OMANDONGO, OSHIKOTO — President Nangolo Mbumba urged Christians to actively support mission work through financial contributions, volunteer service, and participation in church activities during his speech at the 154th Etumo Festival. This annual event, held in Omandongo village within the Onanyena constituency, celebrates the legacy of Finnish missionaries who arrived in July 1870.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Christians should live their faith by embodying the values taught in the Bible, such as compassion, love, and support for neighbors and those in need, following the example set by early missionaries. The president emphasized that despite challenges or hardships, Christians should remain steadfast and honor the legacy of those who dedicated their lives to service. “Their work has transformed Namibia and shown us the profound impact of faith in action,” Mbumba said at the festival, which aims to inspire continued service and sacrifice in the spirit of the pioneering missionaries.

Mbumba highlighted Omandongo’s historical significance as the site of the first Finnish missionary station in Namibia, which introduced modern medicine, built educational and healthcare facilities, and provided vocational training to northern rural areas previously lacking such services. He also noted the missionaries’ role in promoting social justice and equality, which inspired many Namibians to join the liberation struggle against apartheid colonialism.

The president pointed out that many leaders of the Namibian liberation struggle were educated in missionary or church schools, underscoring the integral role of Christianity and the Christian Church in the nation’s history and fight for freedom.

The Etumo Festival, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN), concludes on Sunday.