Namibia needs stronger unity, moral renewal and collective action to confront growing social challenges.
This call echoed strongly during the National Prayer Breakfast held in Windhoek on Friday, themed "Thanksgiving, Peace, Transformation".
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah encouraged Namibians to work collectively and called on the church to take up its rightful role of being a beacon of hope.
The National Prayer Breakfast served as a platform for reflection and faith, bringing government, church, business and civil society leaders under the banner of Christian Churches in Namibia.
While celebrating Namibia's peace and democratic stability over the past three decades, the event also painted a sobering picture of the social pressures.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah singled out gender-based violence, substance abuse, road fatalities, unemployment, corruption, family breakdown and mental health struggles as urgent concerns demanding national attention.
Vice-President Lucia Witbooi delivered Nandi-Ndaitwah's message.
"These challenges call upon all of us to act with urgency, compassion, wisdom, and unity. However, today we recognise that our actions must be guided by wisdom and inspiration from the Almighty God. I therefore urge the church to do more in restoring good moral values in our societies, especially among the youths. We desire to see a society built on strong family values. A society where our youth display good moral values such as respect for elders and are productive youths who can contribute meaningfully to building their country for themselves and the generations to come. I urge the church to take its rightful role of being a beacon of hope in communities across our nation. Let the church provide spiritual guidance, counselling, humanitarian support, reconciliation, and moral leadership during times of uncertainty and hardship."
A major attraction at the prayer breakfast was international motivational speaker and evangelist Nick Vujicic, from Nick V Ministries.
His global message of courage, perseverance and faith continues to inspire millions, as he appealed to believers in Namibia to become active agents of change.
Vujicic says many Christians recognise suffering around them yet fail to respond because they have become too focused on personal prosperity and self-sufficiency.
"Praise God, the gospel has been preached very nicely as far as quantifiably across the nation. Many people know of God. Many people have a reverence for God. Many people know what prayer is, not unlike some countries around the world. However, some have added and subtracted from the gospel, and I can almost guarantee you that when we first ask the Lord, "Lord, look at me and search me. Search me and uncover any wickedness or lack of compassion for my brother or my sister. Help me not to just correct where I need to correct others, but God, correct me first."