AIM Location: Namibia

Namibia, a country in southwest Africa, is distinguished by the Namib desert along the Atlantic Ocean coast. The country is home to diverse wildlife, including a significant cheetah population. The majority of the Namibian population is of Bantu-speaking origin. Other ethnic groups are the Herero and Himba people, who speak a similar language, and the Damara, who speak the same “click” language as the Nama.

Most of the territory became a German Imperial protectorate in 1884 and remained a German colony until the end of World War I. In 1920, the League of Nations mandated the country to South Africa, which imposed its laws and, from 1948, its apartheid policy. Uprisings, internal violence and demands by African leaders meant Namibia obtained full independence from South Africa in 1990, with the exception of Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands, which remained under South African control until 1994.

In 1980 AIM and Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF) began a joint work in Namibia, through a team led by a South African couple, Jack & Peggy Pienaar. The work of AIM and AEF emphasised churches: planting new congregations where none had existed and nurturing leaders of established groups.

This remains the vision of AIM in Namibia today, we long to see Christ-centred churches across the nation. Part of that vision means living amongst and sharing the gospel with unreached people groups, praying that one day they will come to know the Christ and become disciple-making disciples. We also work with the Namibian church, seeking to support and encourage Godly leaders as they share more of Jesus in their communities.