Ya Johannes (Ja Johannes), Moses * 1912, Onajena † 1998 (Aus) buried in Gibeon. Baptized: 04.11.1928. Confirmed: 29.11.1942. Mother language: Ovambo. Other languages: Afrikaans, Otjiherero, Nama, German. Worked as a worker in Gibeon before joining the Church. Completed Std. III. Evangelist course: 1950-1951.1 Erastus Nambende left the service of the Luderitz RMS congregation in the middel of 1950 (Roßkothen was the missionary there) and Moses Johannes, who had been the Evangelist in Maltahöhe, took over his work.2 Pönnighaus applied for temporary rights for sacrament administration in March 1952 with preses Diehl. AELCRNVIII2.719501954KorrespondenzPaulinum p. 120, In the beginning of the 1950's a lifely discussion was initiated by Pastor Hendrik Isaak, when he requested Pönnighaus in a letter, dated 17.12.1951, that the wandering Evangelists Moses ja Johannes and Isaak Jacob (both had completed their training as Evangelists in the same year 1951) to be granted the rights to administer the sacraments. (The letter by Isaak was not traced, only the reference to it in another letter to Mayer by Pönnighaus. HMM). Evangelist Isaak Jakob had administered the sacraments on one of his journeys without the necessary authority and was reprimanded for that by Pastor Isaak and missionary Mayer. However, according to Isaak, the need in the RMS congregations and the pressure from AMEC members would make a permission for the wandering Evangelists necessary. In his answer to Isaak as well as Mayer, Pönnighaus sketches the present position of the RMS missionaries and describes the issue as "[...] a difficult question [...]." He expresses the oppinion that the RMS has gone too far already, by granting temporary permissions to administer the sacraments to elders - who could scarcely read -. "[...] If we do not require sufficient training in these matters, we run the risk that our church of the RMS turns into a sect-church [sic]." Pönnighaus justifies the present state of the training in three stages, which was introduced by Vedder during his time as moderator. Since Vedder had also proclaimed on the last missionaries conference [in 19??] that a temporary sacramental permission - once issued to an Evangelist - could no longer be withdrawn, Pönnighaus argues that the new issueing of permissions to young Evangelists, who have not yet proofen their reliability, should be handled with big care and should only be decided on after intensive discussions in the board.3 Attended the "Konferensie van die werkerkring van Gibeon." 12.-14.07.1949 in Gibeon.4 Menzel beschreibt von seiner Visitationsreise 1949/50 folgende Episode: "Ich besuchte mit unserm Missionar Rust die kleine Gemeinde in Aus. Von der Werft, die ziemlich hoch gelegen ist, hat man einen herrlichen Weitblick über die Sandberge. Es war ein schöner Herbstmorgen. Die Sonne überstrahlt mit ihrer ganzen Pracht die Namib, und ein wunderliches Farbenspiel lab über der Landschaft. Wir standen mit dem Namalehrer Johannes zusammen ober bei der Schule. Beim Anblick der herrlichen Landschaft bricht der Missionar in den Ruf aus: "Was habt ihr doch ein schönes Land. Johannes!" Johannes schweigt oder murmelt etwas Unverständliches vor sich hin. Er wird gefragt: "Was sagst Du? Findest Du das Land nicht schön?" Und wir verstehen die Antwort: "Nicht mein Land". Der Missionar versteht nicht gleich und sagt: "Ach ja, Du bist nicht von hier. Du kommst aus dem Norden, nicht wahr?" Aber das war es nicht, was Johannes meinte. Er drückte sich dann bestimmter aus, und klar und deutlich sagt er: "Blanke se Land - weißen Mannes Land." Das war der Gedanke, der ihn beim Anblick der Landschaft bewegte. Mehr sprach er nicht aus. Unausgesprochen aber steckte dahinter die Parole: "Afrika den Afrikanern. Afrika ist schwarzen Mannes Land." Dieses hier ist Nama-Land. Die rechtmäßigen Besitzer aber sind entrechtet."5 Jahresbericht als Evangelist: War 1958 5 Monate auf Reisen. "Ek kon in die afgelope jaar nie die werk behartig nie. Daar is baie blankes wat my kann help met die Ov-manne wat op poste bly. Want my diere is dikwels so uitgeput dat ek nie op alle poste kan ry nie. So kann hulle my met die motor help. Laaste tyd kom mees Angola manne. [...] Verder het ek ook Uni mense raakgeloop. Tog het hulle ook na die diens gekom. Net so ook Namamense. "6 Mitarbeiter der Südsynode im August 1957 Nachname Name Gemeinde Funktion Anzahl Kinder (<21J) /Goagoseb Hendrik Rehoboth Pastor 3 /Ui +Nuseb Frederik Mariental E 3 Adam David K'hoop HE 3 Alcock Gustav Rehoboth E 7 Awoseb Andreas K'hoop Diakon 6 Beukes Johannes Rehoboth Pastor 5 Boois Salomon Aranos HE 4 Boois Petrus Bethany E 1 Dausab Traugott Itsawisis HE 7 De Klerk Johannes Aroab HiE 5 Frederik Johannes Hammrevier E 0 Frederik Isaak Bethany E 6 Gariseb Franz Gochas E 2 Goliath Daniel Berseba Pastor 0 Goliath Samuel David Schneefontein E 1 Hanse Josef Stampriet Pastor 4 Isaak Cornelius K'hoop Pastor 6 Isaak Samuel H. Maltahöhe E 12 Isaak Salomon David Berseba E Unmarried Isaak Eduard Berseba HE - Ja Johannes Moses Maltahöhe E - Jager Ernst Karasburg HE 0 Jakob Isaak Mariental E 2 Kaffer Ernst Warmbad HE 0 Kahuika Jeremias Hoachanas E 4 Mungunda Willem Mariental HE 7 Nikodemus Abel K'hoop E 0 Petrus Adam Rehoboth E 7 Pieter Paul Gibeon HE 6 Snewe Lukas Lüderitz HE 8 Swartbooi Isaak K'hoop E 4 Tiboth Thomas Rehoboth HE 6 Quelle: Tötemeyer an Bitzer, 13.08.1957. AELCRN I 3.14 Korrespondensie Suidsinode. 1956-19642:123. Mentioned as evangelist from Aus who was present at the conference of evangelists in October 1971 in Okahandja,7 ELCRN pastor.8 The following information was supplied by Sarah Jod in an interview in Fransfontein on 2.8.2004: Moses Ya Johannes was a Ndonga. He was married to the youngest sister of Hendrik Jod 37.doc, Anna Ya Johannes (neè Jod). They married in Gibeon. They lived in Aus where Moses Ya Johannes was working as an evangelist. Married on 16.2.1943 in Gibeon to: Anna Jod born 7.12.1919 baptized 28.12.1920 in Gibeon confirmed 12.4.1930 in Gibeon Children: Hedwig born 5.4.1936 baptized 20.5.1945 in Gibeon David born 1.6.1938 baptized 20.5.1945 in Gibeon AELCRN\AELCRNVIII2.17.7CircularLetterbyFPönnighaus1947-1951 467_6725.jpg, Adam Isaak mentioned in his interview the co-operation with Ya Johannes. According to Isaak the people were afraid of receiving evangelists.9 Mentioned in list "Mitarbeiter und Mitarbeiterinne in SWA (ELK) " 1965 RMG 2.640b p. 004, "Ouambo"ECOkahandja1936p.48, Was from Gibeon. Attended course for itinerate evangelists in Paulinum from Feb. 1950 RMG 2.651a p. 153, Completed this course - amongst a group of 10 finalists - in June 1951 with the result "not totally satisfactory". AELCRNVIII2.17.7CircularLetterbyFPönnighaus1947-1951 Letter of Pönnighaus to the othe RMS missionaries of 26.6.1951. Co-workers conference 1955 RMG 2.642 p. 027, Worked as an Evangelist during the time that Nashongo was an Pastor in the ELK.10 Mentioned in list AELCRNVIII2.11A1963-65 "Medewerkers van die Evangelies-Lutherse Kerk in SWA (Rynse Sendingkerk) Jan. 1963" as evangelist employed since 1951, The ELK Church Board is informed during its meeting of 04./05.02.1976 that Ya Johannes has been admitted to the hospital in Windhoek for three months because of his eyes.The congregation Aus therefore has no Evangelist. Church Board decides to ask the circuit leaders to discuss the question of retirement with Ya Johannes.11 Spoke - next to his mother language - also Otjiherero, Nama and Afrikaans.12 Das Recht die Sakramente zu verwalten, ist ihm [Ernst Anderson] von der Kirchenleitung vorübergehend zugestanden worden, ebenso wie dem Ovamboevangelisten Moses ja Johannes. 13 Member of the "Tweede Buitengewone Sinode in Otjiwarongo", 14.-16.07.1974, amongst others:14 Kring Keetmanshoop: J. Hanadaob (Keetmanshoop), S. Kahfer (Karasburg), M. Johannes (Lüderitz-Ovambo), A. Hanse (Bethanien), Kring Mariental: F. Swartbooi (Mariental), A. Goeieman (Mariental), I. Isaak (Mariental), Kring Windhoek: F. Lazarus (Windhoek-Herero an Dordabis), H. Orr (Windhoek-Nama/Damara), G. Alcock (Rehoboth-Damara), J. Winstaan (Rehoboth-Damara), P. Adam (Rehoboth-Damara), Kring Gobabis: Philander (Gobabis), I. Guiteb (Witvlei), P. Dreyer (Leonardville), Kring Usakos: J. Vatilifa (Usakos), A. Beukes (Walfishbay-Nama), Haosemab (Swakopmund), S. Afrikaner (Okombahe), Kring Otjiwarongo: H. Naobeb (Otjiwarongo), E. Kisting (Fransfontein), D. Claasens (Omaruru), Kring Tsumeb: J Jyambo (Otavi), Married: Married Anna Jod on 16.02.1943, born 07.12.1919 in Gibeon.15 Children: Dawid Johannes 01.06.1938 Paulus 08.03.1939 Anna Petrina (adopted) Education: Other family members connected to RMS: Mission Stations: Congregations: Maltahöhe 1951-1959 Lüderitz 1960-1969 Aus 1970-1974 History with the RMS: 1 AELCRN Cardsystem of the co-workers, n.N. 2 ALCRN V 16;127. Gemeinde-Chronik Lüderitzbucht. 3 AELCRNVIII2.719501954KorrespondenzPaulinum p. 110. In a letter of Pönnighaus to Mayer. Karibib, 16.1.1952. 4 AELCRN XIX 1 Evangelists Conferences 1930-1973:n.N. 5 Menzel 1951:35. 6 AELCRN I 3.14 Korrespondensie Suidsinode. 1956-19642:24. 7 Evangeliste-Konferensies 1968, 1971, 1973. Notule p. 5. 8 Nashongo. 9 Adam Isaak. 10 Nashongo. 11 AELCRN 02-11/06 KB-Notule Januarie - Desemb. 1976:n.N. 12 AELCRN V 16:130. Gemeinde-Chronik Lüderitzbucht. 13 AELCRN V 16:131. Tötemeyer in Gemeinde-Chronik Lüderitzbucht. 14 AELCRN File "Sinode 1974-75" n.N. 15 AELCRN Cardsystem of the co-workers, n.N. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------