Matheus David

Reverend Paul Muha does not describe his work as a job but a calling that follows him from university campuses to township homes, from counselling rooms to the quiet struggles people carry within themselves.

He was recently transferred to Emmanuel Lutheran Parish in Windhoek. Reverend Muha brings with him nearly 23 years of ministry shaped by service, learning and compassion. Ordained in 2000 at Okahao, his journey has taken him across Namibia, touching lives in ways that often go unseen.

His service began at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) head office in Oniipa, where he was seconded as an administrator. From there, he was sent to Rundu to serve as a pastor and dean, a role that deepened his understanding of community leadership.

In 2022, the church entrusted him with another duty: to go and serve students at institutions of higher learning. At Unam, NUST, the Hage Geingob School of Medicine and the Coastal Campus, Reverend Muha became more than a pastor. To many students, he was a listener, a counsellor and, in moments of despair, a lifeline.

“Students are dealing with a lot: pressure, loneliness, and fear of failure. Sometimes they just need someone to remind them that their life has value,” he said.

With a master’s degree in administration and currently pursuing a PhD in church administration, Reverend Muha blends academic understanding with pastoral care. But he insists that qualifications alone do not heal people; presence does.

Now serving at Emmanuel Lutheran Parish, one of the largest Elcin parishes in Windhoek, his focus has widened. With rising concerns over mental health challenges and suicide in Namibia, Reverend Muha says the church cannot remain silent or distant.

“We are seeing too many lives lost.People must be reminded that they are created in the image of God. That they matter,” he said.

Instead of waiting for people to come to church, Reverend Muha is taking the church to them. His outreach work targets three groups: the elderly and people living with disabilities, community groups such as youth and families, and individuals seeking private counselling.

He visits elderly people in their homes, offering prayer, Holy Communion and conversation, small gestures that carry deep meaning. “No one should feel forgotten,” said the man of the cloth.

For young people, men, women and couples, he organises group sessions across Windhoek, creating safe spaces where difficult questions can be asked without judgement. For those who prefer privacy, confidential one-on-one counselling is always available.

“Some wounds are invisible.Confidentiality allows people to open up and heal,” he said. 

Muha believes that faith, when paired with genuine care, can help people rediscover purpose. He often reminds those struggling that life is not an accident and that every person has a role to play.

“If you take your own life, you cut short the mission you were sent to fulfil and no one is without a gift,” the clergyman said.

As he settles into his new parish, Muha continues his work by listening, counselling and reaching out. In a time when many feel overwhelmed and unseen, his message remains simple but powerful: “You are loved, and your life still has meaning,”he said. –matheusshitongenidavid@gmail.com