursue advanced degrees. On Saturday morning, Victor took us to the medical campus separate from main campus, and there we prayed together that God may raise Jesus’ disciples and open the door for Victor to be accepted into medical campus the next year. Despite facing challenges, the brothers show love and unity by cooking, eating, and talking late into the night. After one worship service, they even went to get haircuts together—a small but beautiful sign of their friendship and brotherly love.
On Saturday evening, we shared Bible testimonies based on John 2:1–11. We all recognized the importance of observing the biblical text carefully. Missionary Josephine shared her story of enduring difficult school years while battling a chronic skin disease. Through that hardship, she came to know Jesus as her Savior. I also shared my testimony. Reflecting on Jesus’s grace moved me to tears. I once thought I was a good person, but in truth, I had a violent temper—once even throwing a chair in anger during a meeting. But Jesus changed my heart and gave me an opportunity to do His glorious work.
On Sunday, we studied John 2:12–25, where Jesus cleanses the temple. This prompted us to reflect on how we should use the Bible House, which was recently purchased through the prayer and efforts of Dr. Abraham Kim from Minneapolis, USA, who visited Namibia twice. We agreed that Jesus wants His house to be a place of prayer for all nations, and we prayed to use the Bible House accordingly.
After the Bible study, we held a worship service. Victor preached on John 2:12–25. After that Joseph shared his testimony. After family hardships, he experienced instability and loneliness. But John 15:5 touched his heart and helped him root his life in Jesus. Brother Headman once strived to be a perfect man, but came to realize that Jesus calls not the perfect, but the humble and weak. Now, he wants to become a fisher of men.
Brother Leonard, a science student from a large Catholic family of nine siblings, realized that despite years in church, his life hadn’t changed. But 2 Corinthians 5:17 convinced him that he is a new creation in Christ. He now seeks to follow Jesus as a true disciple, not just a churchgoer. Brother Elhezer was raised by a single mother and fell into bad company during high school. Influenced by troublemaking friends, he struggled with arrogance and anger. But in 2023, following his elder brother Henock’s advice, he joined UBF and came to know Jesus. He began to pray and discovered that Jesus offers a new life.
The testimonies of the four brothers were clear and sincere, showing how God’s grace is leading them in a new direction. After service, we shared pizza again. Missionary Josephine gave a short session on why writing Bible testimonies is important and how to write one after studying God’s word. I also had a tennis fellowship with Brother Phillip, a skilled player and member of the university’s tennis team. Since Victor only has three years left until retirement, he puts effort to maintain good health. One evening, he and I took more than an hour-long walk and chat together. He also took us to visit Katutura, a black residential area, where we ate a traditional lunch to better understand local life.
Currently, five brothers live in the Bible House, and Brother Joseph joins them regularly from the university hostel. They share in the love and grace of Jesus. Brother Victor serves them as their spiritual father and shepherd, faithfully feeding them the word of God, encouraging their academic success, and praying for them to grow as Jesus’ disciples—future fishers of men and leaders in Namibian society. May God richly bless their ongoing study of John’s Gospel. May He continue to strengthen Victor as a faithful Bible teacher and disciple-maker for the six young brothers and other students of the University of Namibia.
