For generations, the Himba people of Namibia have gathered around their sacred fire, seeking comfort and answers from their ancestors. But despite their prayers, the drought continues, and hope seems out of reach.
In their remote villages, the Himba live simply and beautifully, with no electricity or running water. Their unique traditionsâred clay on their skin, elaborate headdresses, and songs shared around the fireâreflect a deep connection to their heritage. Yet, for so long, theyâve felt forgotten by the world.
But God placed a burden on the heart of a pastor to bring the light of the Gospel to this precious community, offering hope where it had never been before…
Pastor Rizera Hipakua faced many challenges in his journey, from family ridicule to financial uncertainty. But the hardest task was taking the Gospel to the Himba peopleâan isolated community deeply rooted in ancestral worship, with no written language or access to a Bible.
In faith, Pastor Rizera partnered with Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child. His first visit to a Himba village brought shoebox gifts, joyful connections, and the message of hope in Christ to families who had never heard His name.
âYou could see joy in their faces. They said, âThank you for bringing us the Word of God.ââ
The Gospel outreach among the Himba was more fruitful than Pastor Rizera imagined, but he didn’t stop there. He invited Alma, a Sunday school teacher, to lead the children through The Greatest Journey, a discipleship program from Samaritan’s Purse.
As a result, many in Ombaka came to faith in Christ. They began gathering regularly under a large tree for worship and prayer. Lives were transformedâancestral worship faded, alcoholism lessened, and children joyfully sang Scripture songs.
A few years later, with the help of Samaritanâs Purse and Wycliffe Bible Translators, a church was built on land donated by the village chief. “People were in darknessânow they are living in the Light of Christ,” said Pastor Rizera.
After the Ombaka Operation Christmas Child outreach, Pastor Rizera began praying about where to go next, and God led him to the Himba in Otutati.
Like in the Ombaka village, the Himba in Otutati eagerly received the Good News through Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey. They also started meeting regularly for worship and prayer.
âThey don’t even want to go home; they want to be here at the church,â said Karituu, who is serving as pastor. âThey are praying for one another. Their lives have changed.â
Mariueute, who has lived in Otutati her entire life, was amazed by the changes she witnessed after Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey. Grateful that people are turning to Christ, she encourages her grandchildren to attend church. âIt is important for them to grow up with Godâs Word,â she said.
Kapaa, another villager, also began attending church regularly. After hearing the Gospel and experiencing God’s love, she gave her life to Jesus. One of her daughters soon followed in her footsteps.
One of Mariueute’s neighbors is Kappa, a young mother who came to the Otutati church during a difficult time. Her family had paid the local witch doctor a large sum of money, but she still struggled to walk. There was no answer for the mysterious illness that had plagued her for months.
âThe church encouraged me to pray,â Kapaa said. âI started to become stronger and stronger.â
By God’s grace, the Gospel is still spreading throughout Otutati and Ombaka, long after Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey.
Djouje, a 20-year-old cattle farmer, had never heard about Jesus until he came to the Ombaka church. âMy life wouldn’t be the same without the church,â he said. âIf I didn’t give my life to Jesus, it would be a huge loss for me.â
Kuyeua, once struggling with alcohol, found freedom in Christ after attending church. His life was transformed, and now he serves as the church pastor. âI was in prisonâbut now I’m not,â he said. âI feel like I’m actually living now.â
Since the first Gospel outreaches in Ombaka and Otutati, many other Himba villages have heard the hope of Jesus Christ. More people have joined Pastor Rizera, who now leads a regional Operation Christmas Child team.
Together, they continue hosting outreach events and teaching The Greatest Journey in Himba villages, where believers regularly gather for prayer, worship, and Bible teaching. Their efforts have even reached a class of deaf students, many of them Himba, who received shoebox gifts and learned about the Gospel.
