Update from the Gillham Family in Namibia

THE GILLHAM GAZETTE
January 2010 Edition

Madelon and Noah went back to school this morning, Simon has already started at N ET S and today I start lesson preparations, but first let me fill you in a little on life since we last talked.

God saw all that he had made
and it was very good

W e w ere blessed in December with a visit from 4 gorgeous friends
from home. Simon finished work for 2009 2 hours before they arrived,
and the next day w e headed off on a holiday together. T he ultimate
destination w as Victoria Falls, but as with any African holiday, there were many adventures to be had along the w ay.

AME CONFERENCE IN KEETMANSHOOP
We had to be back from our African adventure by m id December so that Simon could speak at a church leadership conference for the African Methodist Episcopal(A M E) Church in the south of Namibia. T he Conference was an enthusiastic gathering of clergy and church leaders from Namibia, South Africa and Angola. In the Namibian A M E there are a few pastors who have completed the N ET S lower level Certificate program by distance, the rest have had almost no formal training at all. A s a result of this time spent together the A M E church has enrolled its first full-tim e student at N ET S for this coming year, and others have enrolled in Distance program s

T he A M E church is like so m any other denominations and church groups in Namibia, w here thousands of believers are led by m en and women who are not trained, equipped or encouraged well for the vital ministries they fulfill. Please pray that God would use N ET S to bring blessing to his church, as her leaders are trained, equipped and encouraged for ministry.

Thank you and Blessings for 2010

Thank you to all of you w ho sent Christmas letters/ cards/ greetings and parcels. W e received 10 cards this w eek – it is good to make the festive season last longer! W e really do feel well supported/ cared for and prayed for as w e continue in the Namibian part of our partnership. We thank you for your continued prayer and support for 2010 and pray that God will bless you and all that you do this year

Updates;
• The election cam e and went without violence or unrest. Politics here are very interesting, complicated and so different from Australia. Please pray that Namibia would be a truly free and democratic country.
• The NETS Accreditation inspection seemed to go w ell, but now w e wait for the government body to w rite and send their report. Please continue to pray that NETS would be granted accreditation soon.
• NETS has employed 5 new staff members. Three in the Distance Ed department (One is a 2009 NETS graduate Tuhafeni Hailonga). Please pray for these people as they are trained up, that they will fit in well to the NETS community and train leaders for the future
• The student numbers for 2010 are looking good. T here are still people applying, please pray that all the admin gets done on time
• Simon is teaching new subjects again this year. Aside from his Academic Dean work, he will be teaching Church History, Preaching, and Biblical Theology.
• The new NETS Library is finished and the books have been moved in. T he official opening will be 23rd April. Books have been arriving from allover the world, keeping David –our librarian- very busy. Praise God for the financial support that has made this building and resourcing possible, and pray that it will be a blessing for NETS students and pastors throughout Namibia.
• Staff are returning to NETS this w eek. Simon will be conducting a staff training and development workshop from 25th -29th. This is a new initiative which with God’s blessing will keep the staff keen to continually improve their teaching skills

Simon, Margie, Maddie and Noah

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