Kavari, Liebhard * ?, ? † . The following letter was written to the congregations and signed by Liebhard Kavari during the important conference of all Herero pastors, evangelists and Herero missionaries in Karibib on 31.3.1955: "To the dear members of our congregations. We first greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today we have gathered in Karibib to take council with each other and to deliberate on the great need which is endangering our congregations in these days. We have heard that some are of the opinion that a new church must be established among our congregations. We have thought about this in front of the Living God. As an answer we send message to all the our congregations. The ardent men, who have taken the matter of a new church up most actively, are mostly those backsliders who have returned from Christianity to heathendom. We want this evil principle only be taken away by the Living God. But the word of God says: We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5, 29). We also read: He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me (Math. 10, 37). We now have to decide between Christ and the enemies of Christ. It is something else to be a Christian or a heathen. But those who want the new church, mix these two and do not keep the congregation of Jesus Christ pure. Christ says: He that is not with me is against me (Luk. 11, 23). This is why we admonish you all, to abide by the Word of God. Do not follow those who make you unfaithful to Christ. Do not bend under the same yoke like the infidel. We love our Herero nation with all our heart, this is why we show you the right path. We exhort you and greet you all with the words from revelation 2, 10: Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Signed by the pastors and evangelists: Hendrik Turiauri Ehrenfried Zaamuani Victor Hauta Friedrich Awaseb Hiskia Kapembe Gottlob Mungunda Erhard Kuzatjike Titus Tjinda Bernhard Kahiiko Martin Gertse Andreas Kukuri Josua Tjiurutue Ferdinand Gertse Reinhard Tjatenga Liebhard Kavari."1 During his first trip to Arminuis-Reserve - in the middle of the 1950's - Wienecke meets in a village (without mentioning a name) an "old helper" Liebhard, without giving any more information. Liebhard tells Wienecke, that RMS members has had their membercards thrown away.2 Married: Children: Education: Other family members connected to RMG: The wife of Josaphat Kamatoto, Martha Kawari [sic] was the daughter of Stephanus and Sarah Kavari, no more details.3 Hermann Kavari (Herero) attended the "fifth course" of the Augustineum in Okahandja. He was from Gobabis and born 1915. He attended 2 years school in Gobabis and worked in a household before coming to the Augustineum. He was not married when he attended the course. He spoke Herero and Nama. He did not completed the course with the examination, left it on the 03.02.1936, and was not send to a RMS mission school, because he was probably considered "unfähig".4 Erastus Kavari is mentioned in the text Nr. 9 of the "Prophet Book of Windhoek". This text, collected and written in an exercise book by Amon Keeja Kaakuha (born ca. 1890). The words of the prophets were read during the Wednesday and Saturday afternoon and evening meetings in the RMS congregation in Windhoek in the years 1946-48 and kept secret to the missionaries and other withes.5 Mission Stations: History with the RMG: 1 Kandovazu 1968:21. 2 Wienecke 1958:39. 3 Schweinitz 1897:27. 4 AELCRN V 6.1:38-39. 5 Sundermeier 1973:297. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------