Free Prisoners in Northern Namibia

There are currently 5 prisons in Northern Namibia. NETS (Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary) has students in 4 of these prisons (see map above).
Prison 5 is a ‘transit prison’ and does not house inmates for long.
The prisons:
1. Oluno Rehabilitation Centre, Ondangwa
2. Elizabeth Nepembe Junior Centre, Rundu
3. Divundu Rehabilitation Centre, Divundu
4. Farm Scott Rehabilitation Centre, Tsumeb
5. Grootfontein Prison, Grootfontein

1. Oluno Rehabilitation Centre
In Oluno Rehabilitation Centre, there are currently 12 male and 4 female prisoners in the Christian Leadership program.

A graduation was held at Oluno this month for 2 students (see photos above)! It was a very encouraging event, especially as their families could also be present. The graduates testified to the miraculous work of God in their lives. The sermon was given by the NETS Distance Education Director, Willem-Henri den Hartog (David’s boss!).

As David lives close to this prison, he is able to visit the students fairly regularly. This is beneficial to the spiritual life of prison inmates. However, God is doing a great work in this centre amongst inmates themselves, especially under the leadership of Kambahu, the senior student, who himself is doing tertiary study. The students engage in evangelism amongst fellow inmates, visit the sick in the prison hospital and conduct devotions in their cells.

As a result, there are always a number of students who are willing to enrol in the NETS course. However, not all those keen to enrol are recommended by Kambahu and the spiritual worker, due to the paucity of their biblical knowledge. (Many become Christians in prison, thanks to the evangelistic hearts of fellow prisoners.) Kambahu has therefore initiated his own course, which is a basic 2 year Bible reading programme designed by him to prepare inmates for enrolment in the NETS course (see a previous posting).

2. Elizabeth Nepembe Junior Centre
As the name suggests, this rehabilitation is for younger inmates. The spiritual atmosphere is more sluggish, probably because there is no one of the stature of Kambahu present. Sadly, a high number of students from this centre, when released, do not complete the course.

However, there are 2 inmates who will be graduating in 2010 - the first graduation at the centre! This is very encouraging for the prison. Currently, apart from those 2, there are 3 other students enrolled in the program. The students at this prison do no meet together, and thus work through the course on their own.

3. Divundu Rehabilitation Centre
This is the most remote rehabilitation centre in Namibia, and often houses inmates who have demonstrated good behaviour and are relatively closer to being released. Although not the largest prison in the north, it has a high number of students, namely 21, who are enrolled in the distance program.
There is more spiritual vitality in this prison than in Elizabeth Nepembe JC, due to more spiritually mature students who encourage each other. On the whole, 2 of the students have been able to regularly meet with other inmates as they work through the material, which is vital for their Christian growth. Due to the prison’s great distance from Ongwediva, David only gets to visit them about 3 times per year.

God willing, a coordinator will be appointed for the NE region in 2010, which will be greatly beneficial to his work in Rundu and Divundu prisons.

4. Farm Scott Rehabilitation Centre
NETS work was initiated at this prison in 2008 when NETS student Daniel was transferred there, and who was ready to graduate. After the graduation, opportunity was given to 3 inmates who were keen to enroll, and who began meeting together under the leadership of the strong Christian student who had graduated.

The spiritual conditions in the rehabilitation centre are difficult, due to the size of the prison, and possibly the spirituality of the officers. It is easy for the majority-peer group of inmates to have a detrimental effect on others who are trying to get their relationship with God in order, and this includes those who are enrolled in the NETS certificate of Christian Leadership.
Thank God – and please continue to pray
There is a significant transformation being experienced in the lives of students enrolled in the larger prisons at Divundu and Oluno. God has raised up students in these places amongst the inmates themselves, who, having been built up by the NETS course, assume spiritual leadership over other inmates and NETS students. This is very beneficial for the spiritual well-being of the other NETS students, and for the ethos of the prisons as a whole.

In 3 of the 4 prisons, David has been told how much the management appreciates the involvement of NETS in their work, and what an integral part it plays in the overall rehabilitation of the inmates. It has often been said, by those who are graduating, how they have been ‘reborn’ whilst enrolled in the course and being given an opportunity to study the Bible. We praise God for this opportunity of building up his children in prison!

Most of these Christians have no one praying for them.
No one praying for them to be strong when they face ridicule and temptation.
No one praying for them as they struggle to understand the Bible and apply it to their own lives.
No one praying for them in their loneliness, as they wrestle with memories of their turbulent past.

Perhaps you would like to pray for one of these young men and women by name?
If you are interested, let us know.

Thank you so much for your ongoing partnership in this eternally life-changing work.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound … Isaiah 61.1