Stories of Faith • From Humble Beginnings

By Ursula de Villiers

When I reflect on the journey that Pieter and I have walked together, I can only marvel at God’s faithfulness.

It all started decades ago when both Pieter (in 1982) and I (in 1975) came to know Jesus through the preaching of Pastor Ed Roebert at Hatfield Christian Church. Though our personal walks with God began separately, they would eventually intertwine into a shared mission.

We met during a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth With A Mission in Windhoek in 1982. Our outreach took us to the remote region of Opuwo, Namibia – a place that immediately stirred something deep in me. During the years that followed, from 1983 to 1987, Pieter taught at Opuwo Secondary School while completing his military service. Though we lived apart, we stayed connected – sometimes attending Hatfield together whenever he visited Pretoria – and our friendship slowly deepened into something more.

In 1988, we both joined the Urban Mission School at Hatfield (the forerunner of today’s Year of Your Life programme), and in August of that year, we were married in the Hatfield Chapel – now known as the Minor Auditorium.

That same year, we obeyed God’s call and moved to a small village just south of Opuwo. We arrived “sak en pak” – with everything we had – ready to learn the language and culture of the Herero and Himba people living in this northwestern part of Namibia.

Our early ministry days were simple but powerful. We held open-air meetings and Bible studies, and people began giving their lives to Jesus. What began in our lounge expanded to our garden, then to a rented bar, and finally, in 1990, we built a church structure. Our outreaches were especially instrumental in reaching the unreached Himba people group – many of whom are believers today.

As the ministry grew, so did the need for sustainable support. In 2008, we opened the Abba Guesthouse to help generate funds for our ministry projects. Then in 2012, we founded the Opuwo Christian School, which now educates 150 pupils.

Pieter was deeply committed to serving the broader community – not only as a schoolteacher and missionary but also as the mayor of Opuwo. He had a deep passion for young people and often encouraged them to participate in outreaches. One of those young people was Kalusha Petrus.

Kalusha gave his life to the Lord in our church in 1999, and his life was radically transformed. He became a youth leader, completed Year of Your Life in 2004, and later earned his Theology degree via correspondence. After serving as our assistant pastor for two years, Kalusha was appointed as senior pastor in 2007.

When Pieter passed away, Kalusha and his wife, Njangee, stepped fully into their leadership role. Today, he leads the congregation, oversees the school and guesthouse, and coordinates outreach work across the region, while Njangee leads worship and the women’s ministry. Our church is active and missional – reaching out monthly to 16 Amos Kindergartens, which provide access to Christian-based schooling, and various village churches. We remain connected to the broader body of believers through The Christian Network (TCN) and the Faith Promise Team at Hatfield.

It has been over 50 years now since I gave my heart to Jesus during a Hatfield service, and we feel so honoured to have been in relationship with the church for so long. A recent highlight of this ongoing relationship was an encouraging visit from Lena and Chrissie over December.

As for me, I continue to serve as a “spiritual mother”, helping manage certain aspects of the ministry, particularly the guesthouse, where I often have the opportunity to share my testimony with those who pass through.

It is an incredible joy to watch Kalusha thrive – he has grown into a mature, godly leader who also serves on various town forums and committees, making a tangible impact in the community.

God has truly been good. From humble beginnings to a flourishing, locally-led ministry – it’s a story of His faithfulness through every chapter.