Namibia: Church Chronology

July 24, 1927 • Karibib, South West AfricaSouth African Mission President Samuel Martin called Lawrence C. Ratcliff as presiding elder of the Church in Karibib. He also called Ratcliff’s stepson, Bertram J. Glynn, to serve as a missionary in South Africa.

March 11, 1928 • KaribibLawrence C. Ratcliff baptized the first converts in South West Africa, Johannes and Martha Cloete.

1930s • Otjiwarongo, South West AfricaMissionaries from the South African Mission continued to visit the Cloete family and eventually baptized their children.

1969–83 • Windhoek, South West AfricaOccasional attempts were made to send missionaries and establish branches in the Windhoek area.

1983 • WindhoekThe Windhoek Branch was organized, with Dieter Greiner as president.

March 21, 1990 • NamibiaNamibia officially became an independent nation.

May 11, 1990 • NamibiaThe Church was registered by the new Namibian government.

March 28, 1992 • Windhoek, NamibiaThe Windhoek Branch Relief Society offered lessons in childcare and housekeeping to caregivers in the SOS Children’s Village orphan program in Windhoek.

Dedication of Namibia

August 22, 1992 • Windhoek

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated Namibia for the preaching of the restored gospel.

1994 • WindhoekThe first seminary classes in Namibia were held.

July 5, 1997 • WindhoekThe first Church-built meetinghouse in Namibia was dedicated in Windhoek.

December 1999 • Johannesburg, South AfricaWindhoek Branch members attended the Johannesburg South Africa Temple during the first organized temple trip from Namibia.

April 25, 2003 • WindhoekPortions of the Windhoek meetinghouse were destroyed by fire.

December 20, 2003 • WindhoekAll members of the Windhoek Branch hosted a special entertainment and dinner event for the elderly members of the community. At the end of the evening, each guest was given a quilt made by branch members.

December 2004 • WindhoekRenovation and expansion of the fire-damaged Windhoek meetinghouse was completed.

August 27, 2006 • WindhoekThe Katutura Branch was organized, with Johannes Swartbooi as president.

September 7, 2010 • WindhoekSaints in Windhoek helped expand the vegetable garden at the Katutura State Hospital as part of the fourth annual All-African Mormon Helping Hands Day.

June 25, 2013 • Namibia and BotswanaThe Botswana/Namibia Mission was organized.

March 8, 2015 • Windhoek and Swakopmund, NamibiaThe Windhoek Namibia District, with branches in Winhoek and Swakopmund, was organized with Demus K. Makuwa as president.

2016–17 • SwakopmundMembers of the Swakopmund Branch participated in the municipality’s Project Shine cleanup project and were recognized by officials for their efforts.

March 7, 2018 • WindhoekA Church delegation met with Hage Geingob, president of Namibia, at his official residence.