Heads in the clouds

Celebrate Ascension Day with a painting of Christ embraced by a winged man in “Jesus Returns to God,” the most controversial image in the gay Passion of Christ series by Doug Blanchard. Churches empha...

Niël Terblanché President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah joined Namibians and Christians worldwide in observing Ascension Day, offering a message of reflection and encouragement rooted in the Christian faith. In her special message, the President said: “On this sacred and holy day, I extended my heartfelt greetings to all Christians in Namibia and across the world as we commemorate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven.” She added that the day serves as a reminder of Jesus’s victory over death and His return to God in Heaven. “Now He has sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and empower us to continue building a nation rooted in ethical leadership, family values and the upliftment of one another,” she said, reflecting on the day’s spiritual message. Ascension Day, observed 40 days after Easter Sunday, commemorates the Christian belief in Jesus Christ’s ascension into Heaven, as described in the New Testament of the Bible. Traditionally, churches mark the day with special services, prayers, and hymns, celebrating the completion of Jesus’s earthly ministry and the promise of the Holy Spirit. In Namibia, the day is recognised as a public holiday, giving Christians an opportunity to reflect on their faith and its role in their daily lives and communities. Nandi-Ndaitwah extended blessings to the nation by saying: “May Christ continue to guide and shine His favour upon our nation. Have a blessed Ascension Day.”