United Christian Church

Greetings From Namibia, Africa

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, My name is Pastor Pedro Willy of Windhoek, Namibia, in Africa. I have limited access to technology, so I must beg your forgiveness for the form of this letter. I am writing to you to request your assistance to help me buy the land so that I can build a church for my congregation. My American friends inform me that there have been several "scams" that were based in Africa to try and steal the money of Americans. I assure you this is not the case. To help reassure you, I have provided you with references, both here in America and in the Namibian Government. In 1999 we started the church to meet the needs of refugees from the wars in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Rwanda. Our church has been meeting during these years in open and donated spaces, which are shortly no longer going to be available to us. Approximately 70% of those attending our church are new converts to Christianity. Right now we have approximately 75 attending regularly, but this number has decreased from about 200 because we are without a building for people to regularly worship in. I have attached a picture of my congregation that was taken in 2003. In 2002 we found a property for a new church home. It took until February of 2004 for all of the governmental approvals for the purchase to be completed. Originally the price for the property was N$110,554 (Namibian dollars), which is approximately $20,000 in U.S. funds. I have tried to raise the funds in Namibia, but the extreme poverty of my congregation, and Namibia in general, has made this very difficult. I have obtained a final extension on the option to purchase the land, but that final extension expires at the end of February, 2005. Further, the price has now escalated to $25,000 U.S. Since it is the government selling the property, the terms for the sale are cash only and no installments are permitted. I strongly believe that God will provide for our need, but I must do everything I can to make His people aware of this need. That is why I am writing this letter and why I came to the U.S. Currently we are trying to sell two vehicles which may bring an estimated $8,000 U.S., if we can find buyers. In addition to trying to raise the funds within Namibia, I have sold one vehicle to finance my trip to America for the land that I believe God means for us to have for our church. My decision to come to the U.S. was not made easily, but I believe it is what God directed me to do after much prayer. I have visited two churches to date, and I have been able to share our need and to sell some African art and jewelry, but the remaining need is great. As of now, my only plans are to visit churches in Washington, D.C., and New York before I must return to Namibia on February 13th. I hope I have made the financial need obvious by this letter. I would be most appreciative of whatever support you can provide to me in this work for the Lord. I know there are many different appeals for money, especially now. If you are not able to directly support this effort with a contribution from your church funds, if you would allow me to very briefly speak to your church to seek their prayers and perhaps sell some of the fundraising items I have brought with me, I would be most appreciative. If there is anything I can answer, or if you would care to contact me to make arrangements to meet and discuss the need of our church, please contact me at 919-923-4256. I pray a blessing for you and your church in this new year and I thank you in advance for your assistance in His kingdom. In His service, Pastor Pedro Willy Contact in the United States: David Smith, Senior Pastor, Abundant Life Church, Hillsborough, NC. dsmith@visionet.org, http://abundantlifechurch.com Voice: 919-732-6460 Contact at the Namibian Government: Mrs. L. Beukes, Officer, Institutional Land, Department of Planning, Urbanisation and Environment. lib@windhoekcc.org.na, www.windhoekcc.org.na Voice: +264 61 2902068